Capitola Stormwater Treatment Wetland

Capitola, California

Client: City of Capitola
Partners: Coastal Watershed Council
Kestrel Consulting’s role: Project development, grant proposal, grant administration, project management
Funding secured: $600,000
Duration: 2009 – 2011
Funding provided by: California State Water Resources Control Board
Project Benefits: Improving water quality and public health

Capitola Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Santa Cruz County and is a cornerstone of the local economy.  There have also been persistent water quality issues, sometimes resulting in beach closures.

Kestrel Consulting helped the City of Capitola secure multiple grants for multiple projects to address water quality, including $600,000 from the Clean Beaches Initiative Program to construct a stormwater treatment wetland adjacent to Soquel Lagoon. The wetland treats water from Soquel Creek and two storm drains prior to discharge to Soquel Lagoon. Coastal Watershed Council provided water-quality monitoring for the project. We worked with engineers and City staff to develop key project details. We prepared the grant applications, coordinated with partners, negotiated grant contracts and provided grant administration.