COUNCIL OKS PROJECTS FOR WATER CLEANUP $230 MILLION EFFORT TARGETS POLLUTION, URBAN RUNOFF.

Byline: RICK ORLOV and KERRY CAVANAUGH

Staff Writers

Under pressure to take steps to clean urban runoff and improve water quality, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved spending more than $230 million on projects ranging from cleaning up lakes to dealing with storm-drain runoff.

In a 12-0 vote, the council approved using about half of a $500 million bond measure approved by voters in 2004 to begin dealing with water pollution and urban runoff while increasing the amount of park and green space in the city.

"This is an important first step for us to take," council President Eric Garcetti said. "With voters' approval of Proposition O, they gave us the means and the mandate to clean up Los Angeles' water system."

The bond issue is considered a down payment on what has been estimated as an $8 billion problem facing the city as it strives to meet federal cleanup goals.

Officials said they hope to use the bond to generate an additional $300 million in federal and state grants.

City officials have been critical of the amount of time it has taken to identify and fund the projects.

"Since I was elected in 2001, I have been looking for ways to clean up areas of my district," Councilwoman Janice Hahn said. "This funding will allow us to revitalize areas of our city."

Among the six major projects approved by the council is $17.8 million set aside for cleaning up the Strathern Pit in Sun Valley. The project would transform a former gravel pit in Sun Valley into a scenic lake and park to collect and treat storm-water runoff.

Rainwater that now floods neighborhoods and intersections would be diverted to the 30-acre gravel pit. The water would be cleaned and stored in the wetlands and pond planned for the site. Or extra water could be pumped to nearby Sun Valley Park, where there is an underground system that infiltrates water back into the aquifer for reuse.

Strathern Pit is a major piece of the Sun Valley Watershed Project, a massive project by Los Angeles County and the nonprofit group TreePeople to help clean up dirty storm water, prevent flooding and create more parks.

Other projects approved by the council include major efforts such as $84.3 million to drain and rehabilitate Echo Park Lake, the site of the annual Lotus Festival and boat races.

It also includes $99.5 million for Machado Lake, the local landmark noted for being home to Reggie the alligator, who has successfully avoided capture.

"Maybe now we'll be able to find Reggie and learn what happened to him," Hahn said. "I think he probably died from living in the pollution there."

The Machado project is being done in conjunction with a $17 million cleanup of the Wilmington Drain.

"What's exciting about this is that the project is meeting all the goals of the local neighborhood council," Hahn said. "It is an example of what can happen when we work together."

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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