Watershed Management

The City of Santa Monica is part of the Santa Monica Bay Watershed, which is generally considered to span from the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, and the Griffith Park area to the east. The city drains to the Santa Monica Bay by way of two sub-watersheds: Central Santa Monica Bay Jurisdictional Groups 2 & 3; and Ballona Creek. Only a small section in the northeast corner of the city drains to Ballona Creek. The Santa Monica Bay Watershed spans across jurisdictional lines and multiple agencies work together to monitor and mitigate pollutants entering the Santa Monica Bay. The City of Santa Monica has completed numerous capital projects as part of an on-going effort to reduce the volume of pollutants entering the ocean. Many of the capital projects were funded in whole or in part by "Measure V".

Background

In November 2006, the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax, also known as “Measure V”, was passed by over two-thirds of voters in the City of Santa Monica.  Measure V raises property tax revenue to be used solely for the purpose of implementing urban runoff water quality improvements in the City in accordance with the City’s Watershed Management Plan adopted in 2006.  It Is the most equitable source of funding to pay for new urban runoff treatment projects that will prevent our unhealthful water pollution, from reaching Santa Monica beaches and the Santa Monica Bay.

Below is a list of Measure V projects. Click on project link below for more information:

Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee

The Citizens Oversight Committee is comprised of five residents of the City of Santa Monica who are appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. The responsibilities of the Committee are advisory to the City Council and consist of: 1) review of proposed capital and operating expenditures from Measure V funds; 2) review of actual Measure V capital and operating expenditures; and 3) review of proposed Measure V capital projects to confirm consistency with the generally or specifically established water quality improvement goals of the program. Committee members meet quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month.

Nov 8, 2023 Meeting Agenda


Current Committee Members 

  • Chair Benjamin Kay 
  • Vice Chair Ashley Oelsen
  • Commissioner Mary Marlow
  • Commissioner Jim Kennedy
  • Commissioner Sami Rasromani


Committee Liaison:

Joshua Carvalho, P.E. Principal Civil Engineer / Watershed Manager

joshua.carvalho@santamonica.gov

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