LA Stormwater

LA Stormwater LA Stormwater is committed to keeping LA’s local watersheds clean and safe for all Angelenos. This page is monitored by the LA Stormwater staff. Thanks!

The City of Los Angeles is committed to improving the water quality of our surrounding rivers, creeks and coastal waters by reducing the amount of contaminated runoff that flows into them from our urban watershed. The LA Stormwater Program is using public outreach and education to protect our ocean. With the help of all Angelenos, we can make significant strides towards a cleaner LA and a healthie

r ocean. We encourage you to share your thoughts, photos and questions, but please keep it respectful and on-topic.

For over 15 years, botanist Naomi Fraga has been searching remote desert mountains for one tiny seed: the rare Death Val...
05/28/2026

For over 15 years, botanist Naomi Fraga has been searching remote desert mountains for one tiny seed: the rare Death Valley sage. This Spring, amidst a desert superbloom, she hopes to finally find it. 🌿

She's part of an effort to vault the seeds of all of California's rare plants - a living library that protects species before they're gone forever. Read the full story: 🔗 https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5749446/botanist-search-seeds-rare-death-valley-sage

In 2016, Antarctica's sea ice suddenly collapsed — and hasn't recovered since. Scientists just figured out why, with hel...
05/27/2026

In 2016, Antarctica's sea ice suddenly collapsed — and hasn't recovered since. Scientists just figured out why, with help from torpedo-shaped robots drifting silently through the deep. 🤖🧊

The short answer: decades of trapped heat, released all at once. The implications stretch far beyond the poles — all the way to sea level rise that could eventually affect coastlines like ours. To learn more, read the full story here: https://grist.org/oceans/deep-diving-robots-help-crack-the-mystery-of-antarcticas-vanishing-sea-ice/

We’re wrapping up Infrastructure Week 2026 by looking at how the Safe Clean Water Program will positively impact LA’s wa...
05/22/2026

We’re wrapping up Infrastructure Week 2026 by looking at how the Safe Clean Water Program will positively impact LA’s water quality moving forward. While building water quality/capture projects is vitally important, ensuring that these projects have the funding available to be successfully operated and maintained guarantees that these projects function properly for years to come.

To date, the City of LA has secured approximately $15 million for the operation and maintenance of Echo Park Lake, Machado Lake (pictured) and the Ballona Creek TMDL Project.

Additionally, the City of Los Angeles is actively collaborating with five community based organizations who have projects that are seeking technical assistance and funding through LA County’s Safe Clean Water Technical Resource Program. The goal of this collaboration is the development of water quality/capture project concepts that can advance and become infrastructure funding applications in future Safe Clean Water Program regional funding rounds.

Thanks for following along this week as we’ve explored the City’s Safe Clean Water Program. To learn more, visit lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and a few of the projects ...
05/21/2026

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and a few of the projects it is funding. Today we’re featuring the Ballona Creek Total Maximum Daily Load Project.

The term Total Maximum Daily Load (or TMDLs) may be a bit puzzling to most. In a nutshell, TMDLs are federal regulations that cities are required to meet to restore an impaired water body. TMDLs define how much of a pollutant a water body can tolerate and still meet water quality standards. Water quality in Ballona Creek and its related tributaries is impaired by pollutants (trash, metal, bacteria and pesticides) due to the watershed’s large, dense population and its impervious ground surface.

The Ballona Creek TMDL Project addresses TMDL requirements for Ballona Creek by building two low-flow treatment facilities adjacent to Ballona Creek to divert, treat and then return dry-weather flows back to Ballona Creek. The project focuses primarily on reducing bacteria levels in Ballona Creek, significantly improving water quality and protecting public health; enhancing downstream wetlands and estuaries; and providing enriched recreational experiences.

The project also provides major water supply benefits with the potential to divert 1.6 billion gallons of dry weather runoff annually (the equivalent of 2,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools) to LA’s Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, providing a constant source for future water recycling efforts.

Funding for this $80 million project comes from multiple sources including the Safe Clean Water Program, Ballona Creek Watershed Partner agencies, the CA Department of Transportation and the City of Los Angeles.

The project is currently in construction with a completion date of Summer 2026. Want to learn more? Visit lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and a few of the projects ...
05/20/2026

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and a few of the projects it’s funding. Today we’re shining the spotlight on the MacArthur Lake Stormwater Capture Project.

This $40 million SCWP-funded project will improve approximately 9,200 square feet of MacArthur Park while adding a new cascading water feature and native landscaping including trees and pollinator-friendly plants. When complete, the project will treat more than 79 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually and will save nine million gallons of potable drinking water which equals enough water to fill 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools each year. This project also has the potential to store up to 1.6 million gallons of stormwater at MacArthur Lake during each storm event.

Additionally, the MacArthur Lake Stormwater Capture Project aims to remove approximately 9.5 tons of sediment and 89 pounds of Zinc from Ballona Creek annually. Construction on the project is slated to begin in early 2027 with construction ending in 2029.

To learn more, visit lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and its goals to build a m...
05/20/2026

During Infrastructure Week 2026, we’re highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and its goals to build a more sustainable LA. Today we’re focusing on the Safe Clean Water Program numbers. And, speaking of numbers, did you find all the LA River kayakers in the image above?

Every year, the City of Los Angeles receives approximately $36 million through the Safe Clean Water Program’s municipal returns program. Additionally, the City of Los Angeles has successfully competed in LA County’s annual regional program, receiving an additional $347 million for water quality/capture projects. Lastly, the City of Los Angeles secured $15 million to support the operation and maintenance of Echo Park Lake, Machado Lake and the Ballona Creek TMDL Project.

This funding allows the City’s Safe Clean Water Program to deliver multi-benefit projects that protect water quality, strengthen local water supply, invest in disadvantaged communities, create greener spaces and advance environmental justice across LA.

To date, the City of Los Angeles has completed 7 projects, the Haynes Street Greenway Project and the East 6th Street Project, as well as five low-flow diversions along the LA River and Arroyo Seco that will divert up to 356 million gallons of polluted dry-weather runoff annually to the sanitary sewer system for treatment and further recycling and reuse.
The City’s Safe Clean Water Program also has 20 water quality/capture projects currently in the design/construction phase. Of these 20 projects, 12 are led by the Bureau of Sanitation, six are led by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and two are led by the Bureau of Street Services. These 20 projects will capture runoff from more than 79,000 acres. Once complete, these projects will have the potential to treat more than 5.5 billion gallons of water annually, which is enough water to fill 8,300 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Want to learn more? Visit lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.

Welcome to Infrastructure Week 2026! If you’re like most, you don’t spend too much time reflecting on infrastructure (th...
05/19/2026

Welcome to Infrastructure Week 2026! If you’re like most, you don’t spend too much time reflecting on infrastructure (think roads, water systems, power grids, etc.) but stable infrastructure is vitally important and the fundamental framework that allows a city to run and operate effectively. Many of us take infrastructure for granted but it is necessary to our daily lives - creating mobility and enhancing public health and safety.

Throughout Infrastructure Week 2026, we’ll be highlighting the City of LA’s Safe Clean Water Program and its goals to create a more sustainable LA. Approved by LA County voters in 2018, Measure W created the County of LA Safe Clean Water Program, which provides local, dedicated funding to reduce LA’s reliance on imported water, protect water quality, develop new water supplies, improve flood control and protect local rivers, creeks, lakes and bays.

Annually, the City of Los Angeles receives approximately $36 million in Measure W Municipal funds. Additionally, since the program’s inception the City has successfully competed and received $347 million in regional funding. These funds support cardinal water quality projects such as MacArthur Lake Stormwater Capture Project and the Ballona Creek Project as well as the operation and maintenance of Echo Park Lake and Machado Lake and dozens of other water quality/capture projects. Follow along this week for more fun facts on how the Safe Clean Water Program is benefiting Angelenos and creating a more sustainable future for LA.

Want to learn more? Visit lacitysan.org/safecleanwater.

California's marine protected areas have spent the last decade quietly improving our coastlines - and the data shows it....
05/15/2026

California's marine protected areas have spent the last decade quietly improving our coastlines - and the data shows it. More fish. Healthier kelp. Lobster populations up 225% near the Channel Islands. 🦞🌊

Taking into account the program's successes so far, California is currently trying to determine if the benefits seen thus far are sustaining or if these zones require further supervision. The answer to these questions will determine if these protected marine areas are sustained, expanded, or contracted.

Read the full story here: 🔗 https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/california-marine-protected-areas-changes

¿Ha visto ese pequeño goteo debajo de su auto? Aunque pareciera inofensivo, podría estar fluyendo directamente a los alc...
05/09/2026

¿Ha visto ese pequeño goteo debajo de su auto? Aunque pareciera inofensivo, podría estar fluyendo directamente a los alcantarillados pluviales, acarreando aceite, grasa y sustancias químicas hasta el océano.

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