The Gateway IRWM Authority was granted a $10 million, principle-forgiveness loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The goal of the project was to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in the Los Angeles River and washes out into the Pacific Ocean, limiting beneficial uses of the river and local beaches. Currently more than 800,000 pounds of waste accumulate in storm drains that wash out to the Los Angeles River and eventually into the Pacific Ocean.
By installing screen inserts (connector pipe screens, or CPS units) and automatic retractable screens (ARS units), the project proponent eliminated the local contribution of trash from the stormwater system in reaches 1 and 2 of the Los Angeles River, thereby meeting the requirements of the Los Angeles River Trash TMDL.
Sixteen (16) cities in the Gateway Region, many of them economically disadvantaged, met the mandate of the Los Angeles River Trash TMDL because of this project. The participating cities are Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton, Cudahy, Downey, Huntington Park, Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Signal Hill, South Gate, and Vernon.
Unlike traditional projects with one large construction, this project involved the fabrication and installation of a stainless steel screen in front of the catch basin outlet pipe and across the catch basin curb inlet to prevent any trash and debris larger than 5 mm from entering the storm drain system. The original construction completion date was June 30, 2011. Due to permitting issues, the contract was extended to October 31, 2011. Construction was completed October 28, 2011.