Southern California has recently experienced significant rainfall, but thanks to proactive community efforts and effective flood management strategies, areas like Alicia Gonzalez’s Sun Valley neighborhood have seen reduced flooding. Gonzalez recalls severe flooding in the past, with neighbors resorting to canoes for transportation. However, a decade ago, she rallied her community to secure funding for a flood management retrofitting project in collaboration with Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, and various non-profits.

 

Key features of the flood management project include:

 

  • Catch basins to divert street water.
  • Swales for water runoff and drainage.
  • Rain barrels for collecting rainwater.
  • Permeable pavements.
  • Trees and drought-tolerant plants.
  • A redesigned alleyway with a pedestrian path, trash-capturing rocks, and a water infiltration system.

Carlos Moran from the Council for Watershed Health highlighted that the flood management area can now hold millions of gallons of water annually, which is treated and reserved for future use. Such green infrastructure projects demonstrate how collaboration between government agencies, non-profits, and residents can transform neighborhoods through effective flood management.

 

However, flood risk in Southern California is on the rise. The First Street Foundation estimates that by 2053, up to 429,000 homes and businesses have an 80% chance of experiencing flooding. Shockingly, up to 90% of these properties might lack flood insurance. FEMA’s flood risk maps, which many rely on for flood management, might not accurately represent the current flood risk, especially from rainfall. Jochen Schubert, a flood hazard specialist, points out that these maps don’t account for recent land developments and changes.

 

The First Street Foundation’s flood models suggest that many properties outside FEMA flood zones are at significant risk. Schubert’s team at UCI Flood Lab has developed detailed flood risk models for areas like L.A., emphasizing the need for updated and comprehensive flood management assessments.

 

Mark Pestrella, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, notes the challenges posed by increased development, concrete, and rainfall. Solutions include creating more parks and green spaces. Moran emphasizes the importance of rethinking water infrastructure and the role of community education in this flood management process.

 

In 2018, the county initiated the Safe Clean Water Program, investing $280 million annually in stormwater capture projects. By the end of 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors had approved further assessments of flood infrastructure, with plans for community-level seminars to share findings.

 

For homeowners seeking to mitigate flood risk, L.A. County Public Works offers flood management tools like virtual or in-person home risk assessments. Simple measures, like planting a tree, can also make a difference. Gonzalez, reflecting on the transformation of her neighborhood, encourages others to take similar flood management initiatives, emphasizing the benefits of community-driven projects.