Water quality is affected by geology, climate, and human-caused factors, such as wastewater effluent, runoff from roads and urbanized areas, agricultural practices, and atmospheric contaminants. Poor water quality limits the beneficial use of a water source for drinking water supply, irrigation, industrial water supply, recreation, and support of habitat and the natural environment. An overview of water quality characteristics in Ventura County is described in Section 10.4, “Existing Conditions,” of the Background Report.
Goal: WR-2
To implement practices and designs that improve and protect water resources.
The County shall cooperate with Federal, State and local agencies in identifying and eliminating or minimizing all sources of existing and potential point and non-point sources of pollution to ground and surface waters, including leaking fuel tanks, discharges from storm drains, dump sites, sanitary waste systems, parking lots, roadways, and mining operations.
IGC
The County shall evaluate the potential for discretionary development to cause deposition and discharge of sediment, debris, waste, and other contaminants into surface runoff, drainage systems, surface water bodies, and groundwater. In addition, the County shall evaluate the potential for discretionary development to limit or otherwise impair later reuse or reclamation of wastewater or stormwater. The County shall require discretionary development to minimize potential deposition and discharge through point source controls, storm water treatment, runoff reduction measures, best management practices, and low impact development.
RDR
The County shall require that discretionary development not significantly impact the quality or quantity of water resources within watersheds, groundwater recharge areas or groundwater basins.
RDR
The County shall require discretionary development for out-of-river mining below the historic or predicted high groundwater level in the Del Norte/El Rio (Oxnard Forebay Basin) to demonstrate that exaction activities will not interfere with or affect water quality and quantity pursuant to the County’s Initial Study Assessment Guidelines.
RDR