LOS ANGELES — Four LA Sanitation and Environment stormwater capture projects were approved for funding on Wednesday, Sept. 15, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The board approved the projects for a total of $50.7 million in funding through the Los Angeles County Safe Clean Water 2021-22 Regional Program, which is financed by revenues from Measure W, the parcel tax measure approved by voters in 2018 for projects increasing the water supply, improve water quality, protect public health and provide community enhancements.
The $30 million Ballona Creek TMDL Project was among the projects approved Wednesday. Officials say it has the potential to capture 1.6 billion gallons of dry weather urban runoff each year from a 128-square-mile watershed and divert it to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant to be treated and used.
Officials said the project will also reduce bacteria, trash and metals in the Santa Monica Bay and enhance the Ballona Creek, its estuary and wetlands. Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and be completed in 2024.
The board also approved $18.6 million for the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Green Street Network Project to rehabilitate the lake in Lincoln Park, including aesthetic and safety enhancement and improvements to the public’s access to the park.
The project’s design will begin in 2022, construction will start in 2023 is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
The Wilmington Neighborhood Greening Project was awarded $12.2 million to improve local water quality and provide a sustainable water supply to irrigate the Wilmington Recreation Center in the South Santa Monica Bay watershed.
The project is expected to be able to capture 17.6 million gallons of rainwater and urban runoff each year. The project’s design will begin in early 2022, construction is expected to start in 2023 and be completed in 2025.
Nearly $5 million was allocated to the Slauson Connect Clean Water Project, which will create multibenefit green stormwater infrastructure in South Los Angeles. It will treat runoff from up to 22 acres of watershed that drain into Ballona Creek.
“We are very pleased to have secured Safe Clean Water Program funding for these projects,” said LASAN Director and General Manager Barbara Romero.
“This funding starts the process of bringing these types of projects to more communities, enhancing the quality of life for all Angelenos and assisting us in creating more sustainable jobs, increasing our local water supplies and improving water quality through nature-based solutions.”
The projects were chosen after a competitive review process, officials said. More information about the Safe Clean Water Program is available at lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.
