NEWS & STORIES
Explore stories from the field, updates on our work, and the people and communities helping protect Los Angeles waterways.
See the latest press coverage featuring LA Waterkeeper’s advocacy, expertise, and impact across the region.
Dive into research, reports, guides, and other resources that shed light on the challenges facing our waters—and the solutions ahead.
Worried about the water impacts of data centers? Vote No on Proposition 45
Prop 45’s promise of more affordability raises the question, “more affordability for whom, corporations or consumers?” There is nothing in the measure that requires developers to pass along the savings they will gain from fewer environmental review requirements, or from the savings they will realize by transferring pollution cleanup costs to public coffers.
Prop 45: Weakened Public Oversight Could Cost Californians Clean Water and Tax Dollars
As California faces growing industrial development and mounting pressure on its water supplies, Proposition 45 could reduce environmental oversight when communities need it most.
LA Waterkeeper's November 2026 Voter Guide: Vote for a Cleaner, Greener LA
From cleaner waterways to greener neighborhoods, here's what's at stake for LA's environment this November.
LA City Council Votes to Allow Billion Dollar Scattergood Gas Plant Retrofit to Move Forward
This afternoon, the Los Angeles City Council voted to allow the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to disregard the concerns of Angelenos and environmental advocates and move forward with its ill-conceived plans to retrofit the Scattergood gas plant to be able to burn a mix of hydrogen and natural gas.
Five Industrial Emergencies, One Warning: How Toxic Industry Is Threatening LA's Water Future
Industrial risk is no longer limited to the smokestacks, pipes, and visible discharges our laws were built to regulate. It is increasingly cumulative, regional, and hard to detect. The five emergencies that recently struck the Los Angeles area should be a wake-up call — and an opportunity to fix the systems failing to protect us, before it’s too late.
Riverpark Coalition and Los Angeles Waterkeeper announce landmark settlement to expand public park space and protect the Los Angeles River
The Riverpark Coalition (RPC) and Los Angeles Waterkeeper are proud to announce a comprehensive settlement agreement with the owner of the property at 3701 Pacific Place. Resolving the case advances the organizations’ commitment to enhance public open space, improve regional trail connectivity, and protect the Los Angeles River.
The Fires Changed LA—Now What?
From rainwater capture to restored wildlands, resilient landscapes and local water systems can reduce fire risk, protect waterways, and prepare LA for climate whiplash.
Great Cities Start with Great Water
“Water is life” is more than a phrase–it’s reality! Water shapes our survival, health, and resilience. Yet we still fail to treat water with the respect and protection it deserves. Dive deeper into how water shapes Los Angeles’ climate resilience and learn how Great Cities Start with Great Water.
LA Waterkeeper and Riverpark Coalition Join Forces in Lawsuit against Long Beach over Approval of Pacific Place Self-Storage Project
The organizations will continue their fight to preserve open space in frontline communities, and protect the LA River from further development
Environmental justice and conservation groups sue City of Long Beach to demand more rigorous environmental review of controversial LA River-adjacent Pacific Place project
The environmental justice group Riverpark Coalition (RPC) and the environmental watchdog organization Los Angeles Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit last week against the City of Long Beach over the City’s approval of a self-storage warehouse project along the Los Angeles River at 3701 Pacific Place.
Long Beach Likely to Choose Development over Restoring Nature Along the LA River
The Los Angeles River could be — and should be — one of the Los Angeles region’s most powerful tools for climate adaptation. Instead, it remains a symbol of past planning failures — and an example of how those mistakes continue to shape the future of cities along the river like Long Beach.
LA Waterkeeper’s Response to the LA Wildfires
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.
Boeing Company Loses Santa Susana Lawsuit; New Monitoring Detects Toxic Discharges into Los Angeles River
Environmental groups worked together to advocate for the Los Angeles Regional Water Board to strengthen a stormwater permit for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. Their efforts resulted in an improved permit limiting the Los Angeles River from being polluted by long-lasting chemicals, PCBs, toxic metals, and radioactive waste from the site, as well as robust stormwater monitoring. After Boeing sued the Regional Board to overturn the new permit terms, environmental groups got involved to defend the permit, and the Los Angeles Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Regional Board and rejected most of Boeing’s arguments.
What’s Behind LA’s Recent Beach Closures?
Though recent headlines may suggest these problems are new, the reality is that bacterial contamination, ocean advisories, and beach closures have been worsening in recent years. It’s enough to make any beach-going Angeleno wonder: what’s going on, and is this something people should be worried about?
Microplastics and PFAS Oh My 😱
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.
Colorado River Compact: Rethinking Southwest Water Management Amid a Changing Climate
Climate change is affecting the Colorado River, highlighting the need for local, resilient water sources such as recycled wastewater and stormwater capture.
A Year of Environmental Victories: LA Waterkeeper's 2023 Impact
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.
Highlighting our legal interns of 2023!
As we reflect on the past year's successes, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our legal interns, whose dedication and expertise have played a pivotal role in shaping our 2023 efforts. From researching the ramifications of Sackett v. EPA to exploring the harmful impacts of ship anchoring on the seafloor, they have collectively demonstrated a commitment that goes beyond their individual roles. The strides we've made in the past year wouldn't have been possible without their collaborative efforts.
STATE OF THE WATER: Following a Historic Wet Season, What’s Next for a Secure Water Future
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.
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