Los Angeles uses green infrastructure to fight stormwater pollution

 Elmer Street Retrofit

“Stormwater’s one of the worst polluters of coastal waters. That’s a big reason why state and local officials have cracked down on rainwater runoff that can foul the ocean. In Los Angeles, a dense, sprawling watershed complicates those pollution controls. Public agencies are trying to lower the impact of development,” states Molly Peterson, a reporter with radio station KPCC in Southern California.

The focus of her story is on Elmer Street in the Sun Valley area of Los Angeles. This is a $3million demonstration project. The Los Angeles San Gabriel Regional Watershed Council has implemented green technologies to power streetlights and installed landscaping that captures rainwater/stormwater that otherwise would go to sea along with pollutants.

To Learn More:

To read the complete story posted on the Southern California Public Radio website, click on LA officials use green infrastructure to fight stormwater pollution

To view a slideshow of Elmer Street before and after project implementation, click here.

Posted September 2010