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| Hydrologic Unit 910.10 -
910.37 |
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| Hydrologic Areas: |
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Coronado |
910.1 |
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Otay Valley |
910.2 |
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Dulzura |
910.3 |
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| Major Water Bodies: |
Upper
and Lower Otay Reservoirs, Otay River, San Diego Bay |
| CWA 303(d) List: |
Otay Reservoir (Lower):
color, iron, manganese, nitrogen, ammonia (total ammonia),
pH (high); Pacific Ocean Shoreline (Imperial Beach Pier):
PCBs; Pogi Canyon Creek: phosphorus, turbidity; San Diego
Bay: PCBs; San Diego Bay Shoreline (Coronado Cays):
copper; San Diego Bay (Glorietta Bay): copper |
| Major Impacts: |
surface
water quality degradation, reduced ground water recharge, sedimentation, habitat
degradation and loss, flood control, and invasive species |
| Constituents of
Concern: |
coliform
bacteria, trace metals and other toxic constituents |
| Sources / Activities: |
urban
runoff, agricultural runoff, resource extraction, septic systems, marinas and boating
activities |
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| The Otay River watershed encompasses
approximately 160 square miles in southwest San Diego County and is one of the three
hydrologic units that discharge to San Diego Bay. The
watershed consists largely of unincorporated area, but also includes portions of the
cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado, National City, and San Diego. The predominant land uses in the watershed are
open space (67%) and urban/residential (20%). The major inland hydrologic features, Upper
and Lower Otay Lakes, are two water supply reservoirs that also provide important habitat
and recreational opportunities. Approximately
36 square miles of the watershed is part of the Multiple Species Conservation Plan effort
that provides habitat for a wide range of endangered plant and animal species. Other important conservation areas within the
watershed include the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, the Rancho Jamul Ecological
Reserve, and the vernal pool lands in the region. The
current population in the Otay River watershed is approximately 150,000 people. At the present time, serious water quality
problems are limited to the presence of elevated coliform bacteria in the Pacific Ocean
receiving waters near Coronado. However, an
expected population increase of 88% from 1998 – 2015 will substantially increase the
volume of urban runoff in the watershed, and could significantly alter the present water
quality status. In the absence of effective
watershed-based management, the natural resources of the Otay River watershed may be
significantly degraded. |
| There are many beneficial water uses within the Otay 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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