Uncategorized – Flows to Bay

Heal the Bay has released its annual Beach Report Card just in time for summer 2022. The Beach Report Card is meant to be a comprehensive public health tool that assigns grades to California beaches, ranging from an A to an F, based on the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria found in regularly collected water samples. High levels of fecal indicator bacteria can be a sign that water is unsafe to swim, fish, and play in.

This year, three San Mateo Beaches have made it onto the top ten Beach Bummers list, a list of beaches that have the poorest water quality in California. These beaches include Erckenbrack Park, Marlin Park, and Lakeshore Park. All the San Mateo County beaches that made it onto this list are ones that are enclosed and blocked off such that pollution is not easily flushed away from the beaches. These beaches receive little circulation and as a result are more likely to suffer from high levels of pollution.

So where does the pollution come from?

Pollutants that reach our beaches tend to originate from land and reach the ocean via storm drains, creeks, and streams. The bacteria may also come from fecal matter left on the beach, such as from dogs or wildlife. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact source of pollutants, there are solutions San Mateo County has in place to help reduce the amount of pollution reaching these beaches.

San Mateo County is actively taking measures to help keep our beaches clean so they can be enjoyed safely by everyone.

One of these is monitoring water quality. The San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (that’s us) monitors the water quality of creeks to ensure they are at safe levels and taking the necessary steps when pollution levels are high. This is important because creeks eventually drain into our beaches. Findings are reported in the annual Urban Creek Monitoring Reports.
Green infrastructure also plays an important role in managing stormwater runoff and reducing pollution in our waterways. Green infrastructure is designed to mimic natural processes to capture and clean stormwater before it reaches our waterways. There are ongoing efforts throughout the County, including the Countywide Sustainable Streets Master Plan, that are meant to clean stormwater while also bringing additional benefits such as bike and pedestrian safety.
We also conduct public outreach to help residents like you adopt stormwater-friendly practices. Read on for examples of what you can do to help!

Ways you can help

Even a few simple daily habits can make a big impact on stormwater pollution when added to the community’s efforts. Here are some ways you can help keep our San Mateo County beaches clean:

Always pick up your dog’s waste. Take our “Scoop the Poop” pledge here.
Properly dispose of all trash and make sure trash bins are closed at all times. Take our litter pledge here.
Reduce pesticide use in your yard and use Integrated Pest Management techniques instead.
Install a rain garden or rain barrel in your yard to capture and clean stormwater before it runs into the storm drain system.

Volunteer with local organizations such as the Pacific Beach Coalition or Surfrider to do beach cleanups.

On Saturday, January 29, 2022, Flows To Bay held an event to distribute 396 pre-purchased 50-gallon rain barrels to San Mateo County residents. Residents from 17 of the county’s 20 cities and towns and unincorporated areas picked up their barrels at Lyngso Garden Materials in San Carlos.

We distributed 396 50-gallon rain barrels.

This was Flows To Bay’s second rain barrel distribution event in three months and was organized to accommodate residents’ unexpected enthusiasm for rain barrels. This program was initially launched as a pilot program in September 2021 as an effective water capture and conservation strategy against California’s ongoing drought condition. Flows To Bay distributed 330 purchased rain barrels at the first event on November 13, 2021. After this initial event, there were still nearly 200 residents on the waitlist for a rain barrel, prompting a relaunch of the program once inventory became available.

“This program aimed to educate residents about the water conservation and pollution prevention aspects of rain while providing an easy and affordable way to take action. The countywide rain barrel rebate funded by the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County and agency partners coupled with this rain barrel program is just one way that we hope to underscore just how valuable water is as a resource. Clean water, a healthy community—it’s truly a team effort!”
REID BOGERT, C/CAG STORMWATER PROGRAM SPECIALIST

The countywide rain barrel rebate program that provides a minimum $50 rebate per rain barrel. Residents can take advantage of the rain barrel rebate program with any qualifying rain barrel purchase and can get additional information at flowstobay.org/rainbarrel.

Beyond water conservation, capturing rainwater also improves the water quality of our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall funnels into streets, collecting urban pollutants from all surfaces, including roofs. These pollutants then flow into storm drains and nearby waterways without treatment. Runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways nationwide. Rain barrels help reduce the number of pollutants that reach our waterways.

Reid Bogert, C/CAG Stormwater Program Specialist, loads rain barrels into a truck bed.

Just how much of an impact did this program have?

At 50-gallon capacity a piece, the combined 726 rain barrels purchased from this program will be able to capture 36,300 gallons of water each time the barrels are filled. This also means 36,300 gallons of runoff that won’t enter our waterways, reducing the amount of pollutants that reach our waterways.

This program far exceeded its initial goal of selling 100 rain barrels. San Mateo County residents showed such enthusiasm for conserving water with rain barrels that several individuals waited until after the distribution event ended for the possibility to buy unclaimed rain barrels.

“It’s very exciting and encouraging to see such enthusiasm and increased demand for this bulk discounted rain barrel program, as we approach our second event. C/CAG works on various issues that affect quality of life in San Mateo County, including addressing stormwater runoff and planning for climate change, among others. This rain barrel program attempts to address water resilience from a holistic standpoint, while bringing accessible and affordable options into our communities. This is exactly the type of impact we strive to make. We could not be happier with the results of this program and look forward to expanding it in years to come.”
MARIE CHUANG, CHAIR OF THE C/CAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COUNCILMEMBER, TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH

Residents may still take advantage of the rain barrel rebate program with any qualifying rain barrel purchase. To learn more visit flowstobay.org/rainbarrel.

Meet our latest Community Champion—Stacie from the City of San Mateo! Searching for ways to reduce her carbon footprint and conserve water, Stacie recently installed two brand new rain barrels in her garden for a total capacity of 100 gallons of rainwater.

“I constantly think of ways I can reduce and reuse,” she said. When Stacie learned about the opportunity to get a discounted rain barrel, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to capture rainwater during the rainy season and save it for drier months to use in her garden.

“I have a large rose garden that I love and I have to keep it watered throughout summer,” Stacie told Flows To Bay. “I am very conscious about our drought problem and this was a great way to conserve our water.”

Using a rain barrel is just one of many water-wise actions Stacie incorporates into daily life. For instance, she keeps a bucket in her shower to capture water while it is warming up for later use in the garden and saves her fruit-washing water in the kitchen to water her plants.

*Stacie loves her rose garden and plans to keep it watered throughout the summer using water captured in her rain barrel.*

Stacie’s rain barrel journey

Stacie signed up to get a discounted rain barrel when she learned about the Flows To Bay Rain Barrel Pilot Program.

Once the barrels were in hand, Stacie documented the installation process on her Instagram account (@famileehome). Then, through the simple process of filling out a form, uploading a receipt, and providing photos, Stacie applied for and received a rain barrel rebate that covered the full cost of her rain barrels. All San Mateo County residents are eligible for a minimum $50 rain barrel rebate depending on rain barrel capacity and which water district they are customers of.

Installing the rain barrel was also an easy process. “I used an oscillating tool to cut the downspout and bought a downspout extension for the water to flow into the barrel,” she explained. All that was left was to assemble the rain barrel and place it under the downspout. Her total out of pocket cost was $7.

Thank you, Stacie, for sharing your water-wise story with us!

Stacie documented the installation process on her Instagram account (@famileehome)

Follow in Stacie’s footsteps with your own rain barrel

Feeling inspired by Stacie’s rain barrel journey? Check our phase two pilot program page and learn how you can purchase an $80 rain barrel or qualify for the countywide rebate. The pilot program is open now through January 16, 2022 (or until supplies last)!

“I would definitely recommend this to everyone!” said Stacie.

From left to right: prior SSF Mayor – Karol Matsumoto, SSF City Manager – Mike Futrell, SSF Vice Mayor – Beunaflor Nicolas, Caltrans District 4 Chief Deputy District Director – Dave Ambuehl, SSF Mayor – Mark Nogales, Assemblymember – Kevin Mullin, C/CAG Chair – Davina Hurt, Councilmember – Mark Addiego, San Mateo County Supervisor – Dave Pine, SSF Councilmember – James Coleman.

An exciting new stormwater project was recently completed in May 2022! The Orange Memorial Park Regional Stormwater Capture Project is designed to capture, treat, and filter stormwater to remove contaminants. The water will then be used to irrigate the park and recharge the groundwater aquifer.

200 Million Gallons of Water

*Image from the* *Orange Memorial Park Educational Placard*

Rain falling east of the Santa Cruz Mountain range drains into the San Francisco Bay. Also called stormwater runoff, this rain may carry trash and other pollutants with it as it flows to the San Francisco Bay. One of the waterways that carries this runoff is Colma Creek, which drains over 6,500 acres of land in Colma, Daly City, Pacifica, South San Francisco, and San Bruno. A portion of the Colma Creek runs through Orange Memorial Park where the newly completed regional stormwater capture project will be able to capture, treat, and reuse 200 million gallons of water each year!

*Schematic of water flow and cleaning processes in and around Orange Memorial Park courtesy of the City of South San Francisco.*

What Are The Benefits of the Orange Memorial Park Project?

This project, the first-of-its-kind in Northern California, will divert and capture stormwater from the Colma Creek Watershed.

Some of the benefits of this project include:

Cleaning and saving water for non-potable use: Water from Colma Creek will be diverted and treated to remove trash, sediment, and pollutants such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). It will then be stored in a cistern underneath the park for further disinfection and used for irrigation and other non-potable water use. This will save over 15 million gallons of potable water each year, all while reducing local flood risk.
Recharging groundwater: Once the cistern is full, additional water will be infiltrated into the Westside Groundwater Basin, recharging 55 million gallons of groundwater each year. Groundwater recharge is an important water management practice in California because groundwater has been overused in recent decades, leading to dry wells, sinking land, and saltwater intrusion from the ocean.
Protecting the environment: When the underground water storage system is full, 130 million gallons of cleaned water will be returned to Colma Creek, improving the water quality in the creek and Bay. This will prevent pollutants such as mercury and PCBs—which are harmful to humans and wildlife—from polluting the San Francisco Bay.
Renovating the athletics field: In Phase 2 of this project, the Orange Memorial Park athletics field will be renovated, something the community has long been advocating for. This will enhance recreational opportunities for the local community, providing a space for baseball, softball, and soccer.

Now that the project is completed, what’s next?

Construction on this stormwater capture project began in early 2021 and was completed May 2022, with the official ribbon cutting happening on June 10, 2022. The project was led and constructed by the City of South San Francisco, with funding provided by Caltrans. Details on the project can be found here.

In 2023, Phase 2 of this project will begin. In line with the City’s Capital Improvement Program, the sports field above the water treatment facility will be rebuilt with improvements. More information on Phase 2 can be found here.

*Orange Memorial Park Conceptual Design 2021*
*Please note: This will be updated as designs become more finalized*

Imagine the setting sun throwing a golden light over clusters of purple needlegrass. Bright butterflies flit around patches of purple coyote mint and hummingbirds zip in and out of the hummingbird sage. This is what an evening in a native California plant garden might look like.

California native plants have been growing here since long before European contact. They have evolved so that they’re uniquely adapted to the climate, other native plants and the rich diversity of insects, birds and mammals of California. The result is a special web of relationships between the living and non-living environment of the region that we can help preserve by planting native gardens.

Photos (left to right): Miniature lupine is a deep blue and attracts the Arrowhead Blue Butterfly; Coyote mint has a minty fragrance and attracts butterflies; As the name suggests, hummingbird sage is a favorite of hummingbirds.

What are the benefits of native plants?

Save water! In California where a dry climate is common, many native plants are drought tolerant, so they require little to no irrigation. Especially now that San Mateo County is experiencing severe drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor, it is critically important to conserve as much water as possible (which also helps save you money on your water bill!)
Save the environment! California native plants evolved natural defense mechanisms against pests that live in California, so you will not have to spray as many pesticides in your garden. This is good news for our watersheds because it means fewer chemicals running into creeks and the ocean! Additionally, because California native plants are drought tolerant, you will have less water flowing through your garden and picking up litter and chemicals that will eventually reach the ocean via storm drains and creeks.
Save time! California native plants are generally low-maintenance, requiring less watering and fewer fertilizers, pesticides, pruning, and time.
Save the pollinators! Native plants and native pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, evolved to help each other out. According to David Bryant, a Native Plant Specialist at the California Native Plant Society, “Native plants provide invaluable habitat for wildlife.” For example, “As we grapple against the collapse of the western monarch [butterfly] population, gardeners have rallied around the vital connections between monarchs and native milkweeds, taking action by planting these important host plants.” This is especially important since pollinator populations are declining worldwide due to loss of habitat and pesticide use.
Save money! The Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency offers a rebate of up to $4 per square foot for replacing lawn with drought-tolerant plants. If you add a Rain Garden to your project you can get an additional $300 rebate and add an invaluable water-managing ecosystem to your yard!

“We have tremendous agency to help wildlife by growing the native plants they depend on for survival. In the process, we each become more connected to the ecosystems we call home and the plants that define it. I like to say that every action we take in our gardens is an action we take in the wider world. Native plants offer us the incredible chance to make a positive, lasting and beautiful difference.”
— David Bryant, Native Plant Specialist, California Native Plant Society

*Monarch butterflies only reproduce where milkweed, a plant native to California, is present*

How do I decide what native plants to use in my garden?

CalScape.org lets you search a database of California native plants based on location and plant type. You can even create an account and save your favorite plants!
Use the CalScape Garden Planner to get a customized list of native plants based on where you live and what garden style you enjoy.
Bay Area Gardening has a list of plants native to the Bay Area.
Get some garden inspiration with the California Native Plant Society’s virtual garden tours.

What else can I do to save water in my garden?

For more tips and tricks for saving water while maintaining a beautiful lawn and garden, check out our Water Wise Home Projects page!

If you have a native plant garden, let us know. Share your story and pictures with us by filling out the form below. We’d love to feature your project and share it with San Mateo County residents!

Water Wise Project Sharing

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