Altadena Heritage to Examine Water History, Resilience at Oct. 22 Program

Altadena Heritage will present a public program Thursday, Oct. 22, examining the community’s water history and efforts to make local water infrastructure more resilient as Altadena continues recovering from the Eaton Fire.

The event, titled “Altadena’s Water Past Present and Future,” is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive.

According to Altadena Heritage’s announcement, the program will include a short-film screening, a featured talk, a presentation by the Altadena Community Watershed Alliance on resilient water projects and a question-and-answer session.

The discussion will connect Altadena’s water history with current efforts to manage local resources and develop infrastructure projects.

Altadena Heritage has announced plans to serve as the watershed alliance’s fiscal sponsor, an arrangement the organization says will allow design work to proceed on water infrastructure projects associated with Measure W.

Measure W, approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2018, established the county’s Safe, Clean Water Program. The program funds projects intended to capture and clean stormwater, improve water quality, increase local water supplies and provide community benefits.

County program records identify two water improvement initiatives in Altadena: the Altadena-Lake Avenue Green Improvement project and the Altadena Mariposa Green Street Demonstration Project.

The Lake Avenue project involves capturing and infiltrating runoff from a 262-acre drainage area, according to county planning documents. The Mariposa project is designed to combine stormwater management with streetscape improvements and other community benefits.

Neither project is specifically identified in the accessible event announcement as the initiative the watershed alliance will discuss Thursday.

The program comes as Altadena continues its recovery from the Eaton Fire, which damaged water infrastructure and disrupted service in affected communities.

The California State Water Resources Control Board reported in May following the fire that safe drinking water service had been restored to all public water systems affected by the Southern California wildfires. The restoration followed damage assessments, water testing and repairs.

Altadena Heritage has previously organized educational programs examining where local water comes from, how water infrastructure operates and ways residents can conserve water.

The organization has described water as a recurring subject of its community programming, reflecting longstanding local interest in watershed management and water supply.

NEED TO KNOW: “Altadena’s Water Past Present and Future” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena. For event information, visit https://altadenaheritage.org/acwa001/ or contact altadenaheritage@gmail.com.