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Orange County honors OC Watersheds on program's 25th anniversary; agency cites major beach water‑quality gains
Summary
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 recognized OC Watersheds' 25 years of work on flood protection, water quality and habitat restoration. OC Watersheds staff said expanded monitoring and partnerships helped cut wet‑weather beach F grades to 2% in 2025 while 80% of beaches earned A grades.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 recognized the 25th anniversary of OC Watersheds and heard staff outline expanded monitoring efforts and measurable water‑quality improvements.
"When we started in 2000, these were our monitoring locations," said Amanda, who led the presentation, summarizing two decades of program growth. She said county staff now collect hydrology, bioassessment and habitat data across the county and coordinate beach monitoring with regional wastewater and sanitation partners.
Amanda highlighted long‑term improvements in beach water quality during wet weather, saying, "In 2025, 2% of our beaches had an F grade in wet weather, and 80% of our beaches had an A grade during wet weather." She attributed the gains to partnerships, restoration projects and public education campaigns.
Supervisor Nguyen, who thanked staff for the recognition, listed program milestones that included rapid response to pollution events, formation of a South Orange County integrated watershed management group and the countywide "adopt‑a‑channel" program. She said the San Gabriel River cleanup remains a district priority.
OC Watersheds staff and alumni attended the recognition to mark what the county called a public‑private partnership approach involving cities, water and sanitation districts and nonprofit groups such as Orange County Coastkeeper and Surfrider.
The board did not take any regulatory action; the item was a ceremonial recognition and status update. The presentation material and the board’s remarks underscored monitoring expansion and the department’s intention to continue tracking progress and directing projects where data indicate environmental needs.
