The state’s largest watershed protection mission reached 80% completion today. Working quickly to protect hazardous runoff from entering waterways, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) mission-tasked over 500 state personnel to place emergency protective materials throughout burn scar areas in Palisades and Eaton sites.
In collaboration with the California Conservation Corps, California Department of Water Resources, Caltrans, California Department of Conservation Geological Survey, and CAL FIRE, crews have placed 500,701 feet of compost socks, 21,100 feet of straw wattles, and 7,500 feet of silt fencing.
With work officially beginning on January 21, crews are working around the clock, to prevent toxic runoff with ash and debris from entering our waterways as rainy weather moves into Los Angeles County.
“As storm season comes on the heels of these devastating fires in Los Angeles, Cal OES is bringing a full force of technical experts to expedite watershed protection work in burn scar areas,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward.
Toxic materials can result from burned household cleaning products, batteries, or electronics, making watershed protection a critical effort to prevent contaminants from entering our groundwater, sources of our drinking water.
The mission is a coordinated effort by environmental experts, engineers, and emergency management teams.
Crews are continuing to place protective materials around residential and public areas including sidewalks, roads, and storm drains. This work is essential to protecting aquatic ecosystems, sensitive habitats, and recreational areas, preventing long-term ecological and economic damage.
