Oceanside, CA
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Watershed Protection Program Overview
The goal of the Oceanside Watershed Protection Program is to improve water quality in our local creeks, rivers, and the ocean, and comply with state and regional environmental regulations. This multi-faceted program is designed to achieve this goal by educating the community about pollution prevention practices. Targeted audiences for this program include industrial and commercial businesses, developers, municipal staff, residents, students, and teachers.
The Watershed Protection Program oversees the following tasks:
- Water Quality Monitoring
- Inspections of construction sites and industrial and commercial businesses
- Education outreach to businesses, developers, residents, children, teachers, and municipal staff
What's New?
Waterway Cleanups
Help Oceanside's watersheds and waterways stay clean and healthy by participating in a waterway cleanup! Green Oceanside and I Love a Clean San Diego host sites in Oceanside for the two regional cleanups, Creek to Bay every April and Coastal Cleanup Day every September. Stay Classy O'Side Cleanups are also held throughout the year, check the events calendar to see when the next event will be in your neighborhood! To register, visit CleanSD.org.
Loma Alta Slough Wetlands Enhancement Project
The City has designed a wetland restoration and enhancement project for the Loma Alta Slough in south Oceanside located near Buccaneer Beach. The project will expand and create coastal wetlands to provide high quality habitat for coastal wildlife and improve water quality. The project also creates new recreational nature trails to improve coastal access. Environmental documentation for the project can be found on the City’s Environmental Documents page.
Buena Vista Creek Restoration Planning Project
In April 2020, the City was awarded State funds from the Department of Water Resources Urban Streams Restoration grant program to develop a streambank restoration project for a section of Buena Vista Creek in southeast Oceanside. The City partnered with the Buena Vista Audubon Society and Dudek to design a project that will help improve existing riparian habitat, enhance water quality, and provide recreational and educational opportunities for the surrounding community to enjoy. The first planning phase for the project was completed in December 2025 and draft design plans are included below. City staff are working to acquire additional grant funding to finalize planning and begin construction. For more information about the project please reference the Buena Vista Creek Habitat Restoration Planning project presentation or contact project manager, Zoe Smith, at zsmith@oceansideca.org.
Stormwater Pollution
As a coastal community, Oceanside relies on clean water for its residents, healthy beaches, public safety, and a desirable environment for wildlife. When it rains, many of the pollutants that lurk on sidewalks, streets, parking lots, and yards wash down the storm drains and into the nearest body of water. Unfortunately, storm drains do not filter water or debris and are not connected to the sewer system. So, any pollutant that flows into the storm drain system eventually ends up in our rivers, creeks, and the ocean. Watershed Protection Program and Code Enforcement staff actively investigate reports of landscape irrigation runoff, illegal dumping, and other storm drain pollution concerns. Residents and businesses are encouraged to report any incidents of stormwater pollution at once to help protect water quality and public health in Oceanside.
To report an illicit discharge, illegal dumping, irrigation runoff, or any other stormwater related concern, call Customer Care, our urban runoff hotline, at 760-435-4500 or customercare@oceansideca.org. After hours, holidays, and on weekends, these calls are answered through the Oceanside Police Department.
Alternatively, the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health responds to complaints at 888-846-0800. This hotline is answered Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. and provides a voicemail message for 24-hour public access in both English and Spanish.
Oceanside residents, businesses, and developers can work together to change a few habits that will benefit our health, families, and community. Remember, you are the solution to stormwater pollution.
Contact
Report any water running in the street when it is not raining or someone dumping something in the storm drain or curb and gutter by calling the Urban Runoff Hotline at (760) 435-4500.
For all other stormwater related concerns, please contact us at WatershedProtection@oceansideca.org.
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