Project Clean Water

Project Clean Water is a coalition of government agencies, community groups, and individuals that have come together to investigate and implement solutions to the contamination in local creeks that is contributing to the water quality problems and closures at local beaches.

Project Clean Water was established in 1998, at the direction of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, to identify and implement solutions to creek and ocean water pollution on the South Coast. The two principal departments charged with these tasks are the Public Works Department, via the Water Agency, and the Public Health Department, via Environmental Health Services. The County is joined in this effort by the cities of Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, and members of groups such as the Urban Creeks Council, the Audubon Society, the Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Ocean, CURE, Coalition of Labor, Agriculture & Business, and the Community Environmental Council, as well as many community members.

Project Clean Water staff walk local creeks to perform a visual survey, note problem areas, and take corrective action as necessary. Staff also collect water samples, which are analyzed at a laboratory to determine the concentration of various types of pollution in the water. The pollutants tested for include bacteria, pesticides, and oil. Data from this water testing is used to target appropriate solutions.

Project Clean Water staff meet regularly with interested members of the public to share ideas, information, and project status. The Stakeholders Committee, comprising County and City staff, members of the groups mentioned above, and community members, meets on the second Thursday of every month at 4:00 PM. These meetings, which take place at the Community Environmental Council's Watershed Resource Center, provide an update on Project Clean Water efforts. In addition, various working groups meet to discuss issues such as water sampling protocol, youth education, septic systems, and public information. We welcome your participation. For more information on the Stakeholders Committee and the working groups, visit the Project Clean Water website at www.countyofsb.org/project_cleanwater. If you are interested in joining the Stakeholders Committee or any of the working groups, contact Darcy Aston at the Santa Barbara County Water Agency (phone: 568-3546; fax: 568-3434).

Casa Nueva

The Casa Nueva Office Building is the first project undertaken by the County to emphasize sustainable design. Casa Nueva will be a new 28,653 square foot, two-story structure located at 260 North San Antonio Road in Santa Barbara. The building will house offices for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, the Air Pollution Control District, and the Social Services Department's Child Welfare Services program.

This project is expected to set a precedent for County buildings and to provide a showcase for sustainable materials and design. The County selected Blackbird Architects in Santa Barbara to design the building, based on their experience with sustainable design. Construction started in April 2002 and should be completed by April 2003.

The building is 20% under the 2001 Title 24 Energy Standards, making it the most energy efficient commercial project to be reviewed by the County's Innovative Building Review Commission. Factors that contributed to this high rating include the following:

• High efficiency rooftop package units with economizers (13 SEER cooling efficiency).
• Controls for use of outside air rather than cooling.
• High performance glazing with .55 SHGC on south and west elevations.
• Overhangs, side-fins, and trellises for reduced heat gain.
• R-30 roof insulation and R-19 wall insulation.
  
• 0.70 watts per square foot average lighting power.
  
• High-efficiency gas-fired water heater (80% thermal efficiency).
  
• Although not part of the Title 24 calculations, deciduous vines (Wisteria sinensis) on the south and west elevations will provide shading in the summer months and allow light to penetrate the building in the winter.

This project is planned for submittal to the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Rating System. The building and site have been designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Silver Level. Elements of this process not mentioned above include:

• Site erosion and sedimentation control during construction.
  
• Site selection that avoids use of agricultural land, parkland, threatened or endangered species habitat, floodplain land, or wetlands.
  
• Reduction of impacts from automobile use by locating the project near a bus line, providing bike parking and shower facilities, and providing electric vehicle recharging stations.
  
• Reduction of site disturbance by restoring previously developed areas with native vegetation. All plantings (except for the Wisteria) will be native California plants with an emphasis on drought tolerant species.
  
• Minimization of stormwater runoff through use of impervious site materials and stormwater retention beds.
  
• Reduction of thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas by minimizing heat absorbing exterior materials.
  
• Minimal use of exterior lighting that might otherwise impact nocturnal environments.
  
• Reduction of water use through installation of drought tolerant landscaping and efficient restroom fixtures.
  
• Fundamental building commissioning to ensure efficient operation of HVAC systems.
  
• Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants.
  
• Recycling a minimum of 50% of all demolition waste. This policy also applied to the demolition of the existing building on site. The actual percentage of recycled materials is expected to be significantly higher.
  
• Use of recycled materials--100% recycled wood fiberboard and nylon carpet tiles with 100% recycled thermo-plastic backing system (carpet is also 100% recyclable by the manufacturer).
  
• Use of rapidly renewable resources. Cabinet facings and shelving will be constructed of laminated bamboo that is hand harvested to reduce environmental impacts. Wallcoverings will be manufactured from sisal.
  
• All site carpentry and finish carpentry materials require certification that the lumber was obtained from a forest managed in accordance with the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council.
  
• Use of low VOC paints and adhesives.
  
• Operable windows for individual control of ventilation.
  
• Daylight and views for the majority of the office spaces.

Santa Maria Valley Sustainable Garden

This is a demonstration garden of resource efficient landscaping, featuring low water using plants, efficient irrigation, lawn alternatives, composting, and use of paved areas. Features of the garden include the following: The donor wall in the center of the garden features handmade tiles imprinted with the names of the garden contributors. The information kiosk was built with grant funding from the Bureau of Reclamation. An annual landscape fair is held in the fall.

The garden is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free.

Directions: Located at 624 W. Foster Rd. in Santa Maria. Take Hwy 101 to Clark Ave. exit, go west to Hwy 135, north to Foster Rd, go west approx. 1/4 mile and follow signs to the garden, located at the Curtis Tunnel Center.