“It’s hard to overestimate how consequential this leadership change could be for the future of water resilience in our region,” said Reznik. “With his removal, we expect and demand that MWD leaders – both staff and board – honor their commitment to continue working with impacted communities and transition the agency to more resilient local water supplies to adapt to climate change.” 

Environmental groups worked together to advocate for the Los Angeles Regional Water Board to strengthen a stormwater permit for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. Their efforts resulted in an improved permit limiting the Los Angeles River from being polluted by long-lasting chemicals, PCBs, toxic metals, and radioactive waste from the site, as well as robust stormwater monitoring. After Boeing sued the Regional Board to overturn the new permit terms, environmental groups got involved to defend the permit, and the Los Angeles Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Regional Board and rejected most of Boeing’s arguments.

Three decades after two conservation groups sued the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) over its mishandling of polluted runoff, the groups and the agency have agreed to update the settlement terms and end the case for good. The case, which was filed by the NRDC and LA Waterkeeper in 1993, argued Caltrans failed to properly manage discharge from more than 900 miles of roads and 35 maintenance facilities located across Los Angeles and Ventura counties in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The environmental justice group Riverpark Coalition (RPC) and the prominent environmental watchdog organization Los Angeles Waterkeeper prevailed in their lawsuit against the City of Long Beach, challenging a project that would develop land adjacent to the Los Angeles River previously slated for open space for decades.

Conservation groups LA Waterkeeper and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed a lawsuit on July 13, 2022 against Los Angeles County over the recently updated LA River Master Plan.

California Senate Proposes $1.5 Billion for Drought-Resilient Water Supply

Los Angeles River named among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2022.

A big win for the environment and communities. West Basin votes to terminate the ocean desalination project.