![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PAS-L-ARROYO-EXPLAINER-0805-SANRAFAEL-copy.jpg\")
A bird\u2019s eye rendering of the San Rafael site conceptual plan (Credit: City of Pasadena, Draft EIR)<\/p>\nA complex, $15 million plan to re-use water in the Arroyo Seco has closed its public comment review period, setting the stage for the city of Pasadena\u2019s responses to comments in the coming months.<\/p>\n
The Arroyo Seco Water Reuse plan \u2014 a collaborative project between Pasadena (the lead agency) and South Pasadena \u2014 is facing pressure from a state mandate, a Los Angeles City Council member and a coalition of local residents.<\/p>\n
The main goal? It\u2019s about water quality. The mission is to address California state officials\u2019 concerns spurred by bacteria levels from tributaries \u2013 including the Arroyo Seco channel \u2013 that flow into the Los Angeles River. The project will be captured and treated via man-made wetlands and infiltration basins across two sites to filter out E. coli bacteria and heavy metals from urban runoff before they reach the river.<\/p>\n
The plan targets key water discharge points, called outfalls, where those bacterial levels exceed limits set by the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board.<\/p>\n
But the project has spurred concerns from various corners:<\/p>\n
\u2013An L.A. City Council member and nearby residents fear the project\u2019s impact on a neighborhood park considered by many to be a beloved green retreat;<\/p>\n
\u2013Tribal leaders fear the city will move forward with the project, causing destruction of possible ancestral remains and artifacts, after they provided substantial evidence of their presence.<\/p>\n
\u2013Some critics demand a more \u201cnature-based\u201d approach, decrying tree removal, industrial applications on public park land and the impact of excavation on a wild, wooded area beloved by park users.<\/p>\n
The plan\u2019s organizers say the result will be cleaner, healthier water and that park areas will be even more accessible.<\/p>\n
Here is a breakdown of top questions about the project.<\/p>\n
What is the Arroyo Seco Water Reuse project?<\/p>\n
Facing pressure from the state, the main goal for local officials is to address bacteria levels from tributaries that flow into the L.A. River, which includes the Arroyo Seco channel.<\/p>\n
A bird\u2019s eye rendering of the San Rafael site conceptual plan (Credit: City of Pasadena, Draft EIR)<\/p>\n
The project comprises two locations: the San Rafael and San Pascual sites. The San Rafael site is 1.4 acres in Pasadena southwest of the San Rafael overpass and to the west of the channel. Another 2.2 acres of land is at the San Pascual site \u2014 1.7 acres in South Pasadena and 0.5 acres in L.A.\u2019s San Pascual Park, near San Pascual Avenue and Stoney Drive.<\/p>\n
Through diverting dry weather flows, infiltrating and treating water from the Arroyo Seco channel, 157 pounds of zinc will be removed per year at the San Pascual site and 12.5 pounds per year at San Rafael. Less than 10% of water would be captured for irrigation at the nearby Arroyo Seco Golf Course in South Pasadena, part of an \u201cexisting, historic irrigation system that captures water runoff,\u201d according to a Pasadena city document.<\/p>\n
Nearly 140 trees would be removed from both sites \u2014 82 non-native Mexican palms, 29 protected trees and 14 trees deemed significant under city ordinances.\u00a0 The city also cites some of the non-native trees particularly the palms as fire risks.<\/p>\n
The project would plant 216 trees; the city of Pasadena purchased native sycamores and is currently propagating 52 native oaks.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PAS-L-ARROYO-EXPLAINER-0805-SANPASCUAL-copy.jpg\")
A bird\u2019s eye rendering of the San Pascual site conceptual plan (Credit: City of Pasadena, Draft EIR)<\/p>\n
New pathways would increase walkability and invasive species would be replaced with native plants aligned with the chaparral, sage-scrub and riparian habitat, according to the plan.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s draft environmental impact report states that construction would begin in fall 2026 and would last for 17 months, with completion in June 2028.<\/p>\n
How did we get here?<\/p>\n
The project has been in motion since 2019, but the issues go back earlier. In 2010, the L.A. Regional Water Quality Board \u2014 an agency that addresses water quality concerns \u2014 established a total maximum daily load (TMDL), the capacity for water to absorb pollutants including E. coli bacteria and metals.<\/p>\n
Both cities have been out of compliance since September 2023 and face potential fees \u2014 at least $10,000 a day, according to city of Pasadena\u2019s project manager, Christina Monde.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from the L.A. Water Board confirmed that no fees have been levied against the cities.<\/p>\n
Recent data from the two cities\u2019 2025 stormwater permit reports \u201cshow that the bacteria standards are still being exceeded,\u201d according to the board\u2019s spokesperson.<\/p>\n
The project is in its public review period for the EIR, a result from settled litigation in 2024 from a local resident who urged for a higher level of review from Pasadena\u2019s previous mitigated negative declaration. The deadline was extended twice; the last day to submit comments was Saturday, Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
The cities obtained more than $14 million through a grant from California\u2019s Department of Parks and Recreation, L.A. County\u2019s Safe Clean Water program (Measure W) and local return dollars.<\/p>\n
How does the project work?<\/p>\n
The project is considered a constructed wetland, defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a treatment system that uses \u201cnatural processes\u201d to improve water quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can think of it as like a filter and as the water moves through that filter,\u201d Richard Ambrose, a professor at UCLA\u2019s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, said. \u201cThe pollutants get removed out and then when the water gets through on the other side, it\u2019s cleaner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pasadena\u2019s City Engineer Brent Maue explained the process at each site in an email. At the San Rafael site, dry-weather flows and stormwater would flow by gravity from San Rafael Creek and through a rock-lined channel. A forebay would remove sediment before entering the treatment wetland, with water both infiltrating into the soil or moving through a filtration system before returning to the channel.<\/p>\n
At the San Pascual site, water moves through an existing diversion and an underground separator to remove sediments. A pump station lifts the water into an upper level of the constructed wetlands, with the lower level serving as a shallow pond for wildlife during dry weather. After treatment, water would be \u201cconveyed to the existing golf-course irrigation system or allowed to infiltrate through the unlined portions of the treatment basins,\u201d Maue wrote.<\/p>\n
Is the project sufficiently \u2018natural\u2019?<\/p>\n
Based on discussions with residents and submitted public comments, some foes of the project seek a more nature-based approach \u2013 including removing the engineered aspects or targeting sources of pollution specifically.<\/p>\n
![\"Barbara](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PAS-L-ARROYO-EXPLAINER-0805-EISENSTEIN.jpg\")
Barbara Eisenstein, the founder of Friends of South Pasadena Nature Park, spoke at a community rally in June. Photo: Camelia Heins<\/p>\n
\u201cWater-quality mandates can be met without resorting to bulldozing and installing industrial infrastructure in these sites,\u201d Barbara Eisenstein, the founder of Friends of South Pasadena Nature Park, said at a community rally in June.<\/p>\n
Some critics argue it is too engineered, utilizing industrial processes to do what nature can do itself. The city argues that the project is nature-based and that the engineered aspects focus on moving water while still letting natural processes clean it.<\/p>\n
Maue, Pasadena\u2019s engineer, said that the project is best described as an \u201cengineered, nature-based treatment system.\u201d He wrote that the engineered infrastructure \u201cprovides the control and reliability needed for the natural systems to function as intended.\u201d<\/p>\n
Infrastructure such as diversion structures, forebays, separators, pumps, pipes, valves and outlets regulate water amounts, control movement and remove sediments. Concrete and lined channels \u201care used only where necessary\u201d to move water, maintain habitat ponds and do not line areas used for infiltration, according to the city.<\/p>\n
UCLA professor Ambrose said the L.A. River watershed is not his expertise but based on his research background in wetland restoration and work as a past consultant for other Southern California cities on similar projects, he said the cities\u2019 project aligns with his expectations for a nature-based solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that\u2019s complicated \u2014 it\u2019s in this project and virtually every other project \u2014 is that the water doesn\u2019t just magically go into the wetland and magically leave,\u201d Ambrose said. \u201cOftentimes, there are construction elements that you have to put into it in order to get the water to move through, so that it can be treated by these natural processes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThat might be where some of the discrepancy in the views of this project come in, is like how much is engineered by traditional hard engineering versus how much is letting nature do the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maue explained that the city took effort to identify and eliminate potential upstream sources but ultimately \u201cdid not identify a single, consistent bacteria source whose correction alone would\u00a0 achieve the required reduction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though addressing pollution at the source is good, it\u2019s challenging because so many dispersed actions by so many different entities have to be employed,\u201d UCLA professor Ambrose said. \u201cOften the larger regional projects are the most efficient and cost-effective ways to remove pollutants and infiltrate stormwater. This is why the Safe Clean Water program is largely funding these.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0How is Los Angeles involved?<\/p>\n
The San Pascual site of the project includes 0.5 acres of L.A. parkland \u2013 in San Pascual Park, which covers about two and a half acres in total.\u00a0 The two cities would need to enter into an agreement with the city for property use, construction and maintenance of that portion.<\/p>\n
Pasadena\u2019s engineer Maue wrote that \u201cno agreement has been finalized or approved at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LDN-L-BOYLE-NEIGHBORS-070-20.jpg\")
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n
In late May, L.A. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents the areas of Boyle Heights, Downtown and northeast L.A., introduced a resolution in opposition to Pasadena and South Pasadena\u2019s project. A City Council vote on July 1 was delayed after the resolution\u2019s language was amended and it was referred back to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations committee.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from Councilmember Jurado\u2019s office said her office \u201chas not negotiated or agreed to terms granting the project use of this land.\u201d<\/p>\n
The resolution cites the destruction of trees and other environmental impacts, the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation\u2019s call for \u201cfull avoidance\u201d of the site and \u201cfailure to engage in meaningful community dialogue.\u201d It would also declare that \u201cno San Pascual parkland be used for industrial infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked, Pasadena\u2019s project manager Monde has not responded to specific concerns about Councilmember Jurado\u2019s resolution. The city, however, will respond to any public comments sent in the coming months, as part of the review process.<\/p>\n
If the L.A. City Council votes on Councilmember Jurado\u2019s resolution, the city will likely have to respond or negotiations may be impacted.<\/p>\n
How have local tribes weighed in?<\/p>\n
Under AB 52 of the California Environmental Quality Act, agencies are required to consult with tribes during the environmental review of projects. Pasadena\u2019s EIR states that a sacred lands file search came back positive for the project\u2019s area, meaning there are records of ceremonial, cultural or religious sites.<\/p>\n
According to the draft EIR, the city of Pasadena reached out to the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation and the Gabrielino-Tongva Nation. The Gabrielino-Tongva nation did not respond and the city continued consultation with the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians\u2013Kizh Nation. The following mitigation measures were included: designate the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians\u2013Kizh Nation as the tribal monitor during ground disturbing activities and cease activities upon unanticipated discovery of tribal cultural resource objects, human remains or ceremonial objects.<\/p>\n
During a City Council meeting on July 1, Councilmember Jurado amended her resolution to make it \u201cconsistent with our land acknowledgement policies.\u201d Conversations with residents and public comments indicated the amendment was unexpected; members of the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation opposed the amended language, arguing that other tribes \u201cwere not involved in those years of consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several comments submitted by tribal representatives of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Gabrieleno Tongva asked for Councilmember Jurado\u2019s resolution to be withdrawn from consideration or amended \u201cto ensure that all culturally affiliated tribes identified through the Native American Heritage Commission have been afforded an opportunity to participate in meaningful consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Kizh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LDN-L-KIZH-LAWSUIT-03-0516.jpg\")
Kizh Nation Tribal Chairperson Andrew Salas (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)<\/p>\n
Last July, tribal Chairperson Andrew Salas of the Kizh Nation submitted a letter to the city of Pasadena urging for \u201cfull avoidance\u201d of the area due to substantial evidence of encountering ancestral human remains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe substantial evidence, that component, is something as to why there were no other tribes involved in this process,\u201d Matthew Teutimez, the Kizh Nation\u2019s tribal biologist, said in an interview. \u201cOur tribe was the only one that possessed the substantial evidence of the burials that were found of tribal cultural resource objects that we find in similar locations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Salas discussed feeling like \u201call we are is a check box.\u201d He added: \u201c(The city) can check off a box saying that they reached out to consult. However, when they\u2019re provided substantial evidence, they avoid it \u2014 they ignore it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pasadena\u2019s project manager Monde said that after tribal consultation, there was no opposition to the project until Salas\u2019 letter of full avoidance. She discussed that his letter was \u201cnot so much opposing the project as requesting specific environmental issues to be studied in the EIR.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because the Gabriele\u00f1o Band of Mission Indians\u2013Kizh Nation is the tribal monitor for the project, the city will continue to work with the tribe moving forward, Monde said.<\/p>\n
What do community members say?<\/p>\n
During a San Pascual site walkthrough with organizers of the group Save San Pascual Park in May, many discussed how they value the green space, especially next to the 110 freeway. They fear losing a safe haven of trees amidst an urban landscape with thousands of cars driving by each day.<\/p>\n
Of the entire San Pascual Park, however, only a small portion \u2013 approximately 0.5 acres located near San Pascual Avenue and Stoney Drive \u2013 would be impacted by the two cities\u2019 project, project officials say.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time we\u2019re down there, it feels like our lungs are asking for deeper breaths,\u201d Amada Segura, a resident involved in the group, said. \u201cIt\u2019s just so enriching for me to be able to, in the city of Los Angeles, have that connection with nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Amada](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PAS-L-ARROYO-EXPLAINER-0805-SEGURA.jpg\")
Amada Segura is involved with the \u201cSave San Pascual Park\u201d group. Photo: Camelia Heins<\/p>\n
Clara Solis, the resident who filed the lawsuit to establish the EIR and organizes with Save San Pascual Park, shared a similar sentiment to what the area means to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy kids, as toddlers, would go and see the fish and we\u2019d walk here all the time,\u201d she said. \u201cNow they\u2019re adults and they still enjoy the outdoors \u2014 and I think it\u2019s partly because we were able to enjoy this wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to 150 public comment files received from the city by Pasadena Star-News in June, a majority opposed the project. Many shared concerns about the environmental impact, the removal of trees, the diversion of water to Arroyo Seco Golf Course and the presence of sacred burial sites.<\/p>\n
A coalition of more than 20 organizations oppose the project, including the neighborhood councils of Arroyo Seco, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights and Los Feliz.<\/p>\n
Some residents argue that the sites have been neglected, referencing leftover trash, past fires set by homeless people and a makeshift hill for bikes that obstruct accessibility at San Pascual.<\/p>\n
![\"Arroyo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PAS-L-ARROYO-EXPLAINER-0805-PARK.jpg\")
Arroyo Seco Water Reuse plan includes a half-acre in Los Angeles\u2019 San Pascual Park. Photo: Camelia Heins<\/p>\n
\u201cThe palms that are in there are charred to a crisp and a few of the native trees are also beyond saving,\u201d L.A. resident Pilar Reynaldo said. \u201cI don\u2019t see how leaving it in that state of real neglect is beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynaldo expressed disappointment in Councilmember Jurado\u2019s resolution, arguing that the L.A. City Council doesn\u2019t have jurisdiction over the two cities\u2019 project. She was also concerned about the potential fees both cities are facing.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of our taxpayer dollars should be going to paying compliance fees on a $10,000 a day basis because disinformed people are trying to stop this project,\u201d Reynaldo said.<\/p>\n
The city of Pasadena has been working with local nonprofit Active San Gabriel Valley to provide community outreach and engagement including site tours and canvassing.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next?<\/p>\n
Since Councilmember Jurado\u2019s resolution opposing the project is still in committee review, it\u2019s unclear when a vote by the L.A. City Council will take place.<\/p>\n
The Arroyo Seco Water Reuse project concluded\u00a0 its public review comment period on Aug. 1. The city of Pasadena, as the lead agency, will have to respond to each comment received, which could take months. According to the city\u2019s timeline, a future public outreach meeting could take place before proposed construction.<\/p>\n
Camelia Heins is a correspondent with the Southern California News Group.<\/p>\n
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