RANCHO MIRAGE, CA, Oct. 28, 2010 -- The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) will present five awards at its sixth annual Stormwater Conference awards luncheon this Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at the Westin Mission Hills Hotel in Rancho Mirage. CASQA's annual conference is held each year for experts in the stormwater field and always includes an awards program. The CASQA awards program identifies and recognizes creative approaches, outstanding projects, best practices and exemplary accomplishments in the field of stormwater quality management. Southern California is the big winner this year, with each project representing a city in the region.
"This year's Awards Committee evaluated how creative and innovative organizations could be as they addressed stormwater and environmental challenges in their communities. These particular projects embody both best practices and creative concepts in stormwater management. We recognize their success, innovation and dedication to the improvement of stormwater quality in California," said Jill Bicknell, Awards Committee chair.
This year's five award recipients received recognition for excellence in four categories:
• The Outstanding Sustainable Stormwater Project or Program award, presented to the Cucamonga Valley Water District for its Frontier Project, which constructed a new, large campus building to create more city office and meeting space and an area open to the public that will be used to educate customers and the public on environmental sustainability, especially for water.
• The Outstanding Stormwater News, Information, Outreach and Media award, presented to the City of Los Angeles for its Stormwater Public Education program, which maintained its public education efforts despite financial calamity through e-newsletters, a program blog, a Facebook page and an interactive website to engage in dialogue with constituents and establish a presence in the community.
• The Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Project award, presented to the Los Angeles & San Gabriel River Valley Rivers Watershed Council for its Elmer Avenue Retrofit Demonstration project. This project used local products and equipment to improve the treatment process of water in the area, reducing pollution, improving conservation and increasing community awareness of watershed and stormwater issues.
• A second Outstanding Stormwater BMP Implementation Project award, presented to the Disneyland Resort for its master water quality management plan, which included state-of-the-art upgrades to the Anaheim-based resort to improve water quality, reduce stormwater discharge and ensure the overall sustainability of the resort in regards to stormwater management.
• An Honorable Mention, presented to the City of Santa Monica for its Bicknell Avenue project, a stormwater infiltration project that reduces stormwater discharge.
CASQA awards can be given to both public and private projects and individuals from public agencies and private businesses. A CASQA member must nominate award candidates, and candidates are evaluated on demonstrated excellence, ingenuity, creativity, professionalism and documented results. Awards may be made at local, regional and statewide levels.
CASQA's sixth Annual Stormwater Conference will be held November 1-3 at the Westin Mission Hills Hotel in Rancho Mirage. This year's conference, Rethinking Stormwater Management -- Creative Solutions to Complex Problems, will offer training workshops, presentations and exhibits to give attendees a better understanding of stormwater technologies, regulations, programs and community impacts.
About CASQA
The California Stormwater Quality Association, founded in 1989, helps develop stormwater management programs and regulations that are technically and economically feasible, provide significant environmental benefits and effect compliance with State and Federal laws. Through its efforts to improve stormwater management practices, CASQA is on its way to creating cleaner waterways and beaches throughout California.
The association collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, municipalities, special districts and businesses to achieve effective stormwater quality management programs in California. Membership consists of individuals and groups from government agencies, businesses, science organizations, development groups and construction groups. For more information about CASQA or to become a member, please visit www.casqa.org.
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