Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Project

  • Project TypeStormwater/Sewer Infrastructure Project and Park Improvements
  • Completion DateDecember 31, 2026
Map image of Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Project location

Overview

The Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project is a wet-weather stormwater project that would be installed beneath the ballfields at Syd Kronenthal Park. A large subsurface stormwater storage gallery would collect water during wet weather and provide water storage. The collected water would provide year-round park irrigation and overages may be filtered, treated or diverted to sewer. The Project could also potentially provide a dry weather flow and partial wet weather diversion from Adams Channel. 

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Goals

Improve water quality by reducing pollutant discharges in stormwater runoff and address regulatory requirements, improve recreation and greenspace, and increase public awareness of stormwater impacts.

The Project could capture as much as 80% of the water-volume of the watershed area. The potential stormwater capture area of the original concept drainage area and the Adams Channel concept drainage area were determined to be approximately 77 acres and 6,785 acres, respectively. 

Given its ideal location next to Ballona Creek just downstream of Adams Channel tributary, as well as the available public open space at the park to accommodate a regional BMP footprint, the Project would be a valuable water quality asset.


Schedule

(Tentative)

  • Feasibility Study: 2023
  • Environmental Analysis: 2023
  • Design: 2024
  • Construction: 2026 

Please be advised, that Project is in concept/planning stage. Schedule is tentative at this time. Construction is dynamic and posted schedules are subject to change.


Construction Impacts

Access to and utilization of Syd Kronenthal Park would be impacted by the construction phase of this Project. Details to be determined.


Planning

The original Project concept was proposed as part of the City’s 2021 Stormwater Quality Master Plan (SWQMP) and was developed from a site visit and a desktop-based analysis.

The City is now conducting a Feasibility Study to advance the Project to the next stage of implementation, which will be to apply for design and construction funding through the SCW Regional Program. 

Map image of Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Project showing site details

The Feasibility Study includes additional desktop analyses, field visits, a geotechnical survey, and storm water modeling conducted to refine Project details in the original concept, determine options for treatment mechanisms, and explore the potential of a second alternative which includes a dry weather flow diversion from Adams Channel.

Once the feasibility study is completed, permitting and environmental work then design will begin FY 23-24.

 


Project Details

Subsurface Storage Gallery

Due to the large open space at the park’s ballfields, the Project is an opportunity to install a large subsurface stormwater storage gallery. A subsurface system allows the surface to be restored or improved to support current use after construction. The ballfields are currently used by many community groups so maintaining current use after Project completion is a priority.

The system will be sized to treat at least the wet-weather flows from local storm drains. However, due to the large available space, a much larger system can be installed to maximize stormwater benefits at this site. Expanded storage of stormwater will be used to offset irrigation demand at the park while treating excess flows. Thus, an additional low-flow diversion from Adams Channel is proposed.

Local Storm Drain Diversions

Three existing storm drain mains pass through the vicinity of Syd Kronenthal Park: one along Jacobs Street, another along the bike path adjacent to National Boulevard, and the third drain within the park itself. All three drains outfall to the Ballona Creek channel. Diversions from all three drains would result in a drainage area just over 77 acres, entirely within Culver City. 

The 77-acre drainage area is considered the design drainage area for wet-weather treatment. A previously completed hydrology report estimated that the design standard for wet-weather, the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm, produces 3.3 acre-feet (ac-ft) of runoff with a peak flow rate of 6 cfs. Thus, at least 3.3 ac-ft of storage must be provided for wet-weather treatment from the local storm drainage system.

Each storm drain diversion will be controlled by gravity and outfitted with a pretreatment unit (hydrodynamic separator or similar device) to screen trash and remove grease, solids, and sediment-associated pollutants.

Map image showing potential drainage area for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater project

Adams Channel Low-Flow Diversion

A low-flow diversion from Adams Channel near its outfall to Ballona Creek is proposed to maximize the amount of stormwater that can be treated or used to offset irrigation at the park. The Adams Channel drainage area is approximately 6,785 acres. Runoff generated from this drainage area during wet weather is more than can be treated at this Project site.

 

The preliminary hydrology report concluded that a maximum low-flow diversion rate of 3.5 cfs can be supported from Adams Channel. This rate ensures that the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm runoff volume from the local storm drains can still be captured with the maximum storage capacity of the storage gallery (10.3 ac-ft), while still providing partial wet weather benefits to the Adams Channel drainage area.

 

Map image showing the Adams Channel drainage area

Passive Irrigation Permavoid System

Culver City currently uses potable water supply to meet irrigation demands at the park. A stormwater treatment and storage system at the park presents an ideal opportunity to offset potable water use with treated stormwater.

 

A Permavoid passive irrigation system is proposed as the primary mechanism for use of captured stormwater. The Permavoid layer would be a shallow storage layer above the primary storage gallery that would passively irrigate the ballfield turf grass via capillary action. A small pump would control movement of stormwater from the primary storage gallery to the Permavoid system. Permavoid is completely subsurface and, since there is no risk of stormwater coming in contact with park users, advanced treatment of stormwater is not required prior to irrigation.

Treatment of Excess Captured Stormwater

Although the primary use of captured stormwater will be for irrigation at the park, it is anticipated that there will be instances where excess captured stormwater must be treated. 

Three design alternatives are being considered:

  • Alternative 1 - Infiltration: Infiltration from the bottom of the primary storage gallery was one of the first treatment options considered, however, infiltration rates encountered during the geotechnical survey were highly variable. Additionally, regional groundwater data indicate that the aquifer below the Project site is confined, thus stormwater is unlikely to provide a water supply benefit via infiltration.

  • Alternative 2 - Diversion to Sanitary Sewer: The Hyperion Advanced Water Purification Facility is anticipated to recycle 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) and is scheduled for completion in winter of 2022. The facility will recycle sewage for non-potable uses and is a proof of concept for full transformation of the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant to a 100% water recycling facility by 2035. Diversion of excess stormwater to the sanitary sewer for treatment at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant would provide a benefit by offsetting non-potable water use. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation will need to be engaged to determine if a diversion to sanitary sewer is feasible at this location. Additionally, the nearby sewers are controlled by a siphon that currently experiences high maintenance demand by Culver City staff. Additional analysis is needed to determine if the nearby sewers can support additional flow rates from the Project.

  • Alternative 3 - Biofiltration/Wetland Treatment: Another option considered is a treatment system using “Nature-Based Solutions,” such as biofiltration or wetland technologies. After irrigation demand is met, excess stormwater would be pumped to a flow-through biofiltration systems, which treat and discharge water to nearby Ballona Creek.

  


Images

Map image of Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Project location


Documents

Geotechnical Report(PDF, 7MB)

 


Funding

Feasibility Study is funded by the Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program’s Technical Resources Program (TRP).

Learn more about Los Angeles County's Safe Clean Water Program.


Syd Kronenthal Park

Syd Kronenthal Park is a Culver City park located along the west edge of Ballona Creek just north of National Blvd in the Ballona Creek Watershed and is currently the termination point of the Ballona Creek Bike Path.

Learn more about Syd Kronenthal Park.

 Photograph of Syd Kronenthal Park SE Baseball Field   Photograph of Syd Kronenthal Park NW Baseball Field

 

Location

3459 McManus Ave, Culver City 90232  View Map

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