The San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (SMCWPPP) conducts and supports studies and research to advance the knowledge and understanding of local watersheds, water quality impacts from municipal separate storm sewers (MS4s), and the effectiveness of various control measures to help reduce the negative effects of stormwater runoff. The following studies and reports are a compilation of documents that have been completed by or with support from SMCWPPP, most of which have been submitted by SMCWPPP on behalf of the co-permittees in San Mateo County to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board to comply with specific requirements of the Municipal Regional Permit. The reports are categorized into general topics of interest or type of study.
Studies & Surveys
- Stormwater Surveys
In 2009 a telephone survey was conducted of San Mateo County residents to find out their Attitudes Toward Stormwater Pollution and actions that can be taken to reduce it. The program completed a follow-up survey and report titled Community Stormwater Survey Findings a decade later in 2019 to better understand how attitudes and behaviors toward water pollution prevention may have shifted, in light of additional factors like changing climatic conditions and new stormwater solutions such as green infrastructure. - San Mateo County Pocket Ashtray Pilot Study
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in America and around the world, but they don’t have to be! San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program provided free pocket ashtrays to smokers who agreed to participate in a three to four week anti-littering pilot program. - Results of 2009 Survey and Pilot Study Report: Cigarette Litter Reduction Campaign
Water Quality
- Nonpoint Source Watershed Assessment: James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Critical Coastal Area, California Coastal Commission and San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, December 2008
- San Gregorio Watershed Information System initiated in 2007 with the overarching goal of improving ecological conditions in San Gregorio Creek watershed to provide multiple benefits, such as protecting and enhancing native fish and wildlife populations, increasing ecosystem functioning, and maintaining the rural quality of life in the watershed. Funded by the State Water Resources Control Board.
- Biological Assessment of Belmont Creek, August 2007
- San Mateo County Watershed Data in a GIS, July 2007
- Water Quality Screening in the Cordilleras Creek Watershed, May 2007
- Belmont Creek Watershed Monitoring Report, August 2006
- Bioassessment and Water Quality Monitoring in the San Mateo Creek Watershed, August 2005
- Bioassessment and Water Quality Monitoring in the San Pedro Creek Watershed, March 2005
- Assessment of Sediment Management Practices in Six High Priority Watersheds, August 2004
- Characterization of Imperviousness and Creek Channel Modifications for 17 Watersheds in San Mateo County, January 2002
- San Pedro Creek Watershed Pilot Assessment, December 2001
Pollutants of Concern
- Case Study Investigating PCBs in Storm Drain Sediments from Colma Creek, Colma, May 2004
- Investigating Elevated Levels of PCBs in Storm Drain Sediments in the Pulgas Creek Pump Station Drainage, San Carlos, June 2003
- Joint Stormwater Agency Project to Study Urban Sources of Mercury, PCB’s, and Organochlorine Pesticides, April 2002
- Case Study Investigating Elevated Levels of PCBs in Storm Drain Sediments in San Mateo County, April 2002
Trash
- Franchise Agreement Litter Practices Recommendations, January 2016
- Trash Assessments in Urban Creeks in San Mateo County, August 2008
- Trash Assessments in Six Watersheds in San Mateo County, August 2007
- Pilot Study to Identify Trash Sources and Management Measures at an In-stream Trash Accumulation Area, August 2005
- Survey on Existing Municipal Trash Management Practices and Known Trash Problem Areas in San Mateo County, California, June 2004
- Implementation and Testing of RWQCB Rapid Trash Assessment, March 2003
Unified Stream Assessments
- Unified Stream Assessment in Seven Watersheds in San Mateo County, August 2008
- The Unified Stream Assessment: Potential Uses for Stormwater Programs San Francisco Bay Area Examples, May 2008
- Unified Stream Assessment in Six Watersheds in San Mateo County, August 2007
Watershed Care and Restoration
- Pilarcitos Integrated Watershed Management Plan, San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, October 2008
- Pescadero Butano Watershed Assessment, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, March 2004
- Priority Watersheds for restoration of habitat and recovery of coho salmon and steelhead trout populations
- San Francisquito Creek Habitat Monitoring Project Final Report, Creekside Center for Earth Observation Report, April 2008.
- Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network