Stormwater Quality Master Plan

Based on the physical characteristics of Culver City and current stormwater quality goals and requirements, the Stormwater Quality Master Plan has identified and analyzed potential project opportunities for capturing and managing stormwater in the Ballona Creek Watershed. Depending on the competing priorities of the City, the Master Plan will assist to prioritize stormwater projects to determine which move forward into feasibility study, design, and construction.

The Stormwater Quality Master Plan presents over 400 potential project opportunities that, if constructed, would achieve 69 acre-feet of stormwater capture, 70% of the total compliance goal. Based on planning estimates, it would cost approximately $140M to implement all of the potential projects. The Master Plan will assist the City to prioritize projects using three measures: 1) budget, 2) cost-effectiveness, and 3) multi-benefit metrics. The Master Plan's implementation strategy includes individual "recipes for compliance" based on variations in budget, prioritization, and multi-benefit goals.

The Stormwater Quality Master Plan features a web-based dashboard tool to facilitate collaboration within the City to increase efficiency. The tool will also track compliance progress and spending through the planning, bid, and construction phases of a project.

Lastly, the Stormwater Quality Master Plan includes concept plans for the top-ranked multi-benefit priority projects. These concept plans will serve as a communication tool to solicit project funding and public engagement once projects move forward to the feasibility study stage.  

View the Draft Stormwater Quality Master Plan(PDF, 82MB)

View the Stormwater Quality Master Plan Fact Sheet(PDF, 963KB)

Under the Ballona Creek Enhanced Watershed Management Plan, Culver City is responsible for capturing 99 acre-feet of stormwater and Culver City must comply with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). The Stormwater Quality Master Plan was developed to assist in meeting stormwater quality compliance targets, to comply with the provisions of the MS4 Permit, and to address the City's water quality priorities.  

A 99 acre-feet of capture is approximately one (1) football field filled with 99 feet of water.

Learn more about Culver City's management of stormwater and urban runoff, regulations, funding, and current projects.

The three main project categories of structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be categorized as Low Impact Development (LID), Green Streets, and Regional Projects.

Low Impact Development Projects (LID)

• Distributed structural practices that capture, infiltrate, store, and use and/or treat runoff at a parcel (normally less than 10 tributary acres)
• Common practices include bioretention, permeable pavement, and other practices that prevent runoff from leaving a parcel 

Green Streets Projects

• Distributed structural practices that are typically implemented as linear bioretention/biofiltration practices installed parallel to roadways
• Receive runoff from the gutter via curb cuts or curb extensions (sometimes called bump outs) and infiltrate through native or engineered soil media

Regional Projects

• Centralized facilities located near the downstream ends of large drainage areas, typically treating tens to hundreds of acres
• Receive large volumes of runoff from extensive upstream areas and provide a cost-effective mechanism for infiltration and pollutant reduction