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| Hydrologic Unit 908.10 -
908.32 |
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| Hydrologic Areas: |
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Point Loma |
908.1 |
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San Diego Mesa |
908.2 |
| National City |
908.3 |
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| Major Water Bodies: |
Chollas
Creek, Paleta Creek, and San Diego Bay |
| CWA 303(d) List: |
Chollas
Creek: copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, coliform bacteria, stormwater toxicity
San Diego Bay:
coliform bacteria, benthic community effects, copper, sediment toxicity (discharges from
several source basins contribute to impairments) |
| Major Impacts: |
Surface
water quality degradation, habitat degradation, sediment toxicity in San Diego Bay, and
sewer overflows |
| Constituents of
Concern: |
trace
metals and other toxic substances, and coliform bacteria |
| Sources / Activities: |
urban
runoff |
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| The Pueblo San
Diego watershed is the smallest hydrologic unit (HU) in San Diego County, encompassing
approximately 60 square miles of predominantly urban landscape in the cities of San Diego,
La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and National City. The watershed contains the smallest
proportion of unincorporated area (0.3%) of the HUs within the county. The
population of the Pueblo San Diego watershed is approximately 500,000 residents, making it
the county’s most densely populated watershed. Approximately 75% of the
watershed is developed. Residential, retail/ office, and industrial land uses
account for 45%, 11%, and 10% of the total, respectively. In addition, there are
relatively large percentages of land used for transportation corridors and highways.
Due to the high level of existing urbanization in the watershed, only small amounts
of additional land is projected for development over the next 15 years. The beneficial
uses of the inland surface waters in the Pueblo San Diego watershed are limited to contact
(potential use) and non-contact recreation, warm freshwater habitat, and wildlife habitat.
The San Diego Bay receiving water supports an extensive array of beneficial uses
(see table below).
The watershed
drainage consists of a group of relatively small local creeks and pipe conveyances, many
of which are concrete-lined and drain directly into San Diego Bay. The creeks in the
watershed are highly impacted by urban runoff, and Chollas Creek and the mouth of the
creek in San Diego Bay are listed as 303(d)-impaired water bodies for various trace metals
parameters and aquatic toxicity. Five sites in San Diego Bay that are impacted by
runoff from the Pueblo San Diego watershed have been identified as hot spots by
California’s Bay Protection Toxic Cleanup Program. |
| There are many beneficial water uses within the Pueblo Watershed
as designated in the State Water Resources Control Board's San Diego Region Basin Plan. |
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Leadership,
cooperation, and education are the most
important tools we have for compelling change.
PCW Webmaster |
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