Pasadena Seeks Public Input on Stormwater Project Targeting Eaton Fire Runoff

The city’s Public Works Department is inviting residents to walk Jefferson Park on Thursday afternoon and help shape a stormwater capture project that would intercept polluted runoff from areas burned in the Eaton Fire.

The guided community walking tour, scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at the park at 1501 E. Villa St., is the first public outreach event for the Jefferson Park Stormwater Capture Project Feasibility Study. The study is examining whether the park can house underground infrastructure to capture and filter stormwater while also receiving surface-level improvements such as new recreation areas, play structures, outdoor classrooms and expanded tree canopy, according to a city press release.

The project would target a 567-acre drainage area that extends beyond Pasadena’s city limits into unincorporated Los Angeles County, including land affected by the Eaton Fire. Under the proposal being studied, storm and dry-weather flows from the Sierra Bonita Drain would be diverted into an underground infiltration gallery capable of storing roughly 3.5 acre-feet of runoff per storm and up to 38.5 acre-feet annually, according to a report in Stormwater Solutions, a trade publication. All dry-weather flows would be infiltrated into the Raymond Basin.

The project is one of 10 Priority 1 projects in Pasadena’s 2022 Storm Drain Master Plan. The city has secured $441,000 for pre-design work, including Measure W Local Return funds and a $191,180 Public Education and Community Engagement grant from Los Angeles County’s Safe, Clean Water Program, according to city officials. Design and construction funding for the full project — estimated at $16.4 million — has not yet been identified.

The Safe, Clean Water Program was created after LA County voters approved Measure W in November 2018. The program invests approximately $280 million annually in stormwater capture projects countywide.

“This funding is critical to ensuring the Jefferson Park project is not just environmentally effective, but also reflective of community priorities,” Greg de Vinck, the city’s director of public works, said in a city statement.

Thursday’s walking tour will include multiple stops throughout the park and is expected to take approximately 45 minutes, beginning at the picnic tables at the corner of Monte Vista Street and Hamilton Avenue. Attendees can share feedback on existing park needs, ask questions and sign up for future project updates, according to the city.

Craftwater Engineering is leading the feasibility study, with Dudek and Amigos de Los Rios supporting community outreach. Pre-design work began in December, according to Stormwater Solutions.

The event is the first in a planned series of bilingual community outreach activities, including pop-up events at the park, interested parties’ meetings, community surveys and partnerships with local organizations.

For more information, residents can visit bit.ly/JeffersonParkProject or contact the Stormwater Program Administrator at SWAdministrator@cityofpasadena.net.

De Vinck said the city’s goal is to involve residents throughout the planning process. “Our goal is to engage residents throughout the planning process and shape a project that delivers real, lasting benefits to Jefferson Park,” he said in a statement.