Strategy to Optimize Resource Management of Stormwater (Stormwater Strategy, STORMS)
STORMS' mission is to lead the evolution of Stormwater management in California by advancing the perspective that Stormwater is a valuable resource, supporting policies for collaborative watershed-level Stormwater management and pollution prevention, removing obstacles to funding, developing resources, and integrating regulatory and non-regulatory interests.
Announcements
- EPA EFAB Report: Evaluating Stormwater Infrastructure Funding and Financing
- California Drywell Guidance Research and Recommendations
- Final Report: Evaluating Potential Methods to Quantify Stormwater Capture
- STORMS Seminar - Multivalent Stormwater Actions in an Era of Climate Change – July 11th, 2019
- 2018 STORMS Public Outreach and Education Report
- Final Report: Enhancing Urban Runoff Capture and Use (posted 2018)
- Staff Report: Discussion and Recommendations to Address Zinc in Urban Receiving Waters
- Staff Report: Eliminate Barriers to Funding Stormwater Programs and Identify Funding for Stormwater Capture and Use (posted 2018)
- Current Projects
- Urban Pesticides
- Cost of Municipal Stormwater Permit Compliance
- Site-Specific Water Quality Objectives for Copper and Zinc
- Dry Well Standards
- Stormwater Volume Methodologies
- Adaptive Management Guidance
- Stormwater Capture Water Rights Fact Sheet
- Standard MS4 Permit Language for MCMs
- Evaluate and Increase Permit Compliance
- Asset Management Planning
- Previous Projects
- Project 1a: Promote Storm Water Capture and Use & Project 1b: Identify and Eliminate Barriers to Storm Water Capture and Use
- Project 3a: Develop Guidance for Alternative Compliance Approaches for Municipal Storm Water Permit Receiving Water Limitations
- Project 3b: Develop Watershed-Based Compliance and Management Guidelines and Tools
- Project 4a: Implement Senate Bill 985 - Incorporate Principles of Storm Water Resource Plan Guidelines into Storm Water Programs
- Project 4b: Eliminate Barriers to Funding Storm Water Programs and Identify Funding for Storm Water Capture and Use Projects
- Project 5a: Create Storm Water Program Data and Information "Open Data"
- Project 6b: Identify Opportunities for Source Control and Pollution Prevention
Strategy to Optimize Resource Management of Stormwater (PDF)
Table of Contents
- 1. Executive Summary
- 2. Introduction
- 3. Vision and Mission
- 4. Implementation Strategy
- 5. Implementation Resources
- 6. Measuring and Reporting Progress
- 7. Strategy Updates and Revisions
- Appendix A - Proposed Projects List (PDF)
- Appendix B - Potential Pilot Projects (PDF)
- Appendix C - Proposal to Develop a Stormwater Program
Workplan and Implementation Strategy - Including Projects
for Immediate Action (PDF) - Acronyms and Abbreviations
Upcoming Seminars
Past Seminars
- August 2020
- Evaluating Benefits and Costs in Stormwater Management
- July 2019
- STORMS Seminar - Multivalent Stormwater Actions in an Era of Climate Change – July 11th, 2019
- November 2018
- Ocean Friendly Gardens: Taking the Watershed Approach to Protect Local Water Resources
- October 2018
- Nature-Based Stormwater Projects: From Microbial to Human Communities - October 1, 2018
- June 2018
- Watershed Solutions through Data Sharing, Collaboration & Education - June 14, 2018
- May 2018
- Talking Trash with Clean River Alliance founder Chris Brokate - May 9, 2018
- August 2017
- Floating Islands - August 11, 2017
- July 2017
- Protect Every Drop - July 17, 2017
- May 2017
- Enhancing Groundwater Recharge with Stormwater - May 30, 2017
- April 2017
- Municipal Finance of Stormwater Projects - April 20, 2017
- January 2017
- Stormwater Management Using Customized Science Based Software - January 30, 2017
- December 2016
- Enhancing Urban Development with LID Designs in Sacramento - December 6, 2016
- September 2016
- Transforming Gray Space into Green Space: Integrating Green Infrastructure into our Built Environment - September 26, 2016
- July 2016
- Using Deep Infiltration and Drywells for Groundwater Recharge - July 8, 2016
- May 2016
- Living Schoolyards for Storm Water Management May 18, 2016
- March 2016
- Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies
- April 2016
- Real-Time Cloud-Based Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Stormwater Control
In response to the recommendations made by the State Auditor in 2018 (Report 2017-118), the State Water Board released guidance for the Regional Water Boards on how to obtain adequate, consistent and comparable information on stormwater management costs local jurisdictions incur and for the Water Boards to base decisions on that information. This is a living document and may be subject to change.
Chapter 811, Statute of 2017 (Senate Bill 541, Allen) required the State Water Board to “recommend best design and use practices for stormwater and dry weather runoff capture practices that can generally be applied to all new, reconstructed, or altered public schools, including school grounds.” The following guidelines provide insights for the selection, design, and implementation of practices that can reduce runoff and pollutants that flow from school properties by minimizing impervious surfaces, increasing green space, promoting infiltration, and treating runoff on site.
(Updated 08/12/2021)
Subscribe to our Email Lists
- Subscribe to Stormwater Strategy email subscription list.
Select "Water Quality", check the box for "Stormwater Planning", then type in your name and email, and click subscribe.
STORMS Contacts
Stormwater Planning Unit
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street, 15th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: STORMS@waterboards.ca.gov
Stormwater Planning Unit Staff
- Chris Beegan: (916) 341-5912
- Sahand Rastegarpour: (916) 322-7786
- Sara Huber: (916) 323-0683
- Nabiul Afrooz: Nabiul.Afrooz@Waterboards.ca.gov
Stormwater Planning Unit Chief
- Amanda Magee: (916) 322-8569
