water quality projects: headworks

As the result of mediation with CPOR, community input and the urging of Councilmember Tom LaBonge (CD4), the LADWP decided to locate its water storage off-site at the Headworks Spreading Grounds, between the Los Angeles River and Forest Lawn Drive, adjacent to Griffith Park.

The LADWP's Silver Lake Reservoir Storage Replacement Project (SLRSRP), also known as Headworks, will be comprised of a new reservoir tank and a small hydro-electric power plant to harness the energy of the water flowing into the tank.  The remaining land at the site will be restored as natural wetlands by the Army Corps of Engineers, with hiking trails, streams and natural landscaping.

Silver Lake Reservoir will be taken off-line as early as 2009 and Ivanhoe will follow in 2013 or 2015.  Because the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe Reservoirs will no longer contain drinking water, the LADWP will stop chlorinating the water, resulting in a darker color.  The LADWP is however, committed to maintaining the health and existing water levels of the reservoirs in the future.

A new pipeline will be built under West Silver Lake Drive to bypass the reservoirs and a regulating station will be built in a vault under the grassy slope near the Silver Lake Recreation Center.  Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in May of 2007 until April 2009, while the regulating station will be completed in November 2009.

In addition, one relief station for excess pressure will be built under Silver Lake Blvd. near the intersection of Effie Street, necessitating full or partial closure of Silver Lake Blvd. between April and November of 2009.  A second relief station will be built under London Street near Silver Lake Blvd., requiring closure of London or Dillon Streets during construction, which could begin in 2006.

Link to Silver Lake Reservoir Complex Storage Replacement Project EIR

Link to CSSLR Comments on Silver Lake Reservoir Complex Storage Replacement Project Draft EIR