Archive for October, 2009
Enter Your Pooch In Our Photo Contest
Oct 30th
We’re getting into the Halloween spirit with a doggie photo contest! Just submit a holiday themed photo of your favorite four-legged friend to our Facebook page (no later than November 9) and you could win a gift card to Eco-Pet LA.*
Not on Facebook? That’s OK, you can also email us at LAstormwater@lacity.org
* Thanks to Eco-Pet for the donation. You guys rock!
Taking the Boo out of Bacteria
Oct 29th
You can’t see it but it’s there, hiding out, just waiting for you in the storm drain. It’s not a ghost or a scary monster, although it is certainly frightening.
It’s bacteria.
Unlike other stormwater pollutants such as oil and litter, bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye. While most environmental microorganisms are part of a natural healthy ecosystem, there is a small percentage of them, found in dog waste and bird droppings, that threaten the health of our environment. And, because animal waste is, unfortunately, prevalent in our cityscape and can be easily broken down by rain and picked up by excess water flowing off of yards, bacteria are often found lurking in our rivers, creeks and lakes. When these harmful microorganisms find their way to our coastline, authorities are forced to close beaches.
As you may know, we have two water drainage systems in Los Angeles, one for wastewater (sanitary sewage system) and one for stormwater (regional storm drain system). Wastewater from our homes (showers, sinks, toilets, etc.) is treated before it is released back into the environment. Harmful bacteria are removed in the process. However, this is not the case with stormwater, which travels untreated through our regional waterways More >
Wicked Wildfires with Wet Weather…Watershed Woes
Oct 29th
Wicked wildfires and frightful floods are a natural and challenging part of the ecological cycle here in California. Fire is essential in Mediterranean ecosystems with certain species of native plants needing fire to guarantee their existence. All too often, however, these fires take place in the fall when the flames are fanned by fierce Santa Ana winds that hauntingly howl through our canyons. These fires leave behind ashy moonscapes and barren areas of land devoid of vegetation. It is these desolate landscapes onto which winter’s first raindrops fall, and while rain is always welcomed here in Southern California, vast areas without groundcover mixed with heavy rain produces a new threat – mudslides. The fact that a high percentage of Los Angeles neighborhoods are within the Wildland Urban Interface (or WUI) – areas where homes meet forest or wildland – California’s fire and flood cycle presents homeowners with added challenges.
The recent Station Fire vividly demonstrated the devastating impact that fire can have here in the Southland. It claimed two lives, destroyed dozens of homes and scorched a staggering 250 square miles in the foothill communities of La Canada-Flintridge, Altadena, Pasadena and Angeles National Forest. The next challenge we face with an More >
El Nino-He’s Back…
Oct 29th
In July, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists announced the return of El Niño, a climate phenomenon with significant influence on global weather. Occurring, on average, once every two to seven years and typically lasting 12 months, El Niño is the warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean waters. Generally, an El Niño event will produce increased rainfall across the east-central and eastern Pacific and drier than normal conditions over northern Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The phenomenon was first recognized by South American fishermen who noticed unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters occurring near the beginning of the year. Because it typically happened around Christmas time, it was given the Spanish name El Niño meaning “the Little One.”
Here in Southern California, El Niño’s creepy characteristics have typically included multiple menacing winter storms with the potential to cause severe flooding and mudslides. Additionally, the threat of major ocean pollution here in Los Angeles is very real in an El Niño year. “Even on the driest day here in LA, 10 million gallons of urban runoff flows through our rivers, creeks and lakes,” states Enrique C. Zaldivar, director of the Bureau of Sanitation. “During one heavy rainstorm the quantity of More >
Call for Comments on LID Ordinance
Oct 28th
The City of LA wants to thank everyone who participated in the Low Impact Development (LID) workshops earlier this month.
A total of 66 program stakeholders attended the workshops, including representatives from a variety of organizations (business/development community, environmental community, neighboring cities and Los Angeles neighborhood councils).
The draft of the LID ordinance is now ready for your review and comments. Please email your comments directly to LAstormwater@lacity.org.
Low Impact Development (LID) is a relatively new approach to managing stormwater and urban runoff while mitigating the negative impacts of development and urbanization. The City has been in the process of developing this ordinance and accompanying Low-Impact Development (LID) manual to provide guidance for Low-Impact Development Standards.
The Stormwater Program is seeking public comments to be received no later than end of day November 6th. The LID ordinance will be presented to the Board of Public Works on November 13th.
Stormwater Reuse Bill Passes in California
Oct 20th
A new California bill seeks to expand the role of stormwater management to incorporate strategies that will use it as a resource. The Stormwater Resource Planning Act, SB 790, allows municipalities to tap funds from two of the state’s existing bond funds and use the money for projects that reduce or reuse stormwater, recharge the groundwater supply, create green spaces and enhance wildlife habitats.
With California facing both a budget crisis and a water crisis – the state is currently enduring a third year of drought – the competition will likely be fierce among the many government agencies that manage the state’s stormwater.
LA will of course be one of the cities vying for the extra help. According to Wing Tam, assistant division manager of our Watershed Protection Division (WPD), the money will fund an expansion of the rainwater harvesting projects and green infrastructure, including large cisterns, stream restoration, biofiltration and downspout disconnections.
For more information and stories on this bill, check out L.A. Times’s Greenspace Blog.
Public Invited to Prop O COAC Meeting (10/21)
Oct 19th
On Wednesday, October 21, the Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee (COAC) will be hosting a Prop O general meeting where they will be discussing Prop O funded projects such as Echo Park Lake’s rehab and the Westchester Stormwater best management practices project.
The public is welcome to attend this open forum meeting and will be given a slot on the agenda to allow for time to share their thoughts and concerns about Prop O related projects (see agenda items listed below).
The meeting will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the following location:
City Hall East, 15th Floor
200 North Main Street, Room 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Agenda:
1. Approval of the Minutes for September 29, 2009 special meeting
2. City Administrative Officer (CAO)/Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA)/Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee (COAC) representative update on Proposition O (Prop O) issues and Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) meetings
3. Discussion and Possible Action: Westchester Stormwater BMP project
4. Discussion and Possible Action: Peck Park Canyon Enhancement project Front-funding for Prop 50 grant o Cultural Affairs 1% Arts Fee requirement
5. Discussion and Possible Action: Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation project design update
6. Discussion and Possible Action: Bureaus of Sanitation and Engineering Update on TMDL compliance and project schedules
7. Discussion: Bureau of Engineering Monthly More >
Rainwater Harvesting to Stop Accepting Applications
Oct 14th
Tomorrow is the last day (for residents) to submit an application for the Rainwater Harvesting program. If you have not yet submitted your application, please make sure to do so ASAP at www.larainwaterharvesting.org Please note that businesses are still encouraged to apply after tomorrow’s deadline.
