Hahamongna Committee to Hear Updates on Watershed Restoration Projects

The Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday to receive updates on several significant restoration projects including the ongoing Los Angeles County Reservoir Restoration Project and the Climate Resilience Departmental Education Center (CREEC) initiative.

According to the March 25 meeting agenda, Brian Biery, CREEC Facilitator, will provide updates on the organization’s work to activate the Hahamongna Annex. CREEC has been involved in volunteer activities at the site, including a clean-up event held last year. During the November 2024 meeting, Biery noted that CREEC’s activities relate to “the larger question of implementation of the Hahamongna Watershed Park Master Plan.”

Allen Xie, Associate Civil Engineer with Los Angeles County Public Works, will deliver reports on two major projects: the Reservoir Restoration Project and the Southeast entrance for the Hahamongna Oak Grove Drive Improvement Project. At the November meeting, this Southeast Entrance project drew considerable public comment, including concerns from the Hahamongna Accountability Project, whose representatives presented eight core requests regarding the project design.

The committee will also hear from Johnathan Giang of Pasadena Water and Power regarding the Explorer Well update, which was specifically requested during the November 2024 meeting. Previous discussions included concerns about the realignment of the road related to this project.

The meeting includes an opportunity for public comments on items not on the agenda, as well as action items including finalizing the date and time for their June Annual Meeting. Additionally, members will review and discuss updates to their work plan covering 06/13/2024 – 06/24/2025, which outlines four key objectives: implementation of the Master Plan, environmental impact oversight, project monitoring, and public outreach.

The Hahamongna Watershed Park has been the focus of several environmental initiatives over the past year. Meeting minutes from November 2024 highlight discussions about programming to raise public awareness of the area, concerns about native plant preservation, and resident Darren Dowell’s comments about the need for maintenance staff to be trained in identifying native plant species.

Committee Chair Tim Martinez will preside over the meeting, which includes seven appointed member positions with three vacancies currently. The current members represent various city commissions including the Recreation and Parks Commission, Environmental Advisory Commission, and Northwestern Commission. Jose Mireles, Parks Superintendent, serves as the staff liaison, with Stacy Houser as the Committee Staff Representative.

The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the City Yards Public Works Building, located at 233 West Mountain Street, Second Floor in Pasadena. Members of the public may attend in person and provide comments by submitting a speaker card to the recording secretary before the relevant agenda item.

Complete meeting materials and previous agendas are available on the city website at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/hahamongna-watershed-park-advisory-committee/. Additional materials related to agenda items submitted after distribution of the agenda packet can be viewed at the reception counter at City Hall N255, 100 N. Garfield Ave., during normal business hours.