From sick marine life to increasingly frequent harmful algal blooms, at LA Waterkeeper, we understand these are not isolated events — they’re a wake-up call. A signal that the way we’ve managed water in Los Angeles for the past century is not working, and that change is not only necessary, it’s long overdue.

Here’s a wild fact: nearly 20% of California’s electricity goes just to treating and pumping water hundreds of miles all across the state. That means water conservation for Angelenos isn’t just about fighting drought—it’s also a super important way to cut our state’s overall carbon footprint. From shorter showers to smarter food choices, here’s how you can start making a difference today.  

Fire-resilient landscaping isn’t just about picking the “right” combination of fire-resistant plants and mulch. It’s only by thinking with holistic ecosystem health in mind that we create landscapes that are truly climate-resilient.

One thing is clear: the road to recovery will be long and challenging, but it is one we must navigate with care, foresight, and a commitment to real change. 

Fall is here, and now is the perfect time to start prepping your yard for the rainy season ahead. With just a little bit of prep work, you can design a rain garden that’s ready to capture every drop—saving water, reducing runoff, and keeping your plant babies thriving and happy. 

Climate whiplash means that huge swings from really wet to really dry seasons are bound to become the new normal. But what does that mean for everyday Angelenos? More importantly, are we in a drought or not?! 

PFAS are so prevalent that they have polluted drinking water systems in all 50 states. Thankfully, despite industries’ best efforts to avoid regulation, we are finally seeing progress made to protect Americans from these dangerous forever chemicals.

The final Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan aims to transform the basin into the region's new Central Park, enhancing ecology, community access to nature, and incorporating stormwater capture and treatment.

So, you’ve already swapped your plastic utensils for bamboo ones, ditched Amazon for your local flea market, and you’re besties with your Buy Nothing group. So, what’s left for a sustainability champion like you to do? Let’s talk about your lawn.

We all have that friend that claims to be a low maintenance queen, but California native plants are really that girl. Once they’re settled in, they use up to 85% less water than traditional landscaping. This means you’ll save big on your water bill while giving a break to our precious water resources.

Climate change is affecting the Colorado River, highlighting the need for local, resilient water sources such as recycled wastewater and stormwater capture.

If you’re ready to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, here are some practical yet fashionably belated New Year’s resolutions to kickstart your journey towards environmental consciousness.

Nowadays there are so many ways to compost! The main differentiating factor being how much space you have available, and how quickly you want to turn over your food scraps.

Your support for LA Waterkeeper is a crucial part of the solution. Every donation propels us forward in our mission to safeguard water resources, combat pollution, and foster a genuinely sustainable and equitable future for all Angelenos.

With over a quarter of the basin’s available land currently under-utilized, the vision plan process offers a significant opportunity to transform the basin from its dull, degraded present state into one where both humans and the ecosystem can truly thrive.

Our State of the Water blog series has explored how LA’s water sources fared after one of the wettest wet seasons the region has ever experienced. Here we explore how we can take advantage of future rains to ensure a secure water future.