Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia and Sierra Madre are members of the Rio Hondo San Gabriel River Watershed Management Authority (RH/SGR WMA), a Joint Powers Authority working to protect the local watershed, quality of rainwater runoff (stormwater) and help member agencies meet national environmental standards related to stormwater management. The Authority is currently in the design phase of the Rio Hondo Ecosystem Restoration Project, located at the Peck Road Conservation Park, which will improve water quality, recharge the local groundwater basin, and create new multi-benefit facilities for the community.
The project is divided into two phases: (1) the Peck Road Park Lake restoration area and improvements, and (2) the cluster of parcels to the north of Peck Road Park Lake encompassed by Live Oak Avenue, Peck Road, and Lynd Avenue.
The project seeks to improve water quality discharged to the Sawpit Wash and to the Rio Hondo Watershed. According to the RH/SGR WMA, the project also proposes to “address water supply benefit by restoring the basins in Peck Road Water Conservation Park and rehabilitate areas of the park.” The project consists of two stormwater diversions from the Los Angeles County Flood Control District Sawpit Wash Channel. The water captured will be filtered by pretreatment systems and flow through a combination wetland and groundwater recharge basin system finally discharging into the two storage basins in Peck Road Water Conservation Park and the Rio Hondo.
While the Authority makes progress toward the project’s design, the group has made progress toward securing funds for both design and construction phases. Recently, the RH/SGR WMA secured $8.5 million from Caltrans to support the project’s construction. Caltrans officially committed this funding through a letter of support provided in July. With these funds, the RH/SGR WMA will be able to construct a project that will provide immediate benefits to the ecosystem and community.
For more information on the Rio Hondo Ecosystem Restoration Project, visit rhsgrwma.org.
