Presented here are four of BASMAA’s more significant programs and projects. View other Board Programs and Projects and Committees Programs and Projects.
From 1994 to 2021, BASMAA conducted almost 150 projects and programs – many of them groundbreaking – including nine State and Federal grant projects, with a total cumulative budget of over $25 million. Individual projects and programs ranged in size from $500 to more than $7 million and lasted from a few months to more than 20 years and counting for two ongoing programs. BASMAA’s work covered the full breadth of stormwater-related topics including monitoring, new and re-development, pollutants of concern, public information and participation, commercial and industrial, construction, illicit discharges, and flood control. Cumulatively, these projects and programs produced a significant body of work – a repository of hundreds of “deliverables” or products – almost all of which are available on this website.
Clean Watersheds for a Clean Bay (CW4CB) >
The Clean Watersheds for a Clean Bay (CW4CB) project was a collaboration among BASMAA member agencies and the USEPA designed to evaluate the effectiveness of stormwater controls for PCBs and mercury. The purpose of the CW4CB project was to contribute to the development of a comprehensive regional strategy for reducing PCBs and mercury loads in urban runoff to San Francisco Bay in accordance with the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans for those pollutants developed by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board. The CW4CB project consisted of multiple efforts such as pilot testing pollutant control measures in locations where benefits were expected to be the greatest and evaluating the load reduction effectiveness of those measures, as well as public risk communication and other outreach efforts.
Management of PCBs During Demolition >
This project provides guidance, tools, and outreach and training materials to assist with San Francisco Bay Area municipal agencies’ efforts to manage PCBs–containing building materials during demolition so that PCBs are not discharged to municipal storm drain systems from demolition of applicable structures via vehicle track-out, airborne releases, soil erosion, or stormwater runoff. Provided materials include a summary of existing information related to quantifying the potential reduction in PCBs loads that could be achieved through management of PCBs–containing building materials during demolition, options for establishing municipal authority and model language for municipal adoption of a new program, CEQA strategy and model notice of exemption, industry outreach, and model supplemental demolition permit application materials.
Our Water – Our World >
Our Water – Our World is an award-winning partnership between city- and county-based water pollution prevention agencies and garden centers and hardware stores that sell pest control products. The partnership encourages less-toxic methods of pest prevention and control by means of a point-of-sale education program for store employees and customers. The partnership is focused on less-toxic, eco-friendly products and techniques because many common pesticides are harmful to sensitive species and ecosystems when they reach local creeks, bays, and the ocean. Elements include fact sheets for managing common pests, lists of less-toxic pesticides, participating store locator, and store displays that provide additional information and direct customers to less-toxic products on the shelf.
Surface Cleaning Program >
This water pollution prevention program is focused on reducing or eliminating pollution from outdoor cleaning activities. Mobile cleaners that specialize in cleaning surfaces (e.g., sidewalks, plazas, building exteriors) or “flat work” are educated about the water pollution potential of their cleaning activities and trained to use best management practices (BMPs) to avoid it. Those that agree to use BMPs are designated as a “Recognized Surface Cleaner” and receive a Recognition Certificate, listing on the BASMAA website, and promotional materials including cards for advertising their status to potential customers and pollution prevention vouchers that provide a record of how each job was conducted in ways that prevented water pollution.