Seven specially designed tree wells will be installed along Abbot-Kinney in Venice in order to take in, filter and remove pollutants before the stormwater reaches the beach.
Best quote comes from City of LA Engineer Gary Moore:
The great thing about this project is we add trees to this neighborhood and improve water quality at the same time.
The Filterra Bioretention product will be installed. The system uses patented technology to remove TSS, heavy metals, oil and grease as water passes through the filtering media.
Funding comes completely from the half-billion dollar Prop O bond measure passed in 2004. The project is part of the City’s Green Streets program. A previous project completed last year on Oros Street is profiled here.
The EPA and Natural Resources Defense Council have settled a lawsuit started in 2006 over the Agency’s ocean water quality testing procedures.
The Associated Press reports EPA will look at a wider range of illnesses including hepatitis, rashes and ear and eye infections; in addition, results will be posted the same day they’re completed.
“Sound science and partnerships are key…. This agreement should help reduce litigation and increase collaboration, ” said Benjamin Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water.
Stormwater and urban runoff are the largest contributors to poor ocean water quality at the beach. The new rules will be developed within two years and results are due by 2010.
The Port of Los Angeles is launching a major effort to clean-up Cabrillo Beach near San Pedro. Both the seawater and the beach sand have bacteria levels which concern Port officials. They are funding a project to remove a nearby jetty and add a recirculation pump in order flush out the slow moving water inside the cove.
The Port of LA is one of the few in the country to have a popular sandy beach right next to port operations. Officials have spent years trying to clean-up the beach.
“We may be able to do for water what we’re doing for air around the port. We just need to focus more attention on the issue,” said Geraldine Knatz, the Port of LA’s Executive Director.
Stormwater pollution on LA beaches is the focus of a new Surfrider Foundation outreach campaign. The items are on display at local farmers markets.
“Catch of the Day” pics posted here. Warning: disturbing content.
Hat tip to LAT’s Emerald City Blog.
The trade magazine Municipal Sewer & Water writes about the City of LA’s Green Streets (aka Street Ends Biofiltration Project) – a large stormwater filtering project on Oros Street near the Los Angeles River. The project involved several City departments and the non-profit group North East Trees.
Money quote:
“Whatever came down the street ended up in the river. Now, the water goes through the natural soil… That’s nature’s way of filtering things out…” – Dean Harding, City of LA, Bureau of Street Services, Special Projects Division.
