County officials hope reclamation efforts will help the region reduce its dependence on imported water supplies.

Los Angeles County captured 33 billion gallons of stormwater from the recent rains that drenched California, an amount that “could supply 816,000 people with water for a year,” reports Carlos Granda for ABC7. As Granda explains, “The county Public Works Department operates 14 major dams and 620 miles of rivers and flood control channels.”
One way the county collects rainwater during storms is through a series of ‘Valley Rubber Dams’ on the San Gabriel River, which can be inflated to hold water when needed. Water is then distributed to spreading facilities designed to let water soak into the earth to replenish groundwater supplies. “Approximately 98% of stormwater runoff collected from the San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo Channel is conserved, according to officials.”
Local officials plan to boost stormwater retention and use more local water supplies to reduce dependence on imported water. Southern California has historically drawn water from the state’s Owens Valley, the Colorado River, and other sources such as Mono Lake, where a conservation nonprofit recently requested a suspension of water diversion to Los Angeles to protect the lake’s critical Califoprnia gull habitat.
FULL STORY: LA County captures 33 billion gallons of stormwater from winter storms

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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