EnvISIon™ Sustainability Rating: Sun Valley Watershed Multi-Benefit Project

摘要

The Sun Valley Watershed Multi-Benefit Project is a first-of-its-kind venture geared at managing storm water for the Sun Valley Watershed to provide flood protection, improved watershed health, an increase in open space and recreational opportunities, and an increase in wildlife habitat. The Sun Valley Watershed is historically plagued with several watershed health issues such as severe flooding, poor water quality, and industrial and residential urbanization. The watershed lacks a comprehensive storm drain system, and consequently suffers from chronic, severe flooding during moderate storm events. During these events, intersections are inundated and stormwater on major streets resemble river flows. In 2001 Los Angeles County led a comprehensive effort to address all of the watershed health issues in Sun Valley through a multi-benefit approach. A group of stakeholders was assembled to form the Sun Valley Watershed Stakeholders Group. The group aims to develop long term solutions to the chronic flooding issues that provide additional benefits to the community. This group consists of local and federal agencies, government offices, environmental groups, local businesses, conservation agencies and residents of the community. The mission of the Sun Valley Watershed Stakeholders Group is to solve the local flooding problem while retaining all stormwater runoff from the watershed, increasing water conservation, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat, and reducing stormwater pollution. This led to the development of the Sun Valley Watershed Management Plan which identified fifteen pilot components that collectively achieve the established watershed goals. Since the development of this plan, four of the components have been constructed and an additional four are in the planning and design phases. The Sun Valley Watershed Multi-Benefit Project encompasses the following eight constructed and proposed components. See Figure 1 for the watershed map illustrating the locations of eight components.