.010 The Stormwater Credit Program is designed to achieve the following purposes:
.0101 Incentivize regional stormwater treatment and supply projects (e.g., capture, treatment, infiltration, beneficial use projects) through the generation and sale of Credits;
.0102 Accelerate water quality, watershed improvement, and improved hydrologic function;
.0103 Improve effectiveness and efficiency of stormwater capture by replacing on-site privately managed stormwater management systems with publicly managed regional stormwater retention that provides better pollutant removal, more rigorous and closely monitored structural treatment control, reduces the number of structural treatment controls requiring compliance oversight including design review, inspection, and maintenance confirmation, and provides more cost-effective maintenance;
.0104 Promotes capture of stormwater as a resource through regional stormwater capture and groundwater recharge or beneficial use, reduces local hydrologic and flood risks, and leverages multi-source funding for implementation of multi-benefit projects;
.0105 Complies with current stormwater regulations including, the NPDES Permit and Orange County’s Model Water Quality Management Plan, and aligns with state and county integrated water management approaches; and
.0106 Helps implement the City’s NPDES program and achieves a net environmental benefit by reducing overall pollutant load by watershed. (Ord. 6557 § 1 (part); June 27, 2023.)