Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Japanese Garden Discharge Reuse Project

Pursuant to the State of California Public Resources Code Article 7 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as amended, the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment has prepared an Initial Study (IS) for the project described below. Under CEQA, the City identified no significant impacts and proposes to adopt a Negative Declaration (ND).

PROJECT LOCATION: The proposed project is located at the Japanese Gardens area of the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, located at 6100 Woodley Ave in the Sepulveda Basin within the City of Los Angeles (City).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City, acting by and through the Department of Public Works, Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), intends to change the place of use and purpose of use of up to 4,820 acre-feet per year (AFY) of recycled water (Subject Recycled Water) from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (DCTWRP) (the Project). This Initial Study (IS) has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the City’s proposed Project and seek authorization from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to proceed. LADWP is the City department responsible for managing and controlling all of the City’s water rights. LASAN is the owner and operator of the DCTWRP.

Currently, the Subject Recycled Water from the DCTWRP is discharged into the Japanese Garden Lake and then into the Los Angeles River, immediately downstream of the Sepulveda Dam. The predominant source of the Subject Recycled Water is imported water from the State Water Project and the Los Angeles Aqueduct System. The City intends to seek authorization from the SWRCB for LASAN to recirculate recycled water in the Japanese Garden Lake back to DCTWRP, and to provide the Subject Recycled Water to LADWP to recharge the San Fernando Groundwater Basin (SFB) to enhance local water supplies. If authorized, the City’s repurposing of the Subject Recycled Water would result in decreased discharges into the Los Angeles River.

PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD
: The Draft IS/ND for the Project will be circulated for a forty-five (45) day public review period, beginning on December 14, 2021, and ending on January 28, 2022. Copies of the document are available for review at the following locations:

  • ONLINE at www.lacitysan.org/CEQA

  • Van Nuys Branch Library
    • 6250 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401
       
  • Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant
    • 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
       
  • LASAN Main Office
    • 1149 South Broadway St., 9th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Please send your written/typed comments on the Draft IS/ND to LASAN by one of the following delivery methods. In your comments, please include your name, email address, telephone number, address, and an “RE: DCTWRP Discharge Reuse Project Comments” at the top of your comments.

EmailPaul.Cobian@lacity.org

Mail:  LA Sanitation & Environment
           Attention: Paul S. Cobian
           1149 S. Broadway, 9th Floor RAD
           Los Angeles, CA 90015


LASAN requests that written comments be provided at the earliest possible date, but no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2022.

PUBLIC MEETING: 
A public meeting will also be held virtually on Monday, January 10, 2022, from 5:00-8:00pm. To register, please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-meeting-dctwrp-japanese-garden-discharge-reuse-initial-study-tickets-221660100327

The purpose of the meetings is to answer questions on the proposed Project and environmental analysis. LASAN and LADWP will present the Project and analysis during the first part of the meeting. The second part of the meeting will include question and answer and open discussion.

DOCUMENTS FOR PUBLIC REVIEW:

Report (Click on italicized text to view report) Review Status Public Review Period
Notice of Intent Open 12/14/21 to 01/28/2022
Initial Study/Negative Declaration Open 12/14/21 to 01/28/2022
Proposed Project Fact Sheet Open 12/14/21 to 01/28/2022