E-media kit: Hermosa Beach Strand Gets $1.3M in Recovery Act Funds For “Green” Enhancements to Protect Pacific Ocean

Hermosa Beach Strand Gets $1.3M in Recovery Act Funds For "Green" Enhancements to Protect Pacific Ocean

Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Monday, January 11, 2010, at ten am on north side of Pier Avenue at Manhattan Avenue

SAN FRANCISCO - The City of Hermosa Beach has received nearly $1.3 million in federal Recovery Act (economic stimulus) backing from the E.P.A. and State Water Resources Control Board. The backing from EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund supports improved stormwater management through a 'Greenstreet' retrofit of Pier Avenue.
The infiltration and storm-drain elements that this plan introduces are uniquely different from traditional stormwater management systems. In Southern California, urban stormwater runoff is the #1 cause of pollution in coastal waters. Stormwater runoff is made worse by the density of impervious surfaces in urban areas like roads, buildings and parking lots.

"The City of Hermosa Beach should be commended for applying innovative low impact development tools to address urban runoff and protect beach users," said John Kemmerer, associate Water Division director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "Retrofit plans like this are particularly challenging. This is an example of how cities can address stormwater pollution in a sustainable manner and at the same time create beautiful public spaces for their residents."

The Pier Avenue Improvement plan includes a new storm drain system designed to address existing flooding problems and reduce stormwater pollution to the nearby beach. The new drainage system will incorporate an innovative infiltration system that will retain stormwater runoff, irrigate new drought-tolerant landscaping and divert runoff that would otherwise end up in the ocean. An exciting green feature of this plan is its use of reclaimed water service for this and future landscape irrigation in the downtown area.

Low impact development tools mimic natural hydrologic conditions, and include increasing permeable, vegetated areas to assist the infiltration and evapotranspiration of stormwater, in turn minimizing the volume of stormwater discharges. By using low impact development tools, pollutant flows are reduced and the need for more expensive traditional treatment is minimized.

In Hermosa, beaches are considered impaired because they exceed the state's bacteria standard. This retrofit plan is designed to reduce discharges of bacteria-laden stormwater. It also includes features to control trash that would otherwise be discharged to the Ocean.

The infusion of $1.265 million to this plan is an example of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act going to work to help California and its local governments finance many of the overdue Enhancements to water plans that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. To fund plans like this, the State Water Resources Control Board's Clean Water State Revolving Fund plan received $280 million from EPA. Under ARRA, at least 20% of these funds must be applied to "Green Projects." The Pier Avenue retrofit plan is receiving funds pursuant to this Green Plan Reserve. The SWCRB provides low-interest loans for water quality protection plans for wastewater treatment, non-point-source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management throughout California.

Although not funded under the Recovery Act, Hermosa Beach is simultaneously making additional Enhancements as a part of this project. These Enhancements also incorporate multiple public benefits, including widening of pedestrian walkways, safe pedestrian street crossings with solar powered flashers, pedestrian refuges with benches, street Enhancements such as shared bikeways and parking for bikes and mopeds, new high-efficiency street lighting, and a transit stop for bus service. The total cost of the Plan is anticipated to be approximately $4.8 million.

Link to the web page on the Pier Avenue Improvement Plan on the website at the City of Hermosa Beach: http://www.hermosabch.org/departments/pier/agenmin/

Link to U.S. EPA's website about low impact development (LID) and "Green Infrastructure": http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/technology.cfm