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Pedestrians utilize the Los Angeles River Bikeway,a component of ongoing efforts to improve local water resilience.
(Juliana yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County is facing important hurdles in its ambitious plan to capture stormwater and reduce reliance on imported water, despite voter approval of a dedicated funding source in 2018. The challenges highlight the complexities of implementing large-scale infrastructure projects in a decentralized system, contrasting with approaches seen in countries like China.
The core of the effort is the Safe Clean Water Program, established through Measure W, a ballot initiative approved by Los Angeles County voters on November 6, 2018. Measure W levies a parcel tax based on the amount of impermeable surfaces on a property, generating approximately $300 million annually for stormwater capture projects. The program aims to capture 98 billion gallons of stormwater each year, a volume intended to alleviate both flood risks and water scarcity.
The program’s goals extend beyond simply capturing water.These projects are designed to recharge groundwater basins, such as the San Fernando Basin and the Main San Gabriel Basin, vital sources of drinking water for millions of residents. Increased local water supplies would lessen the county’s dependence on water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California via the State Water Project – sources increasingly strained by drought and climate change.
However, progress has been slower than anticipated. In its initial three years (2019-2021), the program resulted in the addition of only 30 acres of new green space countywide, according to a report from Los Angeles Waterkeeper.While approximately $1 billion has now been allocated to over 130 projects, officials acknowledge that achieving the 98 billion gallon annual capture target will take decades.
Bruce Reznik, Executive Director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper and a member of the Measure W scoring committee, points to several key obstacles. These include limited federal funding, lengthy and expensive bureaucratic processes, and the need to remediate contaminated sites before project implementation. He estimates the total cost of necessary projects could reach $50 billion – five times the projected funding available from Measure W over the next 20 years.
“We’re seeing project costs escalate dramatically,” Reznik stated. “initial estimates of $10 million for certain projects are now exceeding $25 million. We need to identify ways to streamline permitting, reduce remediation costs, and explore choice funding mechanisms.”
The challenges faced by Los Angeles County stand in contrast to centralized water management systems,
