LA’s Water Resource Future Workshop Series, Part 1

In support of UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, the Center for Climate Science and the UCLA Water Resources Group organized a two-part workshop series investigating how more local stormwater can be harnessed to decrease the Los Angeles region’s dependence in imported water. The workshops were co-hosted by the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the Luskin Center for Innovation. Support for the series was provided by the Office of Interdisciplinary and Cross Campus Affairs.

Workshop 1: Understanding Local Stormwater Capture Potential

The first workshop in the LA’s Water Resource Future Series was held on February 19, 2016. UCLA faculty and Los Angeles region region water managers, planners, and scientists explored the state of stormwater management and planning, the potential to connect surface hydrology and groundwater modeling tools to quantify infiltration, potential ecosystem benefits of stormwater capture, and strategies to incentivize increased capture and infiltration of stormwater. The program consisted of talks and panel sessions by invited speakers, each followed by Q&A periods and discussion by all attendees.

Introduction
Mark Gold, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability view presentation

Session 1: Overview of Recent Regional Stormwater Capture Analysis and Plans
Speakers:
William Steele, Bureau of Reclamation
Lee Alexanderson, LA County Department of Public Works
Rafael Villegas, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power view presentation
Renee Purdy, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board

Session 2: Modeling Tools Currently Used in Stormwater Capture Planning: Strengths and Limitations
Speakers:
Scott Mansell, Geosyntec Consultants view presentation
Tracy Nishikawa, US Geological Survey
John Riverson, Paradigm Environmental

Session 3: Recent, Ongoing, and Planned Academic Research on Stormwater Issues
Speakers:
Alex Hall, UCLA Center for Climate Science and Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences view presentation
Dennis Lettenmaier, UCLA Dept. of Geography view presentation
Peter Arnold, Arid Lands Institute

Session 4: Ensuring Ecosystem Benefits from Stormwater Capture
Speaker:
Richard F. Ambrose, UCLA Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability view presentation

Session 5: Policy Barriers to Increased Stormwater Capture and Potential Solutions
Speakers:
JR DeShazo, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
William Funderburk, Castellón & Funderburk LLP and Board of Commissioners, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power view presentation