Excellence in Water Management Applauded at Annual Stormwater Conference CASQA Recognizes Excellence in Stormwater Quality Management

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Winer-Skonovd, (530) Excellence in Water Management Applauded at Annual Stormwater Conference CASQA Recognizes Excellence in Stormwater Quality Management San Diego, Calif. Nov. 5, 2012 The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) will present two awards at its eighth annual Stormwater Conference awards luncheon this Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the Hilton San Diego at Mission Bay. CASQA s annual conference is held each year for experts in the stormwater field and always includes an awards program recognizing creative approaches, outstanding projects, best practices and exemplary accomplishments in the field of stormwater quality management. The CASQA Awards Committee evaluated the creativity and innovation of projects, as they addressed stormwater and environmental challenges in their communities, said Gerhardt Hubner, Awards Committee chair. Both of these projects embody creativity and sustainability in stormwater management. CASQA wishes to recognize their success, innovation and dedication to the improvement of stormwater quality in California. This year s two award recipients received recognition for excellence in two categories: Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Award LA Sanitation- City of Los Angeles Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project The LA Sanitation-City of Los Angeles partnered with North East Trees, a communitybased nonprofit organization on the Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project. The project had two primary goals: to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that enters storm drains, streams and oceans, and to maximize the amount of stormwater recharged into aquifers to help offset water pumped out of aquifers by water agencies and other groundwater users. Garvanza Park is a. The Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project represents an exceptional, multi-use stormwater project in a number of important ways. Garvanza Park is a public park located in a heavily urbanized area of the northeast part of the Los Angeles where retrofit options are extremely limited. This project uses the existing park to house a below-ground water treatment facility, which not only enhances water quality, but also holds close to half of the collected rainwater for irrigation use within the park. It s estimated that this project reduces pollutant loads in stormwater by 90 percent. Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project Award - City of Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza The Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza is a demonstration garden for sustainable stormwater landscape design, located in the heart of the City of Elk Grove adjacent to City Hall. The goal of the project is to educate, inspire and motivate residents and business owners to design and/or retrofit their landscapes using low-impact development (LID) features and eco-friendly landscaping. Through interactive features and interpretive signage, this accessible inviting Plaza teaches visitors of all ages to have fun as they learn about easy

2 ways to reduce runoff, eliminate the use of harmful chemicals, and use water efficiently, all while reducing greenhouse gases in the process. CASQA awards can be given to both public and private projects and individuals from public agencies and private businesses. A CASQA member must nominate award candidates, and candidates are evaluated on demonstrated excellence, ingenuity, creativity, professionalism and documented results. Awards may be made at local, regional and statewide levels. CASQA s eighth annual Stormwater Conference will be held Nov. 5-7 at the Hilton San Diego at Mission Bay. This year s conference, Stormwater Management: Solving the Stormwater Compliance Puzzle, will offer training workshops, presentations, and exhibits designed to benefit those working with municipal, industrial, and construction NPDES stormwater permits. In addition, this year will also include a special track on the Clean Water Act in in commemoration of its 40th anniversary. About CASQA The California Stormwater Quality Association, founded in 1989, helps develop stormwater management programs and regulations that are technically and economically feasible, provide significant environmental benefits and effect compliance with State and Federal laws. Through its efforts to improve stormwater management practices, CASQA is on its way to creating cleaner waterways and beaches throughout California. The association collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, municipalities, special districts and businesses to achieve effective stormwater quality management programs in California. Membership consists of individuals and groups from government agencies, businesses, science organizations, development groups and construction groups. For more information about CASQA or to become a member, please visit # # # #

3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Winer-Skonovd, (530) CASQA Recognizes Los Angeles Sanitation - City of Los Angeles for the Garvanza Park Stormwater Best Management Practice Project Awards ceremony to acknowledge excellence in Stormwater Quality Management San Diego, Calif. Nov. 5, 2012 The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) will present an award to LA Sanitation-City of Los Angeles for its Garvanza Park Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) project at the eighth annual CASQA Stormwater Conference awards luncheon Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the Hilton San Diego at Mission Bay. LA Sanitation-City of Los Angeles received the Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Award for its Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project. This project, in partnership with North East Trees, a community-based nonprofit organization, had two primary goals: to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that enters storm drains, streams and oceans, and to maximize the amount of stormwater recharged into aquifers to help offset water pumped out of aquifers by water agencies and other groundwater users. The Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project represents an exceptional, multi-use stormwater project in a number of important ways. Garvanza Park is a public park located in a heavily urbanized area of northeast Los Angeles within a large 85-acre watershed where retrofit options are extremely limited. This project utilizes the existing park to house a below-ground water treatment facility, which not only enhances water quality, but also holds close to half of the collected rainwater for irrigation use within the park. It s estimated that this project reduces pollutant loads by 90 percent and is expected to capture and use 50 acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year. LA Sanitation-City of Los Angeles is extremely proud to have CASQA recognize the Garvanza Park Project for the Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation award, said Assistant Division Manager, Wing Tam. It was important for us to take an existing park and use it to make our improvements, enhancing the water quality, creating a sustainable source of water for the park, and replenishing our precious water resource in the groundwater. Garvanza Park Project demonstrates LA s ongoing commitment to clean water, protecting the environment, and promoting a sustainable community and lifestyle for generations to come. The CASQA Awards Committee evaluated the creativity and innovation of projects, as they addressed stormwater and environmental challenges in their communities, said Gerhardt Hubner, Awards Committee chair. The Los Angeles Sanitation Garvanza Park Project represents an exceptional, multi-use stormwater project in a number of important ways to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that enters storm drains, streams and ocean. CASQA values the City of Los Angeles and the project team's success, innovation and dedication to the improvement of stormwater quality in California.

4 One other CASQA stormwater management award will be given this year in the Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project award category to the City of Elk Grove for its Rain Garden Plaza. The CASQA awards program identifies and recognizes creative approaches, outstanding projects, best practices and exemplary accomplishments in the field of stormwater quality management. CASQA awards can be given to both public and private projects and individuals from public agencies and private businesses. A CASQA member must nominate award candidates, and candidates are evaluated on demonstrated excellence, ingenuity, creativity, professionalism and documented results. Awards may be made at local, regional and statewide levels. About CASQA The California Stormwater Quality Association, founded in 1989, helps develop stormwater management programs and regulations that are technically and economically feasible, provide significant environmental benefits and effect compliance with State and Federal laws. Through its efforts to improve stormwater management practices, CASQA is on its way to creating cleaner waterways and beaches throughout California. The association collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, municipalities, special districts and businesses to achieve effective stormwater quality management programs in California. Membership consists of individuals and groups from government agencies, businesses, science organizations, development groups and construction groups. For more information about CASQA or to become a member, please visit # # #

5 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Winer-Skonovd, (530) CASQA Recognizes the City of Elk Grove for its Rain Garden Plaza for Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Awards ceremony to acknowledge excellence in Stormwater Quality Management San Diego, Calif. Nov. 5, 2012 The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) will present an award to the City of Elk Grove for its Rain Garden Plaza Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater project at the eighth annual CASQA Stormwater Conference awards luncheon Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the Hilton San Diego at Mission Bay. The City of Elk Grove will receive the Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project Award for its Rain Garden Plaza. The Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza is a demonstration garden for sustainable stormwater landscape design located in the heart of the City of Elk Grove, adjacent to City Hall. The goal of the project is to educate, inspire and motivate residents and business owners to design and/or retrofit their landscapes, using low impact development (LID) features and ecofriendly landscaping. Through innovative interactive features and interpretive signage, this easily-accessible, inviting Plaza teaches visitors of all ages to have fun as they learn about easy ways to reduce runoff, eliminate the use of harmful chemicals, and use water efficiently, all while reducing greenhouse gases in the process. The City of Elk Grove is excited and truly honored to receive this prestigious award from CASQA for Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project, said Engineering Services Manager, Darren Wilson. The Elk Grove Rain Garden Plaza was built to educate the public by showcasing various innovative stormwater management techniques and sustainable landscaping practices used to promote water conservation, groundwater recharge and source control, create wildlife habitat, improve water quality and protect downstream aquatic resources. By applying these techniques and practices at their own residences and businesses, the public can contribute their part by reducing their carbon footprint. The CASQA Awards Committee evaluated the creativity and innovation of projects, as they addressed stormwater and environmental challenges in their communities, said Gerhardt Hubner, Awards Committee chair. The Elk Grove Rain Garden project s goal of educating, inspiring and motivating residents and business owners to design and/or retrofit their landscapes using low-impact development (LID) features and eco-friendly landscaping was accomplished through interactive features and interpretive signage. CASQA acknowledges the City of Elk Grove and the project team's success, innovation and dedication to the improvement of stormwater quality in California. One other CASQA stormwater management award will be given this year in the Outstanding Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Implementation award category to the LA Sanitation-City of Los Angeles for its Garvanza Park Stormwater BMP Project.

6 The CASQA awards program identifies and recognizes creative approaches, outstanding projects, best practices and exemplary accomplishments in the field of stormwater quality management. CASQA awards can be given to both public and private projects and individuals from public agencies and private businesses. A CASQA member must nominate award candidates, and candidates are evaluated on demonstrated excellence, ingenuity, creativity, professionalism and documented results. Awards may be made at local, regional and statewide levels. About CASQA The California Stormwater Quality Association, founded in 1989, helps develop stormwater management programs and regulations that are technically and economically feasible, provide significant environmental benefits and effect compliance with State and Federal laws. Through its efforts to improve stormwater management practices, CASQA is on its way to creating cleaner waterways and beaches throughout California. The association collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, municipalities, special districts and businesses to achieve effective stormwater quality management programs in California. Membership consists of individuals and groups from government agencies, businesses, science organizations, development groups and construction groups. For more information about CASQA or to become a member, please visit # # #

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