The Carson City Council officially approved a nearly $6 million project this week that will treat stormwater and rainwater underneath the baseball fields at Calas Park.
The project is intended to remove pollutants like zinc and bacteria that are present in stormwater and reduce additional runoff into the Dominguez Channel, enhancing the groundwater basin, which will allow for increased municipal and domestic supply.
“Pollutant loads will be reduced in surface waters, human health will be further protected and groundwater supplies will be enhanced for beneficial use,” says the Calas Park Stormwater and Water Quality Improvement Supplemental Environmental Project Workplan.
Stormwater runoff will be diverted from storm drains both northeast and southwest of Calas Park. The captured water will flow through new drain pipes and a “pretreatment” conveyance system that will remove any debris and sediment. Then, the water will be collected in a vault beneath the baseball fields, where it will be infiltrated through the soil into the existing groundwater.
The system, according to the work plan, is estimated to capture, treat and conserve about 13.8 acre-feet of stormwater per year.
The project will also feature a shallow storage area below the turf that will be stored and used as irrigation for the fields.
The project was made possible because of a large sum of settlement money the city received from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.
From January 2018 to September 2022, more than 8.6 million gallons of untreated domestic and municipal wastewater was discharged not only into the Dominguez Channel, but the Alhambra Wash, Rio Hondo, San Jose Creek, Machado Lake, Arroyo Seco Channel, Malaga Creek and Los Angeles River.
Multiple beaches were also closed in the area because of the presence of wastewater.
After being cited by the Los Angeles Regional Water Board, the district agreed to contribute $5.9 million to the Calas Park stormwater runoff project – which will also be located in the same watershed, the Dominguez Channel.
Calas Park, according to the work plan, is located within an environmentally disadvantaged community, making this project even more beneficial for the city.
“The Calas Park SEP will provide capture and pretreatment of stormwater runoff and facilitate infiltration to groundwater,” the work plan said, “which will beneficially improve the overall health of the watershed and provide a clean source for drinking water in the community.”
The city has also decided to take the opportunity to handle multiple park enhancements, “intended to improve accessibility, safety, and the overall appearance of the park,” according to a staff report for the Tuesday, March 17, council meeting.
These enhancements will include a new landscaped planter area near the tennis courts, a new walkway to improve access within the park, upgrading fencing in certain areas and pnew trees.
The project will be sent out to developers for bidding shortly. Construction is expected to begin in the summer and is expected to take two years to complete.