Environment
Improving the San Diego region's performance on air and
water quality, alternative energy production, and land preservation. See what's new below and browse our data catalog for all Environment datasets.
HIGHLIGHTS
Testing the Waters
After a trip to the beach, visitors should leave with sandy feet and
smiles, not an illness. Stormwater pollution and sewage spills can put
our health at risk, so the County’s Department of Environmental Health
is here to monitor the water and let us know if the water we swim in is
safe for a dip.
Make sure you “check in before you get in” and visit sdbeachinfo.com for current beach water quality across the county. Read more...
DATA UPDATES
Replant Lost Trees for a No-Net-Loss Tree Canopy in County Parks
In January 2017 we
reported a loss of 145 trees over the previous quarter. A number of tree
plantings over the next quarter helped us replace those lost trees with
nearly 1,119 new ones - substantially higher than our overarching goal
of replanting lost trees 3:1.
Land Acquired to Protect Plant and Animal Species
Since the adoption of The Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) Subarea Plan in 1997 through 2015, the County and its MSCP partners
have achieved 77% of their total conservation goal, which has been set
at 98,379-acres. In 18 years of this 50-year program, the County and its
public agency and private conservation partners have assembled 75,450
total acres as part of the MSCP.
50,000 kilowatts (kW) of New Solar Energy Capacity Permitted in FY 2017-18
In fiscal year 2015-2016, we permitted enough solar
capacity to power 7,502 California homes. Between 7/1/16 and
12/31/16, we have issued permits for 25,640 kilowatts of solar capacity for residential and commercial projects.
We are on track to meet our goal of 50,000 kilowatts for fiscal year 2016-2017.
In order to ensure we continue to reach our goal, we
have streamlined the permitting and inspection process; including implementing
an award winning online permitting process for residential rooftop
solar installations. The County currently processes 86% of solar permit
applications online.