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City of Santa Ana California Environmental Quality Act <br />Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration <br /> <br />- 2 - <br />2. Project Description <br /> <br />The Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion (SAZSCAD) Project (Project) is being implemented <br />by the City of Santa Ana to improve water quality in the Newport Bay Watershed, increase local water <br />supplies, reduce flooding, and provide new recreational opportunities for the community. The Project <br />features a large underground stormwater infiltration system in the primary parking lot and a smaller <br />underground stormwater infiltration system in the overflow parking lot at the Santa Ana Zoo . These <br />infiltration systems include drywells, which route the captured runoff to layers of soil with the highest <br />infiltration rates, helping to reduce pollutant loading to Newport Bay. The Project is designed to capture <br />and infiltrate approximately 4.5 acre-feet of stormwater runoff per storm event from two drainage areas, <br />covering a total of 165 acres. <br /> <br />In addition to its stormwater management objectives, the Project also includes construction of a new <br />pocket park and drought tolerant landscaping in the Zoo parking lots, pervious parking stalls, bioswales, <br />and educational signage. This is consistent with the Zoo Master Plan and will provide new recreational <br />opportunities for the community. <br /> <br />The Project goals are summarized as follows: <br /> <br />➢ Enhance water supply through groundwater recharge <br />➢ Improve water quality in the Newport Bay Watershed <br />➢ Maximize community benefits <br />➢ Reduce flooding <br />➢ Minimize disruption to residents and local businesses <br /> <br />2.1 Project Location <br /> <br />The proposed Project will be located in the City of Santa Ana, Orange County, California. The City of <br />Santa Ana is Orange County’s government powerbase and serves as the County Seat. The Project site is <br />located at the Santa Ana Zoo, at 1801 East Chestnut Avenue, as shown in <br />Figure 2-1. The Santa Ana Zoo is a 20-acre zoo focusing on animals and plants of Central and South <br />America, and is located on the eastern side of the City. The Zoo serves as a community space for <br />education and recreation, welcoming over 270,000 visitors annually, and promotes community <br />engagement in the conservation of wildlife and wild spaces. <br /> <br />  <br />  <br />City Council 15 – 55 12/2/2025