NEWS & STORIES
Clean Water Act Celebrates 50th Anniversary
LA Waterkeeper Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
The Emerald Necklace
The Emerald Necklace is a vision nearly 20 years in the making, a vision to create a 17-mile loop of parks and greenways connecting 10 cities and nearly 500,000 residents in the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers watershed of LA County’s San Gabriel Valley. LA Waterkeeper’s litigation helped make this vision become a reality.
Leading the Way on Stormwater Pollution Solutions
LA Waterkeeper’s fight for stormwater cleanup in Los Angeles led all the way to the US Supreme Court.
Greening ‘Charcoal Alley’
The County of Los Angeles reached a settlement with LA Waterkeeper to invest $4 million in SEPs to address the #1 source of pollution to LA’s waters: urban and stormwater runoff. From this settlement, $2.8 million went to the Watts neighborhood’s 103rd Street Green Improvement Project, adding ecological features to the neighborhood’s main transportation artery, formerly known as “Charcoal Alley.”
Suing to Clean Up our Most Polluted Waterways
More than three decades ago, a landmark lawsuit filed by LA Waterkeeper and Heal the Bay spurred the creation of the TMDL program, one of the biggest drivers of clean water projects in California. However, half of our waters are still considered impaired by pollution, and deregulation and lack of enforcement threaten to disempower this landmark piece of legislation. Our future depends on restoring, enforcing, and defending the Clean Water Act in the decades to come. How did we get to where we are, and how can we continue to push for better water quality for all of Los Angeles?
Gov. Newsom Unveils New Drought Plan
On August 11, Governor Newsom released a new water strategy for the state, warning that water supplies will shrink by 10% over the next twenty years due to climate change. While the plan has been met with mixed reaction, there is a lot to like, including its call to dramatically increase wastewater recycling, stormwater capture and reuse, groundwater remediation, and conservation. Now, we have until the end of the month to ensure the state budget includes sufficient funds to move these programs forward and ensure a resilient water future for California.
Residential Retrofits with TreePeople
In a lawsuit filed by LA Waterkeeper and NRDC, LA County was required to pay $4 million for projects that reduce stormwater runoff and enhance the urban tree canopy. The funding was used by TreePeople to help people retrofit their homes with water filtration and stormwater-capture features, including drought-resistant plants and bioswales.
Pacoima’s Bradley Plaza and Green Alley
LA Waterkeeper’s successfully litigated using the Clean Water Act against a waste hauling and recycling facility in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles. The funding was used in part to fund the Bradley Plaza and Green Alley, a project led by Pacoima Beautiful that transformed a run-down alley into a greenway for residents to walk, bike and recreate.
LA County Sued Over Faulty Environmental Review Process for Los Angeles River Master Plan
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.
First Anniversary of Hyperion Spill Highlights Progress, Work Still to be Done
One year after the Hyperion Water Treatment Plant released 12.5 million gallons of raw sewage, regulators have yet to levy penalties for the spill.
The Fight for the LA River
The LA River Master Plan could have set our LA River on a bold and innovative path. Instead, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an antiquated Master Plan. What does that mean for the future of the river?
It’s Time to Invest in a Better Future for the LA River – and the Communities that Surround It
LA County is at a crossroads: do we want to double down on the concrete or a living, breathing river?
Litigation = Impact
LA Waterkeeper’s Litigation Impact Report highlights 30 years of legal impact in the Los Angeles region.
California Senate Proposes $1.5 Billion for Drought-Resilient Water Supply
California Senate Proposes $1.5 Billion for Drought-Resilient Water Supply
One Step Forward, One Step Back
MWD Budget Vote Sends Mixed Message on the Agency’s Future Direction, With More Key Votes on the Horizon
Los Angeles River Named Among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2022
Los Angeles River named among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2022.
The Los Angeles River, One of America's Most Endangered Rivers
The Los Angeles River is one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2022.
The Los Angeles River, One of America's Most Endangered Rivers
The Los Angeles River is one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2022.
Honoring the Women of Water
Women are making Her-story every day! Learn more about six exceptional women making waves in the environmental movement.
A New Vision for Water Management
Learn more about ARLA’s Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP) Working Group Recommendations for better water management in Los Angeles.