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San Fernando Regional Park Infiltration Project

Award

Parks & Recreation Project

Description

The San Fernando Regional Park Infiltration Project was identified in the Upper Los Angeles River Enhanced Watershed Management Program Plan as a priority regional project and assists the ULAR group in addressing applicable Total Maximum Daily Loads and water quality priorities.  The 9.5-acre park includes the San Fernando Regional Pool and Community Center, a children’s play area, and athletic fields. The project addresses discharges from within the City of San Fernando into Pacoima Wash and ultimately the Los Angeles River by capturing wet- and dry-weather runoff from over 940 acres within the City of San Fernando and City of Los Angeles.  The project diverts runoff from multiple storm drains and conveys diverted runoff to a subsurface infiltration system, which improves water quality and replenishes groundwater supplies.

The City of San Fernando implemented the project to improve water quality while providing multiple benefits.  The project diverts and captures wet- and dry-weather runoff from over 940 acres, effectively reducing pollutant loads that would otherwise enter Pacoima Wash and the Los Angeles River.  The captured runoff is pretreated and then discharged into a subsurface storage system that facilitates infiltration at the San Fernando Regional Park, resulting in groundwater recharge.  The project also educates the public, through permanent signage, and incorporates community outreach on its benefits.

The project has a single storm capture volume of over 25 acre-feet and is expected to recharge over 320 acre-feet annually. The project was funded through state and Flood Control District grants and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, with all parties working together to implement this sustainable infrastructure.