Pollution, debris, and vegetation in Chollas Creek into which stormwater gets funneled and before flowing into San Diego Bay. Photo by Chris Parkes.

San Diego Stormwater Crisis Part 2 – Tackling Stormwater Management With Action & Funding

If you haven’t had a chance to read Part One of our Stormwater Infrastructure blog, we highly recommend doing so. 

But as a quick recap: stormwater refers to water that starts off as precipitation, specifically rain or meltwater, and then travels either downstream or downhill and, eventually, into local waterways—in our case, our rivers, bays and marine waters. In San Diego, the vast majority of our stormwater comes from winter rainfall. Capturing, treating and reusing stormwater has the potential to change it from pollution to a public resource for irrigation and even potable reuse, but that takes planning and public investment in infrastructure that’s invisible to all eyes above ground. So for now, most of the water you see flowing down paved surfaces is destined for storm drains. Unlike wastewater, which is a separate system, stormwater is untreated and flows directly to our beaches, ocean, and coastal ecosystems, picking up whatever trash and pollution is on our streets along the way. 

In Part 2 of our Stormwater Infrastructure blog, we’re taking a closer look at San Diego’s stormwater causes, impacts, and solutions:

  • Why is our stormwater system so vulnerable?
  • What are the environmental, economic & social, and community impacts of underfunded stormwater infrastructure?
  • Are there ways I can make a real difference? (Spoiler: absolutely!)

 

Why Is San Diego’s Stormwater Infrastructure So Outdated?

Thanks to decades of poorly planned urban development, much of our land’s surface area is covered by concrete, asphalt, and other surface material collectively referred to as “impermeable surfaces.” These surfaces don’t soak up stormwater like natural green surfaces, meaning it can’t permeate into soils (infiltration) but instead turns into stormwater runoff. Managing stormwater effectively is critical to avoiding disastrous flooding, costly damages, polluted waterways, erosion, and public health emergencies

But with a growing population and much of San Diego’s aging stormwater system having last been updated over a century ago, it’s extremely hard to stay ahead of maintenance needs and unintended runoff, particularly in the face of increasing extremes in the weather in California due to climate change.

Graphic depicting that sewage and storm drains are separate systems, with sewage getting treated but San Diego stormwater infrastructure going untreated into waterways.
It’s a common misconception that water collected in storm drains gets treated. It does not; instead, it flows directly to our waterways. This system is dangerously outdated, making the need for stormwater investment all the more important.

The consequences of inadequate stormwater management can be devastating, with flooding being among the most destructive. According to multiple warnings by the City’s independent analyst, the city’s infrastructure will face yet more budget cuts if Measure E does not pass on this November’s ballot. Slashes to the budget would mean stricter rationing of City funds, even longer delays in upgrades, more maintenance postponements, and a greater chance for a repeat of the January 22nd floods. (Not to mention budget cuts to other infrastructure we all appreciate, like roads, community parks, bridges, etc.

Depending on the severity of the rainfall and storms, flooding can destroy properties, wash out roadways, and contaminate natural bodies of water like lakes, streams, and coastal waters. Sadly, San Diego got a taste of this in January of 2024 when heavy rainfall resulted in catastrophic flooding that upended entire neighborhoods.

Natural disasters like this can cost millions or even billions of dollars to repair, backlogging stormwater maintenance schedules and further adding to the long-term costs of postponed infrastructure investment. No matter what, whether due to property damage, insurance premium hikes, frequent beach closures, or environmental degradation, the future costs of not investing in stormwater infrastructure will fall on San Diego residents unless more funding for upgrades is secured. Public investment today will translate to cleaner water and safer, healthier communities in the future.

 

Environmental Impact

Underdeveloped stormwater infrastructure can have long-term impacts on local ecosystems. In San Diego, outdated stormwater infrastructure leaves many waterways in states of chronic degradation. Our environment is heavily affected by a number of key stormwater factors:

Stormwater runoff accelerates erosion as swiftly moving water displaces topsoil and saturates soil on slopes, increasing the risk of landslides. This effect is worsened by sprawling impermeable surfaces which push more stormwater down San Diego’s canyons and hillsides. Loose particles carry away fertile topsoil, creating a cycle where erosion leads to reduced vegetation cover, further exacerbating soil instability and vulnerability to landslides. This environmental feedback loop harms our natural environment as well as our neighborhoods. Effective stormwater management is essential to mitigate these impacts.

As stormwater is funneled into our canyons by way of the built environment, it increases the amount of water flooding canyons. Native plants and wildlife can be uprooted and displaced in a flood event, which can lead to ecological imbalance in sensitive areas. A canyon flood that clears away native plants, for instance, may make it easier for invasive plants to move in. 

Stormwater runoff harms our waterways. As displaced sediment reaches lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, it seeps into the water, increasing turbidity, which can significantly decrease dissolved oxygen levels by blocking sunlight penetration. This limits aquatic plant photosynthesis. When aquatic plants cannot photosynthesise, the amount of oxygen produced in the water column drops significantly. Oxygen is just as important for life underwater as it is for life above it. More sediment means less light reaching plants, resulting in less oxygen production to sustain aquatic life.

Stormwater quickly turns into urban runoff. Ironically, water is an excellent vector for pollutants, which get swept downstream and eventually into the watersheds rainfall would otherwise replenish. Urban runoff either continues its polluted march through the streets and into the ocean, beaches, and other coastal areas; or it seeps into lakes, rivers, and soils through leaks in storm drains. Due to San Diego’s significant urban footprint and neglected stormwater infrastructure, the polluted runoff poisons our local ecosystems with every rainfall. Some of the pollutants picked up by stormwater runoff include:

  • Automotive fluids like oil, grease, and coolants
  • Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides from golf courses, gardens, parks, etc.
  • Industrial chemicals and sediments from factories and construction sites
  • Bacteria from improperly disposed of pet waste or broken septic systems

 

Photo of sediment and pollution in a Chollas Creek area stormwater canal.
Dry stormwater canals, like this one in Chollas Creek, reveal the pollution that will be washed into our bays and oceans during the next heavy rainfall. Heavy sediment and vegetation can block the flow, causing damaging floods.

 

Economic and Social Impact

In 2022, still parched from a three-year dry period starting in 2020, only 68% of survey participants in a City of San Diego stormwater report felt that “preventing flooding of streets, homes, and businesses” was a stormwater priority. But when an atmospheric river sent record rainfall to San Diego on January 22, 2024—just two years after the survey—it became apparent to everyone that flooding is one of the main causes of economic loss and damage from stormwater. 

Destruction of Property

One of the most striking visual examples of flood damage is of cars submerged in water where there should be a road or parking lot. 

A brand new Lamborghini flooded up to the windows. Image originally published by the OB Rag.
A 2016 stormwater flood in the neighborhood of Ocean Beach went viral—socially, but probably septically as well—thanks to reports of a brand-new Lamborghini windows-deep in brown floodwater.

But San Diego flooding extends beyond fancy cars in wealthy coastal communities. The January 2024 floods caused $90 million in property damage, most of it residents living in Chollas and City Heights. Less recognized in the media, but every bit as damaging, is the loss of personal belongings, documents, furniture and clothing, cash savings, computers, and other important tangibles that individually and collectively affect the livelihoods of individuals, families, and entire communities. [1

Increased City Debt

Remember when a massive sinkhole swallowed two lanes in University City in 2011? That stormwater pipe had been rusting away beneath Campus Point Drive for 32 years, waiting for City crew to make repairs it had known about for a long time. Repairs on a drain very nearby cost $570,000, which was paid for with a $100 million loan to repair “the worst of the worst” of the City’s infrastructure.” We’ve come a long way since 2011, but borrowing—instead of generating—funds to improve San Diego’s stormwater infrastructure puts our city in debt. No matter what, we need to pay for upgrades, but doing so with debt is unsustainable. (Measure E, on November’s ballot, can address this. More on that below.)

Aerial photo of a 2011 sinkhole in University City, clearly showing broken and outdated San Diego stormwater infrastructure.
The rusted stormwater pipe that caused this sinkhole in University City was 32 years old. Much of San Diego’s stormwater system is far older. Photo: San Diego Union Tribune

 

It’s worth noting that the piping that eventually broke was made of a type of metal with a reputation for failure. Adequate funding allows cities to invest in long-term solutions using quality materials, instead of “Band-Aid” repairs of heavily deteriorating piping and other “pound foolish” procrastinations. 

Drop In Tourism

Flooding can also impact tourism if areas of recreation, such as beaches and rivers, are regularly closed to swimming due to polluted runoff. In San Diego, current recommendations are to avoid direct contact with any coastal waters following 72 hours of a rain event for this very reason. How many tourist dollars will go elsewhere if our beaches stay closed.

 

Community Impact

Unfortunately, economic damage typically affects vulnerable communities the most, and not just economically. [2] Intangible damage cannot be accounted for on a ledger but still significantly affects people’s lives. Displacement and visual degradation of communities impacts residents’ sense of place, identity, and individual and collective well-being. 

Examples of community impact include:

  • Loss of cultural heritage
  • Loss of local or indigenous knowledge
  • Lower social cohesion
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Damage to ecosystem services
  • Loss of recreational opportunities
  • Loss of connection with nature

 

The Best Solution To San Diego’s Stormwater Crisis

Reducing urban runoff requires intentional, long-term strategies with many environmental, political, and social overlaps. With the City of San Diego’s stormwater infrastructure already 100 years outdated—and facing a $1.6 billion deficit—local politicians, advocacy groups, and residents need to work swiftly and collaboratively to avoid yet another devastating flood event in our neighborhoods.

 

Here are the top three ways you can make a difference:

Vote YES on Measure E

The City of San Diego desperately needs additional funding to make resources available for vital improvements, such as stormwater infrastructure. If it passes in November, Ballot Measure E would be an essential source of funding to rebuild our stormwater system and green our city. 

Currently, San Diego is tied for the fourth-lowest sales tax among California’s 482 cities. If voters approve the 1% sales tax increase, the revenue generated would have the following benefits:

    • Potential Revenue: An estimated $400 million boost to the City’s general fund.
    • Key Areas of Investment: Mayor Gloria has publicly committed to allocating funding to stormwater system repairs, parks, libraries, and fixing roads (and potholes!). Coastkeeper supports at least $100 million annually for stormwater. 
    • Safer Communities: Less endangered by flooding, sinkholes, and other natural disasters, San Diego will be home to more environmentally resilient communities.
  • Healthier Habitats: From our canyons to our estuaries to our beaches. reduced pollution will lead to noticeably healthier, more climate resilient communities. 

 

There’s no disagreement that San Diego desperately needs improved infrastructure. Opponents to the measure simply question whether the City would spend the revenue appropriately. This is where organizations like San Diego Coastkeeper really shine. As San Diego’s clean water watchdogs, we dig in and advocate tirelessly to make sure government spending goes where it’s needed the most. 

San Diego Coastkeeper strongly supports Measure E. We see first-hand how underinvestment in our stormwater infrastructure has led to major destruction of communities and fragile ecosystems through pollution and flooding. Increased funding would provide the necessary resources and allow organizations such as Coastkeeper to work with city officials to advocate for informed, proactive and multi-benefit infrastructure decisions for all the species (people included) who call San Diego home. 

 

Act on methods to reduce urban runoff

Make no mistake, the City of San Diego is working very hard to address the stormwater crisis. But there’s a lot that residents can do on a daily basis to help. According to Think Blue San Diego, the education program of San Diego’s Stormwater Department, stormwater pollution is the single biggest threat to our city’s clean water. Their top eight tips to help stop pollution include:

  1. Use organic and non-toxic fertilizers and avoid fertilizing near ditches and storm drains.
  2. Dispose of motor oil and car grease properly
  3. Regularly clear roof gutters
  4. Dispose of all pet waste properly
  5. Don’t wash your car in an alley or driveway where water can flow into storm drains
  6. Use native plants in landscaping to absorb excess rainwater
  7. Put yard clippings and green waste into your city-provided green bin
  8. Don’t dump household cleaners, paints, oils, etc. on the ground.