Chapter 4: Projects

4.1 Project Identification

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.

—Allen Lakein

The Project Team spent several months meeting with stakeholders at all levels to identify and/or develop over two hundred potential green infrastructure projects that could address watershed conditions and move us toward a healthier balance (refer to Appendix 10). Once these projects were identified, stakeholders were asked to quantify potential project benefits for water supply recharge, water quality improvement, and flood management; and define additional benefits such as public access, open space, habitat, and recreation.

A Geographic Information System analyzed criteria such as infiltration potential; park needs; distance from nearest park, trail or storm drain; habitat connectivity; and special districts. A Decision Support System was used to review and prioritize the projects, considering additional factors such as innovation, watershed awareness, and potential to improve collaboration. After analyzing the results, stakeholders looked also for a range of project types and their geographic distribution throughout the watershed. The twenty-four neighborhood-scale and thirteen watershed-scale projects presented in this chapter represent the preferred project scenario. (Note: the numbers assigned to each project do not represent a priority order or ranking.)

Collectively, these fully integrated, multi-objective projects represent the best opportunities to make progress towards the goals and objectives of this plan. These projects will also make progress towards the planning targets identified in the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for Greater Los Angeles County. These projects have been included in the IRWMP project database and will be considered for future IRWMP funding opportunities. However, as those funds will be limited, the County, the cities, agencies and other organizations can and should pursue these projects by using the funding mechanisms discussed in Chapter 7.