I guess you know now that I am interested in water issues, and that extends to storm water collection or runoff. At the left is a photo I took in fall, 2009, of a Los Angeles County Debris Collection basin on Agoura Road, west of the Reyes Adobe Exit from the 101. It is one of about four similar ones along that stretch of Agoura Road. I took the photo because I was very concerned that the design was anti-environment. It is bare dirt, and there are no rocks or barriers to slow the run of water, which puts a burden on the storm drains.Â
If you look in nature, usually there is vegetation or rocks, or a stream channel that slows water drainage some, but not here. And, in a few of these debris basins, there are some trees, including oak trees. What will happen to them, after repeated storms? will their roots be exposed and the trees brought down? Another question, with Malibu Creek and Malibu Lagoon down the line, is how much dirt and silt is getting in the water because of the way these installations were designed?
Curiosity propelled me yesterday afternoon, during the rain, to drive over and take a look at the debris basins with a friend. What struck me was that, in at least one of them, a channel had been created in the dirt by the running water. That indicates to me for sure, that a lot of dirt is getting in the drains.
To contrast with a good designed storm drainage system, take a look at the first one to the west of Reyes Adobe on Agoura Road. Since it is so different, with a lot of rock, I wonder if it was installed by the developer of the office complex, next to it.
Posted by Janna Orkney
eco-nerd // Jan 22, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Take a look on any map. They may be called storm drains but in reality they are rivers. (albeit concrete ones) Once the water gets to the river, it is enroute to the ocean. The goal of keeping debris and toxins out of our storm drains needs to be addressed developers but it is the individual that ultimately has the greatest impact. There are many ways to keep water onsite instead of draining every last drop to the curb as we have done in the past. We must rethink our goals and try to capture rainwater if not for our own use, to replentish the aquifers that are being depleted at alarming rates.
And remember, every speck of fertilizer that was on your sidewalk, every overspray of pesticide that made it’s way to hard surfaces and an enormous amount of dog poop is now on its way to the beach to help boost those bacteria counts that keep us out of the water.