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INFRASTRUCTURE - How many water storage tanks and reservoirs in high fire-risk areas within the City and County of Los Angeles are currently empty or operating at less than half capacity?
Let’s take a look at the Eagle Rock Reservoir, located in the foothills of Northeast Los Angeles, specifically in Eagle Rock, just above the 134 Freeway.
In March 2015, residents of Eagle Rock observed thousands of gallons of water coursing down the streets, seemingly unchecked. This occurred at the same time that Los Angeles residents were being urged to conserve water due to drought conditions.
When the Department of Water and Power (DWP) was contacted, they explained that the water was leaking from a pipe that needed repair. The repairs were necessary so that the Eagle Rock Reservoir could undergo major improvements. At the time, the DWP was draining 70,000 gallons of water from a severely corroded pipe.
That was back in 2015—so, what has happened since then?
Currently, the Eagle Rock Reservoir is less than half full. During a recent wildfire threat, residents of Northeast Los Angeles were on high alert for potential evacuation, fearing that the Eaton fire lines might jump over the 134 Freeway. Los Angeles police officers from the LAPD Northeast Division were stationed near North Figueroa and Colorado Boulevard. Residents of the Eagle Rock Tiny Houses (homes for the homeless) were even ordered to evacuate.
At a recent Northeast Business Association meeting, Eagle Rock resident Deanna Deacon mentioned written documentation highlighting concerns about the Eagle Rock Reservoir’s lack of water storage. This documentation has reportedly been sitting on the governor’s desk for the past 3–4 years. Despite several attempts, I have been unable to verify the existence of this documentation.
However, I did obtain a copy of an article written on July 21, 2021, by Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow of The Sacramento Bee. It discusses Proposition 1, the 2014 Water Bond, which was approved by voters and allocated billions of dollars for the construction of seven major water projects, including dams and reservoirs. One of these projects is the Sites Reservoir in Northern Sacramento, originally scheduled to begin construction in 2024 and finish by 2032. The start date has now been pushed to 2026, with completion still expected in 2032.
As of now, none of the seven major water projects have been completed. This raises serious questions for Governor Gavin Newsom. Where are the billions of dollars approved by voters? Why is the progress so slow?
Governor Newsom has recently called for an investigation into why the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty during a recent fire. Residents who lost their homes are also questioning why the fire hydrants in their area were either empty or had inadequate water pressure.
Now, residents of Northeast Los Angeles are asking similar questions: Why is the Eagle Rock Reservoir not full? Was the repair work from 2015 ever completed? Was the reservoir drained again during COVID?
Our local elected officials have known about these concerns but have failed to respond. If the Eaton fire had jumped over the 134 Freeway, how many homes in our community would have been lost?
Residents are demanding answers from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the Department of Water and Power, Council District 14 representative Isabel Yurado, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Hilda Solis.
How many other reservoirs and water storage tanks in Los Angeles and its county lack adequate water capacity?
According to David Zahniser and Matt Hamilton of the LA Times, City Council member Traci Park (CD11) has called for a DWP investigation into the lack of water in the Pacific Palisades Reservoir and the insufficient water pressure in fire hydrants.
Stay tuned.
(Caroline Aguirre is a retired 24-year State of California law enforcement officer, LAPD family member, community activist and Neighborhood Watch captain. Aguirre is a CityWatch contributor.)
