Planning and Prioritization for Effective Flood Damage Reduction Channel Management in Urban Los Angeles County

摘要

Maintenance of aging stormwater infrastructure is critical to protecting the life, health and property of the public. As storm channels reach the end of their respective design lives, maintenance programs must be more vigilant to assess the health of these systems. Currently, there is a need for improved standards to evaluate aging stormwater infrastructure. The majority of flood control channels that convey stormwater through heavily urbanized areas in Los Angeles County are between 50 and 80 years old. Los Angeles County Flood Control District has a 12,305-square-kilometer (4,751-square-mile) service area with 805 kilometers (500 miles) of channel that are used to convey water rapidly from urban centers to the Pacific Ocean. As the County grapples with effective management of water resources, aging infrastructure poses both a liability and an opportunity. It is essential for the protection of millions of residents' health and well-being that this critical infrastructure be maintained or rebuilt. This also presents an opportunity to define new projects that offer multiple benefits consistent with Integrated Water Management principles and sustainable processes.