Eyes on the Street: East L.A. Median Stormwater Capture Project, Multiuse Path

3:43 PM PDT on June 14, 2021

Los Angeles County Public Works staff recently gave Streetsblog L.A. a tour of its East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project. In addition to capturing and infiltrating approximately 21 acre-feet of rainwater and urban runoff from a 3,000-acre area of mostly homes and commercial properties, the project is also turning dried out and unmaintained greenways into recreation areas complete with jogging paths, drought tolerant landscaping, and more than 300 trees.

Most of the underground work has been completed, and the above ground work, which includes the landscaping and recreational uses, is currently underway, said Regina Quan, capital project management associate at LACDPW. Many of the medians got new curb ramps and walkway paths that are ADA compliant and will be getting soil and vegetation soon.

Encompassing five medians of varying size, the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Quan said.

Map of East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project. Image: Los Angeles County Public Works

More than 100 drywells have been installed and go about a 100 feet depth. Water will get captured through existing storm drains and get pulled into the network of filtration systems before it enters into the drywells and groundwater supply. Rainwater will also be collected through bioswales and go directly to the drywells.

"We started August 2020 of last year, we'll finish by the end of this year," Quan said.

The filtration system traps trash, metals and bacteria; these will get separated and will be cleaned by maintenance staff after rainy days. A water maintenance program will include a water quality monitoring for both cleaning the filtration system and measuring the water quality before it enters the system and after to see how much the water improves before it goes into the ground.

Regina Quan, capital project management associate at LACPW, stands at a nearly completed median. Most of the underground work has been completed for most of the medians in the East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project, and the above ground work, which includes the landscaping and recreational uses, is currently being worked on. — Regina Quan, capital project management associate at LACDPW, stands at a nearly completed median. Most of the underground work has been completed for most of the medians in the East Los Angeles Sustainable Median Stormwater Capture Project. The above ground work, which includes the landscaping and recreational uses, is currently being worked on.

A bioswale on a median near the corner of Montebello Parkway and Whittier Boulevard. While much of the water filtered through the medians will actually come from nearby runoff from adjacent streets, anything that falls on the median will enter directly into the dry well. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

While more than 300 native and drought tolerant trees will be planted as a part of the project, many of the existing trees were kept if possible. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA — false

More than 300 native and drought tolerant trees will be planted as a part of the project. Wherever possible, the existing trees were kept. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

At a median near the corner of Montebello Parkway and Whittier Boulevard, new walkways carved out space for currently existing trees to allow for root growth. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

The cover of a filtration. Water will get cleaned by multilpe filtration units before it enters into the drywell roughly 100 feet deep. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA — The cover of a filtration system. Water will get cleansed by multiple filtration units before it enters into the drywell roughly 100 feet deep. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

Median off Garfield Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

Project information signs at a median near Olympic Boulevard and Garfield Avenue. Kristopher Fortin/Streetsblog LA

SBLA San Gabriel Valley coverage, including this article and SGV Connect, is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

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Kristopher Fortin

Streetsblog California contributor, covering news in Orange County.

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