In Sierra Madre, as in all developed areas, rainwater from storm events runs off buildings, homes, parking lots and streets. This stormwater, travels along gutters, into catch basins and through storm drain pipes, and ultimately into the Rio Hondo tributary of the Los Angeles River untreated. During this process, the stormwater picks up trash (fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, Styrofoam cups, etc.) and toxins (used motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizers, metals, pesticides, pet waste, etc.). These pollutants are picked up by rainwater of nuisance water (over-irrigation, illegal dumping, etc.) and transported to local waterways. 

Mandated by Congress under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Stormwater Management Program is a comprehensive national program for addressing sources of stormwater pollution that adversely affect the quality of our nation's waters. The Program uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to require cities to implement controls designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed by runoff into local water bodies. The City of Sierra Madre is actively pursuing these controls today to ensure a cleaner, safer tomorrow.

On November 8, 2012, the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit (MS4 Permit) for the County of Los Angeles was adopted, and the permit became effective on December 28, 2012. The MS4 Permit incorporates several existing and new provisions in which the city is required to comply. To fulfill the requirements of the MS4 Permit, the City of Sierra Madre is a participant in the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Quality Group comprised of the cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District.

Below is a link to the State Water Resources Control Board's website that contains and regularly updates the documents pertaining to the MS4 Permit, that have been provided to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. 

If you have any questions regarding Sierra Madre's Stormwater Program, or want to report a discharge, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 355-7135.

Stormwater Plans and Documents

Current Stormwater Monitoring Data