LA Stormwater Partners | MS4 Permit Compliance

Semi-Annual Report: Check out how we're doing

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1.0 Overview

Healthy lakes, rivers, creeks, and oceans isn't just something we want, it's something we need. It's so important that the federal government realized, way back in 1948 when the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was passed, that we needed to keep our waters protected so they wouldn't become dumping grounds for all our garbage and pollution. Big changes were made in 1969 when California adopted the Porter Cologne Act to govern water quality regulations in the state and again in 1972 when the federal government expanded and reorganized the original clean water laws, which led to what we know as the Clean Water Act.

The Clean Water Act works hard for us! It sets the stage for what the states need to do to protect the waters within their borders. In our region of California, this falls on the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (let's just call them the Regional Board) to understand the requirements and enforce them.

Whew! That's a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo. What does this all mean?

Basically, the Regional Board has the power to make sure everyone in the region keeps our waterways clean. Anyone who puts water into a river, lake, or ocean must explain to the Regional Board how they will keep the water clean, and they cannot release the water until the Regional Board agrees by issuing a permit.

What does that have to do with me and my city or county?

Because so much pollution comes from our cars, industries, landscaping, litter, and pets, a lot of our waterbodies have too much pollution entering them right now. Our cities and the county are working hard to clean up their stormwater, but all of us still need to do a lot to fix the problem that's created by the way people live.

Ever notice how when it's raining, all the water on the street flows into a gutter on the side of the road? Well, that water all flows into a storm drain which carries the water until it discharges into a river, creek, lake, or the ocean. This stormwater basically washes the ground as it flows by, and brings with it all the trash, oil, pollution, and gunk that has built up over time on the streets and properties.

Here in our region, we have what we call municipal separate storm sewer systems (or MS4 for short!). They are called “separate” because they carry only stormwater and are separate from the sewers that carry raw sewage (aka, whatever goes down the drain when we do things like shower or flush the toilet). Unlike sewage that gets cleaned up at a water reclamation plant, the stormwater in the MS4s drains directly to the rivers, creeks, lakes, and ocean unless it is captured before it gets there. Because of this, your city or county is responsible for removing the pollution the stormwater picks up from its land (and for some cities, that's a LOT of land!).

This sounds like a big problem! How do we deal with it?

We want to be able to go swimming and not get sick, and we want the fish and plants to have a healthy ecosystem. Remember the Regional Board we were talking about? Their job is to make sure your city doesn't let the waterbody take on more pollution than people, plants, aquatic animals, and local ecosystems can handle. To do this, they require that the cities and county figure out what they need to do to limit pollution. The cities and county create a plan of action, which usually includes creating programs and building projects, then send it to the Regional Board to approve it. The agencies then follow the plan and report on progress every six months.

Below we discuss what the cities and the county have done to carry out their plans. This webpage will be updated twice a year, in June and December, and we'll mention any milestones (aka, due dates) that have passed since the last update and how we're doing to meet those milestones. Be sure to keep checking back so you can see how we are progressing!

Tip: Look for the blue text to link back to other pages on this website for more information. We are so glad that you are interested in your watersheds!

2.0 Ballona Creek Watershed

How much stormwater in our watershed do we need to manage?

Figure 2-1

$193.4 M

Figure 2-2

Figure 2-3

The Ballona Creek Watershed Management Group (Group) is made up of the following agencies that are working in partnership: Beverly Hills, Culver City, Inglewood, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In 2021, the Group updated their Watershed Management Program (WMP), which is the plan the agencies are following to keep our waters clean.

The Ballona Creek Group had an interim target date (aka, due dates) for metals in their WMP in their WMP during this reporting period. Determining if this target was met cannot be evaluated until a full year of sampling data has been collected. The status of this interim target will be included in the next progress report.

The agencies have done a lot of work to get ready to construct large projects that will keep our waters clean. There are 65 projects in the Ballona Creek Watershed. These projects are either non-structural solutions that help improve our watershed or are large regional projects that capture and treat stormwater. We have already completed 31 projects (woohoo!) and we are working on 34 in-progress projects. Check out the chart (Figure 2-1) to see how much we’ve done (the part of the bucket that is filled by the stormwater we are capturing by completed and in-progress projects) compared to how much we need to do to reach our final goals (the empty part of the bucket that we need to fill up with stormwater captured by new projects).

Thrirty-five projects received technical assistance funding (aka, money to help with the planning of projects) from various sources. Other projects received funding as well. Across all phases, twelve projects received or requested funding from the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), while others received funding from sources such as California State Proposition 1, Proposition O, Proposition 12, municipal general funds, Measure CW, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, Proposition 50, Proposition 84, Metropolitan Water District, Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Funding from Department of Water Resources, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Check out the charts that show how much money we received so far (Figure 2-2), and how much we received compared to how much we need to do all the work to reach our goals (Figure 2-3). We're excited to now have the Safe, Clean Water Program in place, which just began funding projects in 2019, and we are hard at work getting ready to ask for more money to fund the best projects.

Stormwater projects don't just clean up the water, they can improve the environment and help the community in other ways as well. Figure 2-4 shows a summary of how these projects are contributing to a better community:

How Many of the 65 Completed and In Progress Projects Provide Community Benefits?

Figure 2-4

Not sure what the heat island effect is? Click here for more information on what these terms mean.

In addition to the large projects mentioned here, stormwater is being captured across the watershed on individual properties. Homeowners, developers, and public agencies are required to manage their stormwater on-site when they build new or redevelop properties. In an area as dynamic as the Los Angeles region, there is always construction going on. This means a lot of stormwater and dry weather runoff will be captured and treated, or allowed to soak into the ground, as properties are built or improved. Making stormwater management part of land development cuts down on the amount of large and expensive regional projects that need to be built. Keeping our waters clean by requiring both new developments and redevelopments to treat their own water is called “low impact development,” or LID for short. LID projects will also help our Group reach our final goals and are included in the full part of the bucket (Figure 2-1). Rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving are examples of LID. Using LID means means we're being smart about how we build and thinking about stormwater ahead of time, which benefits everyone!

While our watershed group is doing a lot to reach water quality goals and provide benefits to the community, we still have a lot left to do. A key roadblock has always been finding enough money to build and take care of these projects. Since funding became available in 2019 through the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), the agencies are working to develop high quality projects that have a good chance of receiving money. Supporting these projects can go a long way and we hope you'll stay involved, in touch, and engaged so we can bring the best projects to our communities!

To see a complete list of projects and efforts completed and/or in progress in the watershed from December 28, 2012 to December 31, 2023, click on the link above to download the Ballona Creek Watershed Progress Report and check out Appendices A and B.

Check back every 6 months, in mid-June and mid-December, for updates on the status of this important work.

3.0 Dominguez Channel Watershed

How much stormwater in our watershed do we need to manage?

Figure 3-1

$286.3 M

Figure 3-2

Figure 3-3

The Dominguez Channel Watershed Management Group (Group) is made up of the following cities and agencies: Carson, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. This Group developed a Water Management Program (WMP), which is the plan the agencies are following to keep our waters clean.

The Dominguez Channel Watershed did not have any target dates (aka, due dates) in their WMP this reporting period, but the agencies have done a lot of work to get ready for future target dates. There are 45 projects in the Dominguez Channel Watershed. These projects are either non-structural solutions that help improve our watershed or large regional projects that capture and treat stormwater. We have already completed 18 projects (woohoo!) and we are working on 27 in-progress projects. Check out the chart (Figure 3-1) to see how much we've done (the part of the bucket that is filled by the stormwater we are capturing by completed and in-progress projects) compared to how much we need to do to reach our final goals (the empty part of the bucket that we need to fill up with stormwater captured by new projects).

Sixteen projects received technical assistance funding (aka, money to help with the planning of projects) from various sources. Other projects received funding as well. Across all phases, funding was received from sources such as the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), State Proposition 84, Caltrans, California State Proposition 1, Proposition O, Proposition K, State Coastal Conservancy, and municipal general funds. Check out the charts that show how much money we received so far (Figure 3-2), and how much we received compared to how much we need to do all the work to reach our goals (Figure 3-3). We're excited to now have the Safe, Clean Water Program in place, which just began funding projects in 2019, and we are hard at work getting ready to ask for more money to fund the best projects.

Stormwater projects don't just clean up the water, they can improve the environment and help the community in other ways, as well. Figure 3-4 shows a summary of how these projects are contributing to a better community:

How Many of the 45 Completed and In Progress Projects Provide Community Benefits?

Figure 3-4

Not sure what the heat island effect is? Click here for more information on what these terms mean.

In addition to the large projects mentioned here, stormwater is being captured across the watershed on individual properties. Homeowners, developers, and public agencies are required to manage their stormwater on-site when they build new or redevelop properties. In an area as dynamic as the Los Angeles region, there is always construction going on. This means a lot of stormwater and dry weather runoff will be captured and treated, or allowed to soak into ground, as properties are built or improved. Making stormwater management part of land development cuts down on the amount of large and expensive regional projects that need to be built. Keeping our waters clean by requiring both new developments and redevelopments to treat their own water is called “low impact development,” or LID for short. LID projects will also help our Group reach our final goals and are included in the full part of the bucket (Figure 3-1). Rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving are examples of LID. Using LID means we're being smart about how we build and thinking about stormwater ahead of time, which benefits everyone!

To see a complete list of projects and efforts completed and/or in progress in the watershed from December 28, 2012 to December 31, 2023, click on the link above to download the Dominguez Channel Watershed Progress Report and check out Appendices A and B.

Check back every 6 months, in mid-June and mid-December, for updates on the status of this important work.

4.0 Santa Monica Bay Watershed (J2/J3)

How much stormwater in our watershed do we need to manage?

Figure 4-1

$242.1 M

Figure 4-2

Figure 4-3

The Santa Monica Bay Watershed is split up into several jurisdictions. The agencies in Jurisdictions 2 and 3 include El Segundo, Santa Monica, the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In 2021, these cities and agencies updated their Water Management Program (WMP), which is the plan the agencies are following to keep our waters clean.

The Santa Monica Bay Watershed Jurisdictional Group 2 and 3 had an interim target date (aka, due date) for achieving a 50% reduction in exceedance days for wet weather bacteria at Santa Monica Bay beaches in their WMP during this reporting period. Determining if this target was met cannot be evaluated until a full year of sampling data has been collected. The status of this interim target will be included in the next progress report. There are 60 projects in the Santa Monica Bay Jurisdictional Group 2/3 Watershed. These projects are either non-structural solutions that help improve our watershed or large regional projects that capture and treat stormwater. We have already completed 38 projects (woohoo!) and we are working on 22 in-progress projects. Check out the chart (Figure 4-1) to see how much we've done (the part of the bucket that is filled by the stormwater we are capturing by completed and in-progress projects) compared to how much we need to do to reach our final goals (the empty part of the bucket that we need to fill up with stormwater captured by new projects). The agencies have done a lot of work to get ready for this and future target dates. There are 60 projects in the Santa Monica Bay Jurisdictional Group 2/3 Watershed. These projects are either non-structural solutions that help improve our watershed or are large regional projects that capture and treat stormwater. We have already completed 38 projects (woohoo!) and we are working on 22 in-progress projects. Check out the chart (Figure 4-1) to see how much we’ve done (the part of the bucket that is filled by the stormwater we are capturing by completed and in-progress projects) compared to how much we need to do to reach our final goals (the empty part of the bucket that we need to fill up with stormwater captured by new projects).

Forty-six projects received technical assistance funding (aka, money to help with the planning of projects) from various sources. Other projects received funding as well. Across all phases, funding for projects was received from sources such as the the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), municipal funds, Proposition O, Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA), CA Proposition 1, and Proposition 84. Check out the charts that show how much money we received so far (Figure 4-2), and how much we received compared to how much we need to do all the work to reach our goals (Figure 4-3). We're excited to now have the Safe, Clean Water Program in place, which just began funding projects in 2019, and we are hard at work getting ready to ask for more money to fund the best projects.

Stormwater projects don't just clean up the water, they can improve the environment and help the community in other ways as well. Figure 4-4 shows a summary of how these projects are contributing to a better community:

How Many of the 60 Completed and In Progress Projects Provide Community Benefits?

Figure 4-4

Not sure what the heat island effect is? Click here for more information on what these terms mean.

In addition to the large projects mentioned here, stormwater is being captured across the watershed on individual properties. Homeowners, developers, and public agencies are required to manage their stormwater on-site when they build new or redevelop properties. In an area as dynamic as the Los Angeles region, there is always construction going on. This means a lot of stormwater and dry weather runoff will be captured and treated, or allowed to soak into the ground, as properties are built or improved. Making stormwater management part of land development cuts down on the amount of large and expensive regional projects that need to be built. Keeping our waters clean by requiring both new developments and redevelopments to treat their own water is called “low impact development,” or LID for short. LID projects will also help our Group reach our final goals and are included in the full part of the bucket (Figure 4-1). Rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving are examples of LID. Using LID means we're being smart about how we build and thinking about stormwater ahead of time, which benefits everyone!

To see a complete list of projects and efforts completed and/or in progress in the watershed from December 28, 2012 to December 31, 2023, click on the link above to download the Santa Monica Bay Watershed Jurisdictions 2 and 3 Progress Report and check out Appendices A and B.

Check back every 6 months, in mid-June and mid-December, for updates on the status of this important work.

5.0 Upper Los Angeles River Watershed

How much stormwater in our watershed do we need to manage?

Figure 5-1

$655.1 M

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-3

The Upper Los Angeles River (ULAR) Watershed Management Group has a long list of members. The Group is made up of the following cities and agencies: Alhambra, Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Hidden Hills, La Canada Flintridge, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In 2021, these cities and agencies updated their Water Management Program (WMP), which is the plan the agencies are following to keep our waters clean.

A HUGE benefit to managing stormwater as a group is that cities and agencies work together to make the best decisions for the region and can come up with great partnership opportunities. All the agencies in our Group are working together in partnership to plan for the future. In addition, some agencies have also come together to develop specific projects in partnership with one another, or in partnership with outside agencies. Group members with partner projects include City of Los Angeles, Calabasas, Monterey Park, Montebello, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, Temple City, South Pasadena, Pasadena, South El Monte, San Fernando and Los Angeles County, while other partnering agencies include Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Council for Watershed Health, Baldwin Park, La Puente, West Covina, Industry, Bassett Unified School District, San Fernando Valley High School, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Trust for Public Land, Pacoima Beautiful, State Water Resources Control Board, San Fernando Valley High School, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Caltrans, State Water Resources Control Board, Los Angeles Council Districts, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services, California State Coastal Conservancy, Los Angeles Housing Department, Community Redevelopment Agency Los Angeles, Boeing Company, Wells Fargo Foundation, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Council for Watershed Health, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, TreePeople, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Los Angeles Sanitation, North East Trees, Arroyo Seco Foundation, California Integrated Waste Management Board. Our agencies are also continuing to find ways to work together on new project opportunities.

The Upper Los Angeles River Watershed had dry weather bacteria target dates (aka, due dates) for Rio Hondo and Arroyo Seco in their WMP this reporting period. The Group met the targets for Rio Hondo. There was no flow observed during sampling events in July, October, November, and December 2023. There was flow observed during the remaining months and samples collected did not exceed the receiving water limitation. The targets for the Arroyo Seco were not met. To meet the Arroyo Seco target Los Angeles is building the Sycamore Grove Park and Herman Dog Park projects. Los Angeles County could not build their project because of an underground storage tank and other issues at the project location. However, Los Angeles County is working on two projects to meet this target: the Mt. Lowe Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project and a dry weather diversion project, both are expected to be complete in 2027. To meet the Arroyo Seco target, Pasadena is working on the San Rafael Treatment Wetlands project that will treat 100 percent of dry weather flow. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2025. Both projects are funded by the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W).

Since 2021, the Group has been working with the Regional Board on a Load Reduction Strategy Adaptation Plan to help meet the bacteria target. As part of the Plan the Group investigated where the bacteria come from, both sources and locations. The Plan prioritizes treatment in areas with the highest risk for bacteria.

The agencies have done a lot of work to get ready for future target dates. There are 185 projects in the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed. These projects are either non-structural solutions that help improve our watershed or large regional projects that capture and treat stormwater. We have already completed 90 projects (woohoo!) and we are working on 95 in-progress projects. Check out the chart (Figure 5-1) to see how much we've done (the part of the bucket that is filled by the stormwater we are capturing by completed and in-progress projects) compared to how much we need to do to reach our final goals (the empty part of the bucket that we need to fill up with stormwater captured by new projects).

Forty-two projects received technical assistance funding (aka, money to help with the planning of projects) from various sources. Other projects received funding as well. Across all phases, funding for projects was received from sources such as the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), Proposition O, Measure A, Urban Development Areas Planning Grant, Capital Improvement Expenditure Program, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: Leading Edge Projects Grant Program, Proposition 84, Proposition 12, Caltrans, Integrated Regional Water Management Funding from Department of Water Resources, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and the Environment, Caltrans-Federal Transportation Improvement Program, Council for Watershed Health, LA Waterkeeper, The Liberty Hill Foundation, Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, California Natural Resources Agency, Supplemental Environmental Project Fund, Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Excess Bond, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Funding, Proposition K, Proposition 50, Mayor's Budget, State Grant from Council Office, Proposition 1, State Ocean Protection Council's State Proposition 1 Fund, Proposition 68, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, municipal general fund, Measure M, State Coastal Conservancy, State Water Resources Control Board, City of Los Angeles Community Development Block Grant, State Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, California State Coastal Conservancy, City of Los Angeles' Transfer of Floor Area Rights, City of Pasadena's Department of Water and Power, City of Pasadena's Public Works, other municipal programs, other state and federal programs, and other non-profit organizations. Check out the charts that show how much money we received so far (Figure 5-2), and how much we received compared to how much we need to do all the work to reach our goals (Figure 5-3). We're excited to now have the Safe, Clean Water Program in place, which just began funding projects in 2019, and we are hard at work getting ready to ask for more money to fund the best projects.

Stormwater projects don't just clean up the water, they can improve the environment and help the community in other ways as well. Figure 5-4 shows a summary of how these projects are contributing to a better community:

How Many of the 185 Completed and In Progress Projects Provide Community Benefits?

Figure 5-4

Not sure what the heat island effect is? Click here for more information on what these terms mean.

In addition to the large projects mentioned here, stormwater is being captured across the watershed on individual properties. Homeowners, developers, and public agencies are required to manage their stormwater on-site when they build new or redevelop properties. In an area as dynamic as the Los Angeles region, there is always construction going on. This means a lot of stormwater and dry weather runoff will be captured and treated, or allowed to soak into the ground, as properties are built or improved. Making stormwater management part of land development cuts down on the amount of large and expensive regional projects that need to be built. Keeping our waters clean by requiring both new developments and redevelopments to treat their own water is called “low impact development,” or LID for short. LID projects will also help our Group reach our final goals and are included in the full part of the bucket (Figure 5-1). Rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable paving are examples of LID. Using LID means we're being smart about how we build and thinking about stormwater ahead of time, which benefits everyone!

To see a complete list of projects and efforts completed and/or in progress in the watershed from December 28, 2012 to December 31, 2023, click on the link above to download the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed Progress Report and check out Appendices A and B.

Check back every 6 months, in mid-June and mid-December, for updates on the status of this important work.