Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions

In the wake of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, many Los Angeles residents are grappling with concerns about toxic soil contamination — not just from ash and smoke, but also from decades of industrial, agricultural, and residential pollution. Soil tests conducted by the L.A. Times in various burn areas revealed alarming levels of lead, zinc, and high alkalinity, though results varied widely. Notably, even areas that did not burn showed dangerous levels of heavy metals like lead and arsenic, often lingering from lead-based paints and outdated fertilizers. While scraping away the topsoil is a common remediation method, experts warn it's unsustainable and can destroy the vital layer plants rely on.

As alternatives to excavation, many Angelenos are turning to in-place remediation techniques such as mulching, hugelkultur, and phytoremediation — using fungi, minerals like zeolite, and toxin-absorbing plants like sunflowers and corn. Landscape designers Shawn Maestretti and Leigh Adams, both of whom lost homes in the Eaton Fire, are leading by example, nurturing their fire-scorched landscapes through decades-old soil-building techniques. Community groups like Plant Community have also implemented sheet mulching and raised beds in South L.A., allowing formerly incarcerated individuals to safely grow food and reconnect with nature despite elevated soil toxins.

Environmental toxicologist Danielle Stevenson, who leads the nonprofit Centre for Applied Ecological Remediation, is helping drive this shift by training residents in bioremediation practices that detoxify soil without removing it. She emphasizes the need for sustainable, community-led strategies to address widespread contamination, noting that removing soil often just moves the problem rather than solving it. By layering mulch, adding absorbent minerals, and cultivating specific plant species, communities are proving that even the most polluted soil can be transformed — not discarded — in the pursuit of healthier ecosystems and environmental justice.