Announcements
Registration is Open for the April Seminar Series Event (formerly Quarterly Meeting)
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring: Reflections and Assessments of Stormwater Management After the Atmospheric River Events
Thursday April 6, 2023 - 10am - 3pm
Virtual meeting
Agenda
Deadline to Register: Wed April 5 at NOON Pacific
CASQA 2023 Annual Conference Updates
Rain Ready California: Protecting and Collecting Water for Our Future
We look forward to seeing you at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego, September 11-13, for the CASQA 2023 Conference! The Annual Conference section is updated as more information is available.
Call for Abstracts - Now Open!
Abstract submissions for a technical presentation, poster, panel, or training workshop are now being accepted!
- Submittal deadline: Monday April 17 - NOON Pacific
- Learn more
Call for Conference Scholarship Applications: Opens early April
Registration - Opens mid-April
- Attendee (includes speakers, panelists, and poster presenters)
- Early registration discount ends: Monday July 31
- Registration closes: Tuesday Sep 5 at 5pm Pacific
- Sponsorship:
- Purchasing opens April 17 at 9am Pacific. Review the many sponsorship opportunities. Some have limited availability so act quickly to secure the one you want!
- Deadline: Friday August 11 - 5pm Pacific
- Conference Program Ad - Deadline: July 19 (tentative) at 5pm Pacific
- Exhibit Space: More information to come
2023 Call for CASQA Award Nominations is Now Open!
Current CASQA members are invited to nominate a worthy individual, project, program, or media item for an award.
Nomination Submittal Deadline: May 4, 2023 by 5pm Pacific
Subscribe to Our Water, Our World (OWOW)
This award-winning partnership is an excellent opportunity and cost-efficient way to educate the public and reduce toxicity in waterways from current use pesticides. Several municipalities utilize OWOW to meet permit requirements, including the Bay Area Municipal Regional Permit, the Central Valley Region-wide MS4 Permit, and the Phase II – Small MS4 General Permit.
Vision for Stormwater
CASQA first established a Vision for Sustainable Stormwater Management (Vision) in 2015. Over the past several years, CASQA has made updates to the Vision, reflective of advancements in stormwater and regulations. In 2019, CASQA included implementation of the Vision as a core part of setting organizational priorities for each year. Those actions were not only successful in taking significant steps forward, but also inspired new thinking and ideas. CASQA therefore completed an effort in 2020 to more fundamentally revise the Vision, and in so doing, chart the path forward to sustainable stormwater management.
CASQA Vision for Sustainable Stormwater Management (October 2020)
CASQA’s Petition for Zn in Tires Approved by DTSC
In 2018, CASQA, working closely with the State Water Board, petitioned the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) to list motor vehicle tires with tire-tread containing zinc as a Priority Product under the Safer Consumer Products regulations. On January 12, 2021, DTSC formally notified CASQA that the petition has been granted. DTSC will open a public comment period and schedule a workshop on the proposal prior to initiating the formal rulemaking process. This rule-making will require manufacturers to address whether zinc is necessary in tire-tread and whether there is a safer alternative. DTSC will issue a technical document explaining the rationale for their decision and will hold a public comment period and workshop prior to initiating the formal rulemaking process. DTSC will also use the workshop as an opportunity to begin a discussion about other tire-related chemicals of concern, including 6PPD.
Construction BMP Online Handbook
CASQA is pleased to announce the publication of the latest version of this standard reference. This is the first major update of the Handbook since 2012.
If you are already a subscriber to the Construction BMP Online Handbook, you will definitely want to renew your subscription when it comes due to maintain access to the most recent version.
If you are not a subscriber, there is no better time to become one: more information and purchase.
CASQA members receive discounts on BMP Online Handbook subscriptions; please log in to take advantage of your member discount.
Public Agencies:
There is a new copyright statement that clarifies the extent of a public agency subscriber’s permission to distribute portions of the Handbook. Please check it out and contact us with any questions.
Development BMP Handbook Now Available as an Online Subscription
CASQA is pleased to announce the publication of the latest version of this standard reference - now available as an online subscription.If you are not a subscriber, there is no better time to become one: more information and purchase.CASQA members receive discounts on BMP Online Handbook subscriptions; please log in to take advantage of your member discount.The Development BMP Online Handbook is an interactive online reference that addresses selection and implementation of BMPs to eliminate or to reduce the discharge of pollutants and control or reduce impacts to the hydrologic cycle associated with development and redevelopment activities. For a comprehensive understanding of stormwater pollution control throughout the life cycle of the project, it is recommended that you obtain and become familiar with all four of CASQA’s BMP handbooks.The printed 2003 version of the New Development & Redevelopment BMP Handbook became obsolete in 2021 when the handbook was significantly updated and became an online subscription product.
Industrial & Commercial BMP Online Handbook
CASQA is pleased to announce the publication of the latest version of this standard reference. This is the first major update of the Handbook since 2014.
If you are already a subscriber to the Industrial & Commercial BMP Online Handbook, you will definitely want to renew your subscription when it comes due to maintain access to the most recent version.
If you are not a subscriber, there is no better time to become one: more information and purchase.
CASQA members receive discounts on BMP Online Handbook subscriptions; please log in to take advantage of your member discount.
Public Agencies:
There is a new copyright statement that clarifies the extent of a public agency subscriber’s permission to distribute portions of the Handbook. Please check it out and contact us with any questions.
Virtual Training Option Allowed for QSDs, QSPs, and QISPs
Both the Construction General Permit Training Team (CGPTT), which oversees the Construction General Permit Training Program (CGPTP), and the Industrial General Permit Training Team (IGPTT), which oversees the Industrial General Permit Training Program (IGPTP), have determined that it is now viable to conduct and receive QSP, QSD, and QISP Training virtually (online).
The Virtual CGP QSP and QSD Training is equivalent to Step 1. “Take a QSP / QSD Training Course” in the four-step process to qualify to be a QSD or QSP, as described here. The Virtual IGP QISP Training is equivalent to Step 4. “Complete the one-day, in-person training with an IGP ToR” in the five-step process to qualify to be a QISP, as described here.
Both the CGPTT and IGPTT will allow virtual training at least until each conducts a Programmatic Review of the Virtual Training Option by June 30, 2021.
Only those CGP Trainers of Record qualified by the CGPTT and those IGP Trainers of Record qualified by the IGPTT are eligible to conduct Virtual QSP or QSD Training or Virtual QISP Training, respectively.
To find an eligible CGP Trainer of Record, look for a “Yes” answer in the “Virtual Option?” column in the current CGP ToRs List. To find an eligible IGP Trainer of Record, look for a “Yes” answer in the “Virtual Option?” column in the current IGP ToRs List.
Stormwater Permit Implementation During COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 23, 2020, CASQA executive management discussed permit implementation expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic with executive management of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board). The State Water Board and nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Board), individually or collectively the “Water Board”, have issued guidance and clarity as it pertains to stormwater.
Stormwater Permit Implementation During COVID-19 Pandemic
CASQA at Work for You!
The Board of Directors approved a methodology to identify the most critical water quality issues for stormwater. These issues, which are incorporated into CASQA’s overall prioritization process, are: pathogen indicators, biological integrity / biostimulatory substances, current use pesticides, and trash. Look for projects to address each of these issues. The final work product: 'Water Quality Priorities: Approach, Methodology, and Results' is available to CASQA members only and can be found in the Member Library. This effort was managed through the Policy and Permitting Subcommittee, but also included significant input and expertise across many of CASQA’s subcommittees. Thank you to all who volunteered time for this foundational and valuable project!