Archive for April, 2009
Program Praised From Sun Valley to Dockweiler Beach
Apr 30th
The Los Angeles Stormwater Program recently received kudos for its public education and flood prevention programs. The first award, for public education, was received on January 10 from the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). In addition to the LABS award, the Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation was recently recognized by the Los Angeles Council of Engineers & Scientists for Sun Valley Park.
“These awards exemplify the tremendous successes and accomplishments of a significant program that defines the City’s commitment to stewardship of the environment,” says Cynthia M. Ruiz, president of the Board of Public Works. “The Stormwater Program is to be commended for delivering tangible results on major public health and education programs that uphold and advance our quality of life.”
The LABS Public Education award was in recognition of “Kids in Action: Students Tackle Stormwater Pollution”—an expansive public education and hands-on volunteer clean-up program involving Los Angeles area students and youth in a major public-private partnership to combat the adverse impacts of stormwater runoff, pollution, and litter.
On June 6, 2008, the City partnered with the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and the California Coastal Commission to coordinate the 15th Annual Kids More >
It Takes a Village: Local Activists Organize to Clean-up LA
Apr 30th
A number of clean-ups around Los Angeles are scheduled this spring, and in order for each to be successful the community’s participation is crucial. A “Team Effort” for clean water is exemplified in the interviews below, because their clean-up efforts are what help to make the vision of pollution-free rivers, lakes and oceans a reality.
*** Ida Tallala, Founder of the Echo Park Trash Abatement Project (TAP), which has received City of Los Angeles Stormwater program support for her organization, talks about her community activism. The TAP project began in mid-2006 and Ida consults with a number of people and organizations in the community to get her projects accomplished. Ida recently spoke with the Stormwater Program about the work she is doing.
Stormwater Program (SP): What inspired you to get involved in Echo Park? Ida Tallala: It is difficult for me not to get involved. I love my Echo Park community and have a deep respect for the environment. The two interests are served on the issue of keeping trash out of storm drains. It became clearer to me over time that trash was accumulating throughout Echo Park. In addition, the traditional wire mesh trash cans filled up rapidly and allowed trash More >
A Fresh Approach to a Stinky Problem
Apr 30th
Have you ever been walking your dog and suddenly realized that you’d forgotten to bring a bag to pick up after your four-legged friend? Well, if you are going to be in any of a number of parks this spring, you may be in luck!
The City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program will be installing dispensers that hold plastic bags in local parks that patrons can use to pick up after their pets before tossing the bag in the trash. The Take a Bag, Leave a Bag pilot program, which may be expanded, will allow residents to leave plastic bags in the dispenser for others to use. It will be a fantastic way to reuse any extra plastic bags you have lying around your home.
By having residents contribute plastic bags to the dispensers, the community is becoming directly involved, helping to reduce the cost of bags and labor for the program, while keeping L.A. clean and healthy.
“Previously dog bag dispensers were stocked by the City, but were extremely expensive to maintain and sometimes cost upwards of $16,000 to purchase bags annually for one dispenser,” says Bill Lopez of the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Parks and Recreation. “Our hope is More >
Public Weighs In on Heavy Metals and Bacteria Pollution
Apr 30th
On March 3, 2009 the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program held the second of three stakeholder workshops to discuss the Ballona Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans or—in laymen’s terms—plans that will identify stormwater projects for improving the water quality of Ballona Creek and the Estuary. The City of Los Angeles Watershed Protection Division (WPD) has embraced a multi-benefit approach for managing urban runoff, with a strong focus on using natural solutions and developing a green infrastructure.
The TMDL Implementation Plans will address pollutants such as bacteria, metals, toxic pollutants and other water quality impairments. Meeting these requirements will greatly reduce water pollution in the area, making it cleaner and more hospitable to acquatic life and local residents. Cleaning up the Ballona Creek watershed will also help with improving water quality at our beaches.“The beach at Playa del Rey near Ballona Creek is often very polluted, even during dry weather,” says Mark Gold, Executive Director of Heal the Bay.“The Ballona Creek fecal bacteria TMDL is critical to ensure that a day at the beach won’t make you sick.” More than 70 stakeholders from environmental organizations, community groups and local neighborhoods attended the second workshop. City staff, consultants More >
Not One Bus Lost for Kids Ocean Day
Apr 21st
Donations poured in and grant makers increased their contribution to make it all possible.
The California Coastal Commission, LA Best, the City of Los Angeles, LA City Council Members gave buses and schools stepped up during the call to help for KIDS OCEAN DAY.
KIDS OCEAN DAY has a lot of partners out in the community that support the effort to get students to the beach. The event, which is hosted by the Malibu Foundation and LA Stormwater Program, now has approximately 4,500 students scheduled to make it to Dockweiler on June 4, 2009 for the massive beach cleanup and aerial art display.
Thank you to everyone for the amazing Team Effort! We will see you at Dockweiler Beach on Thursday, June 4th. To volunteer at this event, please visit email michael@klubock.com.
Student Buses Still Needed for 2009 Kids Ocean Day
Apr 17th
2009 Kids Ocean Day: Malibu Foundation Calls for Student Buses
Malibu Foundations’s 2009 Kids Ocean Day Beach Cleanup Event lost bus funding from the Santa Monica Conservancy, when their order of 72 buses was canceled last Thursday. The buses play an integral part to the event, as approximately 5,000 elementary students from LA City and County schools travel to Dockweiler Beach to participate. The LA Stormwater Program also coordinates this event alongside the Malibu Foundation and called the City to action to keep this event alive.
Last week, Malibu Foundation Director Michael Klubock called upon City Council offices, LAUSD, First Student and Atlantic Express bus companies for donations and reduced fares.
On Thursday the Keep Los Angeles Beautiful (KLAB) committee agreed to donate $7,000 to fund 20 buses. That equals to about 1,200 kids! A great start to the team effort, but additional help is needed to continue the legacy of this great event
For more information on the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and the 2009 Kids Ocean Day, please visit http://www.malibufoundation.org/
LASWP Conducts Middle School Presentations at Valley Alternative
Apr 7th
As part of the LA Stormwater Program’s school outreach component to educate students about stormwater pollution issues and encourage young people to be environmentally conscious, 6 middle school presentations were conducted at Valley Alternative Magnet School in Van Nuys on April 1, 2009.
A total of 202 students grade 6-8 were educated on the connection between the storm drain system and the ocean, the environmental impacts of stormwater pollution and simple steps, such as recycling and not littering, that every student can take to improve water quality in their community.At the end of each presentation, 3 questions about stormwater pollution were posed to students. When the students answered the question correctly, he/she was rewarded with a t-shirt highlighting the message “Clean water starts with me”.
The Los Angeles Stormwater Program regularly conducts presentations at City of LA schools. To request a presentation at your school, please email LAstormwater@lacity.org.
