Trash discarded on urban lands frequently makes its way into streams, creeks, rivers, and eventually
the ocean, as rainstorms wash it into gutters and storm drains. This trash pollutes California waters and
adversely affects beneficial uses that support aquatic life, wildlife, recreation, water supplies, and public
health.
In 2015, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an Amendment to the Water Quality Control
Plan for Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan) to Control Trash emitted into waterways (Part 1 Trash
Provision of the Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries or ISWEBE
Plan). Collectively referred to as “the Trash Amendments,” the policy objective is to provide statewide
consistency for the regulatory approach to protect aquatic life and public health beneficial uses and reduce
environmental issues associated with trash in state waters, while focusing limited resources on high trash
generating areas. Put simply, the California Ocean Plan prohibits trash exceeding five millimeters in size
from discharge into any waterway in California. The Trash Amendments of the Ocean Plan are implemented
through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits (Phase I, Phase II, Industrial
General Permit and Construction General Permit and individual Permits), and are not enforceable until
incorporated into a Permit. The City of San Marcos (COSM) is a NPDES Phase I Permittee.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Democracy in Action Contact Info
University Faculty Contact
Robert Brown
Economics
Local Government / Community Contact
Reed Thornberry
Storm Water Project Manager