June 30, 2022
CULVER CITY STORMWATER CAPTURE PROJECT CELEBRATED AS A REGIONAL MODEL
City Infrastructure Can Prevent 19 Acre-Feet of Water per Storm from Overflowing to Ballona Creek and Santa Monica Bay
CULVER CITY, Calif. – At a June 30, 2022 event in Culver City, the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) and City of Culver City co-hosted a celebratory event recognizing the benefits and water savings that the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Capture Project will achieve in the months and years ahead.
As part of Culver City’s recently completed Culver Boulevard Realignment and Stormwater Capture Project identified in the Ballona Creek Enhanced Watershed Management Plan, advances water sustainability initiatives and addresses compliance with discharge water quality regulations in which municipalities are responsible. The new facility can treat up to 19 acre-feet of water per storm from an almost 800-acre watershed drainage area. The project consists of underground storm drain diversion, pretreatment and settling areas, storage, a pump station, and discharge filters to existing storm drains. The primary goal of the stormwater capture facility is to utilize subsurface infiltration galleries to treat and reuse captured runoff for landscape irrigation, while significantly reducing pollutants entering into local watersheds.
“In order to protect bodies of water like Ballona Creek and conserve precious rain water, Culver City continues to make significant investments to advance stormwater quality and projects,” said Culver City Mayor Dr. Daniel Lee. “Projects like ours not only captures valuable stormwater runoff for reuse, but also beautifies our community. In addition, we serve as a positive example of a multi-benefit, multi-partner stormwater capture project that increases water supply, improves water quality, and provides community enhancements.
The city’s stormwater capture infrastructure will provide significant water quality benefits for both Culver City and other jurisdictions within the watershed due to the tributary drainage area and location of adjacent storm drains. In addition, the associated road realignment improves pedestrian safety and bicycle mobility, and enhances aesthetics along Culver Boulevard from Elenda Street to Sepulveda Boulevard.
The nearly $14 million stormwater project was funded by various contributors including: Culver City Measure CW funds (~$1.4 million); city of Beverly Hills contributions for construction costs (~$3.5M); Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Prop 1 and 84 grants (~$7.7 million); Metropolitan Water District of Southern California $500,000 grant from its Stormwater for Recharge Pilot Program; and Caltrans funding (~$525,000). Overall, the entire project, including stormwater, street realignment, and new landscaping elements, totaled approx. $20 million.
Director Scott Houston, who represents the West Basin Division IV city of Culver City stated, “The Culver City Stormwater Capture Project is truly a collaborative effort that can serve as a model for regional partnership and water stewardship and exemplifies multiple agency coordination to address local water supply sustainability and pollution control. West Basin commends Culver City and this project for better preparing our service area to capture local water supplies as we face recurring droughts and uncertainties associated with climate change.”
Additional quotes are available below.
To learn more about the Culver City Culver Boulevard Realignment and Stormwater Capture Project, visit: www.culvercity.org/City-Projects/Culver-Boulevard-Realignment-Urban-Stormwater-Project.
To Find more information about the Water Boards Storm Water Program in the Los Angeles Region here: www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/water_issues/programs/stormwater.
To learn more about Metropolitan’s stormwater capture pilot programs, visit: www.mwdh2o.com/funding-opportunities.
###
About Culver City
Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport. Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, “small town” charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries. Visit www.culvercity.org.
About West Basin Municipal Water District
West Basin is a wholesale water agency that serves nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County. West Basin provides imported drinking water, recycled water, as well as conservation and education programs. Through its Water for Tomorrow Program, West Basin is committed to protecting, diversifying, and securing our water supply for the future while continuing a history of innovation and industry leadership. Visit www.westbasin.org to learn more.
Additional Quotes
“The Commission is proud to support this project to improve water quality and protect the benefits and values of the Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds for all. Multi-benefit projects like this are integral to restoring and increasing the resilience of our natural resources.” – Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Chief Administrative Director Marissa Caringella
“As climate change and drought stress Southern California’s water supplies, it is critically important that we invest in sustainable, local water projects that bring multiple benefits to our communities. Stormwater capture projects like this one contribute to the diverse portfolio of water supplies we are building for a reliable water future. I am grateful for the partnership and collaboration that made this project a reality.” – Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Governing Board Member At-Large Representative, West Basin Municipal Water District Director and Metropolitan Chairwoman Gloria Gray
“Our water future lies in these types of collaborative projects that have more than one benefit, an approach called One Water. With this project, we’re producing new water, keeping pollution out of the ocean, and beautifying our communities. Metropolitan is excited to partner with West Basin on this effort and we thank Culver City for its leadership in this endeavor.” – Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Adel Hagekhalil
“On behalf of the Beverly Hills City Council, we celebrate the completion of the Culver Median Project, a partnership between the City of Beverly Hills and our nearby neighbor, Culver City that is proof that we can take action when it comes to addressing water quality and sustainable modes of transportation in a time where we are desperately in need of making drastic changes,” said Beverly Hills Councilmember John Mirisch. “This is a great example of how regional cooperation works when it comes to discharging our storm water responsibly as well as beneficial reuse of our valuable rain water.” – City of Beverly Hills Councilmember John Mirisch
