Project Narrative

After the completion of Phase I and Phase II of the Water Augmentation Study (WAS) showed no negative impacts of infiltrating stormwater to groundwater from residential, commercial, or industrial land uses, the stage was set for the Phase III neighborhood demonstration project. Due to its proneness to flooding and its unique location in the watershed, the neighborhood of Elmer Avenue in Sun Valley was chosen for the project in 2006. Phase I of the demonstration project included the retrofit and monitoring of the Elmer Avenue neighborhood to improve water quality, and reduce flood risk, increase watershed awareness, enhance aesthetics, and increase wildlife habitats. The BMPs included in this phase were two catch basins, two infiltration galleries, five bioswales, permeable surfaces, rain barrels, drip irrigation, and native and drought tolerant landscapes. Monitoring of these BMPs included the monitoring of water quality, quantification of stormwater diversion into infiltration galleries, pollution concentration in swale soils, biological surveys, observations of plant growth and survival, and surveys of residents. In 2012, construction began for a walkway known as the “Paseo.” The Paseo included a bioswale, native and climate-wise landscaping and was monitored for water quality, biodiversity, and user accessibility.