Challenges
flooding
In developed areas, flooding can be a major problem in wet years,
especially for downstream communities. The river systems have become
overburdened due to increased runoff from paved or impervious surfaces.
pollution
Water pollution has become a serious problem, and cities are facing
huge price tags to clean up their waterways. Much of the pollution
comes from urban runoff: water that carries trash, oil, gasoline,
pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and detergents from driveways,
streets and parking lots into our rivers.
drought
Long periods of drought are historically common in our region, so
water shortages are a recurrent problem for the LA area, leading
to water imports every year, and water rationing in extremely dry
periods.
shortage of parks and open space
The Los Angeles area has less open space per person than any other
major city in the country. (1 acre per 1,000 residents, compared
to a national standard of 4.) Especially in poor and industrial
communities, the nearest park or playing field may be miles away.
habitat for animals and birds
The Southern California ecosystem is home to a staggering number
of native plants and animals, but much of their habitat has been
lost. Numerous species are endangered or threatened with extinction.
air pollution
The LA area is famous for its smog, a problem that has improved
since the 1970's, but has recently begun to worsen again and is
far from solved. A recent study indicated that increased hardscape
(paved or impervious surfaces that create heat islands) is a major
contributing factor to global warming.
ugly river
Many people don't know that we have rivers in Los Angeles. We have
turned our backs on our rivers and learned not to see them because
most of them are encased in concrete and look more like storm drains
than rivers.
disconnected communities
The Los Angeles area is home to an incredible diversity of people,
from all races and walks of life. But our communities are fractured,
with people separated from each other and isolated by auto dependency
and isolated neighborhoods.
the cost of water
Los Angeles imports 85% of its water from outside the county, spending
over $1 billion each year. Only 40% of our total water supply is
utilized for drinking, bathing and washing, with the balance being
used for landscape irrigation, swimming pools and industrial use.
bad relations with the rest of the West
Our history of importing water from hundreds of miles away has not
made us popular. Other growing communities are starting to need
their allocated shares of the water we import from Northern California
and the Colorado River. Some of that water is needed for restoration,
to undo the environmental damage done by taking too much water from
other watersheds. Many accuse LA of taking more than our fair share,
costing money and goodwill in lawsuits and arguments.
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Solutions
protected waterways
In areas that have yet to see development encroach, keeping a natural
buffer zone around our rivers provides a safe place for overflows
during flood times without damage to property. Bio-engineered bank
stabilization can provide living structural integrity, protects
our still-living rivers’ beauty, maintains habitat for plants
and animals, and improves water quality.
stormwater retention systems, porous paving,
cisterns and retention basins
By increasing the amount of permeable area in the region and utilizing
retention systems we can save more of the water that falls here
as rain. This reduces the amount of water we need to import from
the rest of the country, lowers our water bills and keeps polluted
runoff out of rivers, streams and bays. It also puts less strain
on the rivers, reducing flood risk downstream. Retention basins
can also serve as pocket parks or playing fields during most of
the year.
parks and open space
Less paved land means more areas where rainwater can be detained
and absorbed into the groundwater, and not flow into stormdrains
and the river. Properly planned and placed, parks can also be places
where rainwater is gathered during the wet season and saved for
later use. Parks near rivers can filter our pollutants before they
get into the water. Open spaces improve quality of life for people
and provide natural habitat for birds, animals and plants.
native plants
Native plants evolved to cope with the long, dry summers and occasional
wet winters of our climate, and require less irrigation. That helps
conserve water. Also, native plants provide food and shelter for
native insects, birds and animals, some of which are endangered.
A more native landscape can also create an indigenous sense of place
in Southern California.
more trees
Trees help clean the air, reduce heat island effects and provide
habitat for birds, insects and mammals. Trees near the river provide
cool shade for fish, animals and people and an inviting recreation
area. Trees in the river can stabilize riverbanks, filter out water
pollution and slow the flow of floodwaters.
bikeways
Along the river is the perfect place for bikeways, with a level
path and easy, continuous access to many communities. Our climate
is ideal for bicycle commuting which keeps more cars off the road,
easing traffic and air pollution. Biking is great recreation, and
riverside bikeways can connect communities and people who otherwise
might never interact.
Marshes and wetlands
Marshes and wetlands near rivers and estuaries provide a buffer
zone to absorb excess water during flood times. They also do an
excellent job of naturally filtering pollution out of runoff water,
and provide habitat for many threatened native birds and animals.
using our own local water
Using the water we already have here decreases our dependence on
imported water from the Owens Valley, Northern California and the
Colorado River. In addition to lowering our water bills, it can
end decades of bad feelings and political arguments over water rights
and protect us in times of natural disaster.
water recycling
Recycled wastewater (aka reclaimed water) can be used for landscape
irrigation, toilet flushing, and a number of industrial uses. That
reduces the amount of water we must import from far away, and means
less water is sent into our overburdened river.
concrete out of the channelized rivers
If we begin to capture enough rainwater on site to lower stormflows
and the risk of flooding, we will over time be able to take the
concrete out of our river bottoms and replace the sides with bio-engineered
bank stabilization. This will improve water quality, increase habitat
for birds and animals and provide respite and recreation areas for
people. |
