1. Los Angeles River Bacteria TMDL
City Concerns
Ronald Bates
City of South Gate
CCCA City Manager’s Meeting
June 24, 2010
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2. LA River Bacteria TMDL
 25-year mandate impacting 40 watershed cities, LA
County and Caltrans
 Establishes both wet and dry-weather “numeric
limits” for bacteria in the LA River
 Water quality standard based on REC-1 (swimming
requirement) in the River
 Swimming standard established in 1975, with no
consideration of costs or practicality of the use
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3. Big picture: Los Angeles River
Bacteria TMDL
 TMDL implementation for just dry weather will be
very expensive and will likely compromise other city
services. ($1.1 billion estimate for drain diversions)
 $5.4 billion estimate by the Regional Board for both
wet and dry-weather compliance
 It will be difficult, if not impossible, to meet current
bacteria standards because of in channel sources
 No known methods for compliance with wet weather
TMDL
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4. Is the REC-1 Use Appropriate?
 Dry weather flows in some reaches are very shallow
 Channels are extensively modified for flood control
purposes, and access is restricted or prohibited in
many reaches
 There is far less contact recreation in river than at
the beaches – we may want the ability to direct
resources to Breakwater Reconnaissance Study or
other beach protection measures (BMP)
 In wet weather, recreation is dangerous
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5. Concerns with objectives
 Bacteria are prolific and re-grow in the
environment
 Non-human sources are significant (Storm
drain and tributary inputs are only a fraction
of the bacteria loading, so controlling city
storm drains won’t attain water quality
standards
 During dry weather, rivers are less important
as a source of bacteria at beaches
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6. Some sources are natural and/or difficult
to control
 Wildlife activity and waste
(migratory and shore birds)
Birds in Rio Hondo
 Bacteria re-growth in sediment Birds in Los Angeles River
 Resuspension from disturbed sediment
 Homeless encampments
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7. Only 10-50% of bacteria enter from
storm drains and tributaries
 Dry weather
monitoring, 6
events, LA River
Reach 2
 Controlling inputs
will likely not result
in attaining
standards in the
river
 Unclear how
compliance can be
achieved
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8. Dry Weather Costs
LAR Bacteria >$1,000,000,000
Santa Monica Beaches = $46,000,000
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9. Wet Weather Costs
LAR Bacteria = $5,400,000,000
Santa Monica Beaches = $400,000,000
9 Source: www.you-are-here.com/location/la_river.html

10. Economic and Budget Impacts
 Study by the GCCOG showed high unemployment in
the watershed will continue for several years –
hampering city revenues
 In a survey of the watershed cities – 90% have
budget deficits, 86% of reduced city services, 50% of
implemented hiring freezes and 25% have laid off
employees
 The survey revealed that the TMDL will add 8%
annually to the average city budget
 New fees will be difficult to get voter approval
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11. Regional funding approach for bacteria TMDL
Estimated costs for dry weather only
Annual costs Aggregate
City Years 4-12 Years 13-23 Years 24-32 costs
Alhambra $250,566 $663,264 $884,352 $17,510,166
Commerce $227,626 $602,540 $803,387 $15,907,057
Los Angeles $6,207,963 $16,652,386 $22,203,152 $438,876,281
LA County $1,861,010 $4,926,208 $6,568,276 $130,051,862
Monrovia $311,005 $823,249 $1,097,655 $21,733,679
South Gate $247,919 $656,257 $875,010 $17,325,188
Cost estimates are based on funding formula developed for metals TMDL
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12. Regional funding approach for bacteria TMDL
Estimated costs for dry and wet weather
Cost estimates are based on funding formula developed for metals TMDL
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13. Unemployment for select cities
 City Aug. 2008 Jan. 2010 %Increase
 Commerce 14.8% 24.2% +9.4%
 Compton 14.1% 22.0% +7.9%
 Bell Gardens 13.2% 20.6% +7.4%
 Lynwood 13.1% 20.5% +7.4%
 Huntington Park 12.3% 19.4% +7.1%
 Paramount 12.1% 19.0% +6.9%
 Maywood 12.0% 18.9% +6.9%
 South Gate 10.5% 16.7% +6.1%
 Montebello 9.1% 14.7% +5.6%
 Long Beach 9.0% 14.5% +5.5%
 LA County 8.2% 13.2% +5.5%
 State 7.7% 13.2% +6.5%
 U.S. 6.1% 9.7% +3.6%
 Source: Economic Development Department
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14. What’s the Alternative?
 Cities in Lower Los Angeles River have submitted
the Water Conservation Plan for dry-weather
compliance
 This plan would cover major portions of the River
south of the City of Los Angeles (Reaches 1 & 2 and
their tributaries)
 BMP based plan – not “numeric limits”
 A wet-weather task force would be formed to further
study wet weather issues
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15. What Can the Watershed Cities
Do?
 Get up to speed! Review the 24 comment letters
from cities, LA County and Caltrans
 Prepare a written statement to submit to the
Regional Board’s public hearing on July 9, 2010
 Concentrate on the hardships your community is
facing and the impacts of the TMDL
 Send an elected official to testify!
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16. July 9th Regional Board Hearing
Meeting Location
City of Glendale, City Council Chambers –
613 E. Broadway Blvd.
Time
9:00 a.m.
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17. For Help and Information
Contact:
Ken Farfsing, City Manager, City of Signal Hill
 kfarfsing@cityofsignalhill.org
Ronald Bates, City Manager, City of South Gate
 rbates@sogate.org
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