Beyond Watershed Planning: Engaging Communities to Improve Outcomes of the Safe Clean Water Program

In the eight years since Los Angeles voters approved Measure W, the LA County Flood Control District has successfully launched the Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP). The program collects approximately $280M every year and distributes those funds to support stormwater capture projects that can reduce flooding, improve regional water quality, recharge groundwater, and provide a variety of benefits for communities and wildlife. To date, the SCWP has funded 473 projects, studies, concepts, and program activities through its regional, municipal, and district programs. 

The program takes an adaptive management approach to ensure funds are invested effectively and that supported projects deliver meaningful reductions in flood risk while providing appropriate treatment of local stormwater. This approach also ensures funds are leveraged to provide the most potential benefits for every dollar spent. As part of that effort, the SCWP developed a watershed planning process in 2024 with the goal of maximizing potential benefits in each of the county’s nine watersheds. 

Los Angeles Waterkeeper secured funding to conduct five community workshops to further inform the watershed planning process moving forward. The purpose of these workshops was to ensure that individuals and organizations who are well informed about the on-the-ground needs and priorities of communities throughout LA County had the opportunity to provide input to the watershed plans. LA Waterkeeper partnered with community-based organizations in each of the areas where the workshops were held to invite priority participants, although all workshops were open to the public.