OCTA works with cities to distribute funding through its Environmental Cleanup Program to offset transportation impacts and keep Orange County’s water clean and safe
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority's Environmental Cleanup Program has awarded $10.6 million to support water quality improvement projects across Orange County that offset transportation-related pollution.
The OCTA funding, provided through the voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax for transportation, helps cities and the county remove pollutants from streets in cities across the county before they reach waterways and the ocean.
“Along with improving transportation on our streets, freeways and the bus system, I’m also proud that OCTA supports these water-quality projects to benefit our communities,” said OCTA Chair Tam T. Nguyen. “This shows that we can continue to move people safely and efficiently while protecting our environment at the same time.”
OCTA’s environmental commitment fulfills a promise to voters who overwhelming renewed Measure M in 2006. The measure includes a multi-pronged approach to the environment, including a program to purchase undeveloped land from willing sellers to preserve wildlife and habitat – more than 1,300 acres has been preserved so far.
And the local sales tax funds the Environmental Cleanup Program, which provides two types of grants on a competitive basis to help cities and the county capture roadway trash and pollutants and improve overall water quality.
Tier 1 projects are designed to reduce the more visible forms of pollutants, including trash that collects on roadways and in storm drains before entering waterways and oceans. Funding goes toward equipment purchases and upgrades for existing catch basins and related best management practices and other street scale low-flow diversion projects.
2024 Water Quality Improvement Project Funding Awards Tier 1
| AGENCY | PROJECT TITLE | LOCAL MATCH | M2 FUNDING | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | Stormwater Catch Basin Screen Installation Project Phase 5 – FY 2024-2025 | 20% | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| County of Orange | Orange County Debris Boom Project 2024 | 20% | $288,000 | $888,000 |
| Fountain Valley | Fountain Valley High Priority CPS Screen Installation | 20% | $392,931 | $1,280,931 |
| Fullerton | Installation of Full Capture Trash Devices in Catch Basins – 2024 | 20% | $188,352 | $1,469,283 |
| Huntington Beach | Trash Provision Compliance Full Capture System (FCS) Installation Project | 20% | $192,200 | $1,661,483 |
| Irvine | Catch Basin Connector Pipe Screen Installation Project – Phase 4 I | 20% | $357,760 | $2,019,243 |
| Mission Viejo | Trash and Runoff Abatement Project (TRAP): CPS-Mod™ & ARS-CL™ Installations in the Southwest Area | 20% | $160,000 | $2,179,243 |
| San Clemente | El Camino Real Vicinity Runoff Corridor Project | 20% | $328,000 | $2,507,243 |
| Santa Ana | 10th and Flower Stormwater Capture Project | 56% | $600,000 | $3,107,243 |
| Seal Beach | Galleon Way at Electric Avenue Stormwater Treatment | 20% | $584,940 | $3,692,183 |
| Stanton | Western Storm Channel Grate Replacement Project | 20% | $20,240 | $3,712,423 |
With the most current funding awards, approximately $40 million has been awarded to 233 projects throughout Orange County for the Tier 1 projects since the program began in 2011.
Tier 2 provides funding for regional, capital-intensive projects, including constructed wetlands, detention/infiltration basins and bioswales that reduce trash and heavy metals, organic chemicals, sediment, and nutrients.
2024 Water Quality Improvement Project Funding Awards Tier 2
| AGENCY | PROJECT TITLE | LOCAL MATCH | M2 FUNDING | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | State College Boulevard Stormwater Capture and Conveyance Project | 40% | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Newport Beach | Newport Dunes Water Quality Improvement Project | 50% | $467,250 | $1,967,250 |
| San Clemente | Poche Beach Water Reclamation Project | 75% | $2,500,000 | $4,467,250 |
| Santa Ana | Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion (SAZSCAD) Project | 63% | $2,500,000 | $6,967,250 |
So far, three rounds of the Tier 2 grant program have been allocated, totaling approximately $35 million for 26 projects in 16 cities and the County of Orange.
The most recent funding to improve water quality was announced during OCTA’s first Board meeting in October.
For more information about OCTA’s environmental programs visit, www.octa.net/water
