The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors on Monday approved approximately $3.9 million for eight local projects designed to keep trash and debris out of storm drains and the county’s waterways.
The money comes from OCTA’s Measure M Environmental Cleanup Program and will help local agencies install equipment and make improvements that capture transportation-related pollution before it reaches creeks, rivers, harbors and beaches. Measure M is the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. It dedicates a portion of its revenue to environmental cleanup. Funding is awarded through a competitive process to eligible local agencies.
The projects are in Anaheim, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Individual awards range from $120,000 to $600,000.
The work ranges from installing hundreds of catch-basin screens and other trash-capture devices to larger improvements, including biofiltration and infiltration basins and in-line trash-trap systems.
Funded through the 2026 Tier 1 Environmental Cleanup Program, the projects focus on visible pollutants, including litter, trash and debris that accumulate on roadways and can be carried into storm drains during rainfall. According to OCTA, the improvements help cities and the county meet water quality requirements while preventing transportation-related pollutants from entering waterways and reaching the Pacific Ocean.
“Orange County’s beaches and waterways are among our greatest natural resources, and protecting them is an important responsibility we all share,” said OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico, who is also mayor of Dana Point. “Through Measure M, we’re working with cities across the county to make meaningful improvements that keep pollution out of our waterways and help preserve our environment for future generations.”
Since the Environmental Cleanup Program began in 2011, OCTA has approved more than $47 million for 249 Tier 1 projects throughout Orange County. The agency estimates those projects have captured nearly 92 million gallons of trash that otherwise could have entered local waterways.
Measure M’s environmental component also includes the permanent preservation of approximately 1,300 acres of open space and support for habitat restoration projects throughout the county.
