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OC Flood Water Quality Projects

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The last three years have seen a dramatic increase in efforts to curb the impacts of urban runoff through collaborative planning processes and regulatory and legislative mandates. The OC Flood has made a commitment to do its part to improve water quality in the region. The Division uses a variety of best management practices (BMPs) in its flood control system to improve water quality. Low flow diversion systems are used in its channels to divert water pollutants to the sanitary sewer system for treatment. Trash booms are used to trap floatables before they reach Orange County's beaches. The OC Flood coordinates with The OCWatersheds.com which implements water quality and watershed planning, and coastal resources management.

Examples of diversions systems in flood control channels are shown in figures 1 thru 3. A typical trash boom is shown in Figure 4. Table 1 provides a listing of flood control channels with trash booms.

Figure 1. Low flow diversion structure in Lower Santa Ana River. Water flows into a grate inlet and underground sump then pumped to nearby sewer system.

Figure 2. Rubber Dam diversion at Greenville-Banning Channel. Inflatable rubber dam stops low flows in channel then pumps ponded water to the sewer system for treatment.

Figure 3. Rubber Dam diversion at Talbert Channel. Inflatable rubber dam stops low flows in channel then pumps ponded water to the sewer system for treatment.

Figure 4. Typical flood control trash boom.