This was a year of devastation for many Angelenos, but that pain has been accompanied by an incredible resilience. The Palisades and Eaton Fires in January destroyed thousands of homes, stole dozens of lives, and revealed to many the potentially catastrophic effects of wildfires and climate disasters.
Though there is still much to rebuild, we were proud to see our colleagues in LA Sanitation & Environment and the Watershed Protection Program cleaning up street and catch basin debris, clearing out canyon debris basins, and installing temporary protection measures to ease the impacts of storms following the fires early in the year. By collecting water samples, the LASAN watershed protection staff were able to “assess the severity of ash from the burn area runoff,” while LASAN Vactor Truck crews aimed to unclog catch basins and reduce post-fire flooding. You can read more about their efforts and see photos of their work here.
Earth Day saw the completion of Bending The River, a project conceived by environmental artist Lauren Bon and built by Metabolic Studios, with support from LA Sanitation & Environment, LADWP, and more county, state, and federal agencies. According to Metabolic Studios, Bending the River employs “the principles of adaptive reuse [to move] a portion of the LA River water,” allowing the low-flow runoff to move through native wetland treatment on its way to irrigate LA State Historic Park (near Chinatown and Elysian Park.) Combining artistry, water protection, and a deep sense of regard for this city we call home, this project is a beautiful synthesis of what makes LA flow.
The Safe Clean Water Program has had an exciting year, which we’ve been proud to support. In June, the SCWP celebrated the opening of the Haynes Street Greenway Project, and October saw the ribbon-cutting of the Paul Koretz Westwood Greenway. These Greenway projects impact their watershed’s entire local ecosystem, from critters living in the ripples to the public health of all the human communities shoreside. Plus, the recreational aspects of the Greenway projects mean more green space for all – and who doesn’t love a neighborhood stroll through some native plants?
We celebrated our city’s beaches during National Clean Beaches Week in early July, dug up some paws-itively fetching pup-friendly hikes and dog parks around town, and rallied around the California Coastal Commission’s 36th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. And we helped celebrate our friends at Heal the Bay as they rang in their 40th year of advocacy for a cleaner, greener Santa Monica Bay.
As the rainy season kicked off, we took some time to honor the scientists of LASAN’s Watershed Protection Program’s Storm Coordination Team. These unsung heroes go into the storm to gather important stormwater samples that provide valuable insights into our city’s health.
Now, with the year drawing to a close, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of you Angelenos who’ve made it a priority to protect our waterways by keeping our streets, storm drains, driveways, and other outdoor spaces clean and pollutant-free. Every time you add coffee grounds and plant waste to your compost bin, bring old paint and cleaners to your local S.A.F.E. Center, pick up after your dog (or adventure cat), visit an eco-friendly car wash, opt against garden pesticides, or just have a conversation with a friend about the journey stormwater takes as it flows toward the river and the bay, you’re making our city shine just a little bit brighter. Because even when the going gets tough, the people of Los Angeles have the power to come together and thrive.
