Elmer Street Green Alley

Project Location
 
The Elmer Avenue Green Alley (Elmer Paseo) Project is located in Los Angeles City Council District 6 in a residential alley in the Sun Valley community. The project site is an alley that runs between Keswick Avenue and Lull Street.
 
Project Description
 
The Elmer Avenue Green Alley Project captures storm water flow from a 20-acre area and diverts the runoff to the Elmer Paseo alley. The runoff flows onto permeable materials and into bioswales where it infiltrates into underground aquifers. The project also includes drought tolerant plantings and educational signage. In a normal wet season, this project has the potential to capture, treat and infiltrate 1,300,000 gallons of storm water into groundwater basins.
 
This is a demonstration project that serves as a template for future neighborhood retrofits throughout the Los Angeles region. It simultaneously reduces pollutant loads in stormwater runoff, improves water quality in the Los Angeles River watershed, mitigates flooding and provides an improved walkway for residents.
 
The Elmer Avenue Green Alley Project was completed in November 2013.
 
Project Benefits
 
The project’s water quality and community benefits include:
  • Improves water quality in the Los Angeles River watershed
  • Reduces the amount of pollutants such as bacteria, trash, nutrients and metals entering the Los Angeles River
  • Mitigates localized flooding during rain events
  • Provides aesthetic enhancements to the neighborhood
  • Allows for safe walking and biking routes for residents
 
Project Funding
 
The total project budget was $550,000 with major funding provided by the City of Los Angeles’ Proposition O and the Council for Watershed Health.
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - Map
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - Map
            Elmer St Green Alley Map
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - Before
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - Before
            Elmer St Green Alley Before
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - After
Green Street - Elmer Ave Green Alley - After
            Elmer St Green Alley After