Culver City Stormwater Capture Project Celebrated as a Regional Model

Officials with the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) and City of Culver City recently celebrated the completion of the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Capture Project.

The Culver Boulevard Realignment and Stormwater Capture Project advances water sustainability initiatives and addresses compliance with discharge water quality regulations in which municipalities are responsible. The new facility can treat up to 19 acre-feet of water per storm from an almost 800-acre watershed drainage area. The project consists of underground storm drain diversion, pretreatment and settling areas, storage, a pump station, and discharge filters to existing storm drains. The primary goal of the stormwater capture facility is to utilize subsurface infiltration galleries to treat and reuse captured runoff for landscape irrigation, while significantly reducing pollutants entering into local watersheds.

“In order to protect bodies of water like Ballona Creek and conserve precious rain water, Culver City continues to make significant investments to advance stormwater quality and projects,” said Culver City Mayor Dr. Daniel Lee. “Projects like ours not only captures valuable stormwater runoff for reuse, but also beautifies our community. In addition, we serve as a positive example of a multi-benefit, multi-partner stormwater capture project that increases water supply, improves water quality, and provides community enhancements.

The city’s stormwater capture infrastructure will provide significant water quality benefits for both Culver City and other jurisdictions within the watershed due to the tributary drainage area and location of adjacent storm drains. In addition, the associated road realignment improves pedestrian safety and bicycle mobility, and enhances aesthetics along Culver Boulevard from Elenda Street to Sepulveda Boulevard.

The nearly $14 million stormwater project was funded by various contributors including: Culver City Measure CW funds (~$1.4 million); city of Beverly Hills contributions for construction costs (~$3.5M); Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Prop 1 and 84 grants (~$7.7 million); Metropolitan Water District of Southern California $500,000 grant from its Stormwater for Recharge Pilot Program; and Caltrans funding (~$525,000). Overall, the entire project, including stormwater, street realignment, and new landscaping elements, totaled approx. $20 million.

Director Scott Houston, who represents the West Basin Division IV city of Culver City stated, “The Culver City Stormwater Capture Project is truly a collaborative effort that can serve as a model for regional partnership and water stewardship and exemplifies multiple agency coordination to address local water supply sustainability and pollution control. West Basin commends Culver City and this project for better preparing our service area to capture local water supplies as we face recurring droughts and uncertainties associated with climate change.”