LOS ANGELES WATERKEEPER

THE POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO THE ELIMINATION OF ONGOING POLLUTION OF THE LA REGION'S COASTAL AND INLAND WATERS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REGULATORY AND LEGAL ENFORCEMENT AROUND URBAN AND STORMWATER RUNOFF, INCLUDING ENGAGING COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERS IN THESE EFFORTS, WHILE ALSO TRACKING OTHER SOURCES OF POLLUTION (SEWAGE SPILLS, INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES) TO ENSURE THERE IS NO BACKSLIDING OF GAINS ALREADY MADE. AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS IN 2024, WE SECURED WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS (SEPS) - A TYPE OF LEGAL FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT THAT COMPELS POLLUTERS TO INVEST IN TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THEIR ACTIONS. THESE SEPS FREQUENTLY LEND SUPPORT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CONTRIBUTING TO INITIATIVES SUCH AS HABITAT RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OR NATIVE FISH HABITATS, AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF WATER RESILIENCE. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION TOOK ON 42 NEW INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER CASES, SETTLING 18 OF THEM, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIVE HALTING OF POLLUTION TO LOCAL WATERWAYS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO TRACK AND SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS OF SEWAGE SPILLS IN THE REGION, ACTING AS AN ADVOCATE AND WATCHDOG FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY HOLDING AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE.

THE SYSTEMS CHANGE PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE LOCAL, LOW-CARBON, AND AFFORDABLE WATER SUPPLIES AND WATER-FRIENDLY LAND USE & ENERGY POLICIES BY HOLDING OUR ELECTED AND AGENCY OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE, PROMOTING A 4R (REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND RESTORE) APPROACH TO WATER SYSTEMS, AND PARTNERING WITH LIKE-MINDED GROUPS PROMOTING WATER-FRIENDLY LAND-USE, TRANSPORTATION, AND ENERGY POLICIES. A HALLMARK ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS PROGRAM WAS HOSTING AN MWD ADVOCACY TRAINING AT THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, WITH ALMOST 30 DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS IN ATTENDANCE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE MWD WATCH NETWORK TO HELP BOLSTER OUR INITIATIVE TO RESHAPE THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT INTO AN AGENCY THAT WILL LEAD THE WAY ON LOCAL, CLIMATE RESILIENT WATER SUPPLIES. WE ALSO DEVELOPED TWO CRITICAL REPORTS, ONE OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORMING MWD'S ANTIQUATED BUSINESS MODEL AND THE OTHER WITH FINDINGS FROM A WASTEWATER RECYCLING TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONVENING AT UCLA'S LUSKIN CENTER FOR INNOVATION. FOR THE LATTER, WE GATHERED 20 EXPERTS AND 20 AGENCY STAFF TO DISCUSS HOW TO CREATE A TRULY INTEGRATED WASTEWATER RECYCLING SYSTEM IN LA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK AROUND THE SAFE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM INCLUDING IDENTIFYING EXEMPLAR STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN ROUND 6 OF FUNDING WITH THE OURWATERLA COALITION-WHICH WE COORDINATE-AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR A MORE PROACTIVE FUNDING APPROACH FOR THE PROGRAM WHICH LED TO A PROGRAM WIDE WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE JUSTICE FOR LA CAMPAIGN CULMINATED OUR 2024 WORK WITH A SUCCESSFUL SHOWCASE WITH MORE THAN 100 ATTENDEES THAT WALKED THROUGH MULTI-BENEFIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICY WORK IN LA, THE CHALLENGES OF MULTI-BENEFIT INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW WE MEASURE IMPACT OF PROJECTS, AND SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS IN LA. AND LASTLY, WE REACHED MORE THAN 2 MILLION ANGELENOS THROUGH A BEHAVIOR CHANGE PROGRAM AIMED AT MAKING WATER CONSERVATION A WAY OF LIFE AND REDUCING RESIDENTIAL WATER CONSUMPTION BY 25%.