Elmer Ave Construction Tour Held Next Week

The Elmer Avenue Project is part of the Los Angeles Basin I Water Augmentation Study, a long-term research project led by the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council in partnership with eight local, state, and federal agencies to assess the practical potential to improve surface water quality and increase local groundwater supplies through infiltration of urban storm water runoff.

On July 14th, 2009, construction started on the Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Demonstration project. The project, located in Sun Valley, is demonstrating multiple alternative storm water Best Management Practices including infiltration trenches, bio-swales, and permeable surfaces, to create a Green Street.

The construction crew has been making great progress and the residents are excited to see this project moving forward. To date installation of catch basins and the southern infiltration trench have been completed.

As a project partner or supporter of the Elmer Avenue Construction project, the Watershed Council and the Water Augmentation Study Technical Advisory Committee would like to invite you to take a tour of the progress next week:

Elmer Avenue Construction Tour
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
10am to 11:30am
Elmer Avenue at Keswick Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352

*Please RSVP by August 31st to edward@lasgrwc.org*

Listen to the Rainwater Harvesting Podcast

The Homegrown Evolution blog, kicked off its very fist podcast with a story about the LA Rainwater Harvesting program! Erik Knutzen interviews Wing Tam (LA Stormwater) about the program in the second half of the podcast. The show is concluded with a reaction to the Rainwater Harvesting program from Joe Linton (LA Creek Freak blog). Listen at http://www.homegrownevolution.com/2009/08/homegrown-evolution-podcast-episode-1.html#comments

LA Rainwater Harvesting Program Generating Community Action and Buzz

The good news keeps on coming! We’ve had over 300 people who have submitted LA Rainwater Harvesting applications thus far and those sign-ups are currently being reviewed for eligibility. The installation stage (where we hook up free rain barrels, reroute downspouts or install free planter boxes) is slated to begin early September.

We want to thank everyone for making the program such a success to date and encourage you to continue to share this exciting Los Angeles Rainwater Harvesting momentum with your friends, families and neighbors! We still need your help in spreading the word.

You may have already seen us highlighted in some of our favorite and trusted blogs including L.A. Creek Freak, Green LA Girl, Mar Vista Green Gardens Showcase, LAist, Chance of Rain, Apartment Therapy, Inspire the Change and Your Daily Thread.

So whether it is via your blog, facebook or twitter, please remind people that every rain drop counts and let them know that they can join in on this win win Rainwater Harvesting pilot program. Direct them to our web site http://larainwaterharvesting.org./ to find out more.

Free rain barrel, downspout disconnect, or planter box. Check.
Free installation. Check.
Save on your water costs. Check.
Save our ocean! Yes!

California Beach Pollution Still on the Rise

Information taken from LA Times article:
California beaches face a rising tide of pollution, study finds
by: Amy Littlefield



The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) reports a 4% increase in beach pollution violations from 2007-2008.



According to the NRDC report, which collects data through the Enviromental Protection Agency, 10% of water samples at California beaches last year contained more human fecal bacteria than the state allows, creating health and sanitary issues for all beachgoers.



Bacteria can flow into beach water from sewage accidents such as the spill that forced
closures in Long Beach on Monday, but also through stormwater flowing through urban areas. The "urban runoff" pick ups animal waste, fertilizer, motor oil and other contaminants that are dumped into the ocean through our untreated waterways.



Although researchers linked 9% of contamination to sewage and 3% to storm water, the
vast majority (81%) came from unknown sources



These high bacteria levels lead to sickness and beach closures at some of the most popular tourist destinations in Southern California.

For more information on beach water quality, be sure to check out Heal the Bay's Beach Report Card.