The 2007 CASQA stormwater conference was held in Costa Mesa, CA on September 10-12, 2007 at the Hilton Hotel.

The conference theme was “Stormwater Management - Tools for Success” and featured a full day of concurrent in-depth workshops (September 10) and two full days of concurrent session presentations (September 11 and 12). Conference participants found an array of training, learning, and networking opportunities in the following stormwater areas: 

• Research – this track is intended for researchers and practitioners involved in applied research to present the latest advances in stormwater science, source identification, technology, and program management.
• Policy – this track will focus on presentations on key stormwater policy issues including permitting, statewide stormwater policy, basin planning, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation through permits, Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS), etc.
• Planning – this track will focus on presentations on innovative planning initiatives at both an individual facility/jurisdiction level, and a multi facility/jurisdiction level (TMDL implementation plans, hydromodification plans, Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plans (IRWMP), Low Impact Development (LID), etc.).
• Implementation – this track will focus on presentations on the operation and maintenance of core stormwater program elements (public education, municipal operations, inspections, enforcement, etc.) and BMPs (structural, non structural and LID).
• Assessment – this track is intended for stormwater facility managers to present its successes (or failures) in demonstrating stormwater program effectiveness using the CASQA six level outcome pyramid. Attendance at the 2007 two-day conference was well over 550 participants including vendors and speakers. The one-day pre-conference workshops had over 300 participants. Keynote and luncheon speakers, respectively were Terry Tamminen, Author, lecturer, strategist and Bill Wiemuth, Lecturer. A PDF copy of the final 2007 Conference Program is available by clicking here.

For a list of participants (general, speaker, and exhibitor) in the 2007 CASQA Conference in Costa Mesa in September, click here.

The mission of the CASQA Awards Program is to advance the stormwater quality management profession by identifying and recognizing exemplary leadership, outstanding projects, activities, and contributions to the field of stormwater quality management. At its second conference, CASQA made awards in the following categories:

The Treatment Control/Structural BMP Implementation Award
City of Santa Monica for its Westside Water Quality Improvement project, which is a two-stage dry and wet weather runoff treatment facility that removes both gross and soluble pollutants.

The Source Control/Programmatic BMP Implementation Award
Sacramento County Environmental Management Department for its commercial/industrial stormwater compliance program, which promotes consistency in education, enforcement and reporting throughout the region.

The Outstanding Stormwater Research Project Award
Irvine Ranch Water District for the Cienega Selenium and Nitrogen Treatment System Project, which examined the treatability of selenium-rich waters and succeeded in reducing pollutants that are usually difficult to address in urban runoff, such as selenium, nitrates and bacteria.

The Outstanding Stormwater News, Information, Outreach, and Media Award
San Mateo County Water Pollution Prevention Program for its Coastal Cleanup Day 2006. The SMCWPPP implemented a community outreach plan in which it educated residents about disposable plastic bag consumption and its effects, and distributed 3,000 reusable shopping bags. SMCWPP also used this outreach to further publicize Cleanup Day 2006, which experienced an increase in volunteer efforts by 60 percent due to its promotion prior to cleanup day.