EPA Targets Echo Park Lake for Pollution Reduction

was one of 175 bodies of water in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties targeted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board Thursday for pollution reduction, according to a report on Sport Fishing magazine’s website.

“The pollution targets set by these plans will improve water quality, restore ecosystems, and protect the public by eliminating beach closures due to bacteria and improving the health of fish used for consumption.”

The pollution plans (see the full document as a .pdf, attached above) call for reductions in the amount of bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, mercury, pesticides and other toxic chemicals that affect the waterways. 

Today’s announcement is a  part of a 1999 legal settlement between EPA and local environmental groups  in which EPA committed to approve LA Water Board-developed [pollution reduction plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads] or independently establish TMDLs for a list of water bodies in the Los Angeles Region.  As a result of the consent decree, 47 TMDLs have been established for 175 water bodies that address numerous pollutant impairments including elevated bacteria, metals, pesticides, PCBs and trash.  Additional TMDLs will be approved or established within the next year. ...

Nine Los Angeles area urban lakes for toxics, trash, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution: will support recreation and wildlife for nine lakes in the Los Angeles area, including Echo Park Lake, Lake Calabasas, Puddingstone Reservoir and El Dorado Park Lakes.

Read more about Echo Park Lake's remediation on Patch: