NRCS Invests $2.7 Million to Protect Hollywood Reservoir and Local Residents

Emergency funding was used to repair damage caused by a landslide that threatened life and property

LOS ANGELES, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has completed a series of critical repairs to a damaged hillside that imperiled seven homes in Hollywood Hills, Calif.  The necessary repairs, completed in two phases, were done to further protect life and property threatened by three landslides, which occurred because of a series of severe winter storms between January and February 2005. 

"The 2005 hill slides put our home - and those of our neighbors - in great jeopardy and we were faced with limited solutions to prevent further damage," said Gary Cohan, a resident.  "Without the excellent communication skills, detailed planning/coordination with the NRCS and expert geotechnical stabilization from the city's truly amazing team, we would not enjoy the peace of mind that we have today. Kudos and sincere thanks to all involved."

In addition to threatening private properties, these landslides threatened the Hollywood Reservoir and access to the dam.  Emergency work was also completed to protect the Mulholland Tank, located on the east side of the Hollywood Reservoir.

Using funds through the federal Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), NRCS collaborated with the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to clean up debris, construct retaining walls near the properties, grade the hillside, install a drainage system and establish vegetation to protect these homes and the reservoir's water resources from future hillside erosion.

The engineering designs for the slides below Lakeridge Drive were completed by the following three local consultants, Grover-Hollingsworth and Associates, Inc Geotechnical Engineering, Tibor Ginter Structural Engineer, Inc and VCA Engineers, Inc Civil Engineering. The City of Los Angeles provided all construction inspections for the project. These important contributions made the project both feasible and successful. Without these repairs, at least two of the homes would have been permanently "red tagged" and unable to support future occupancy.  

The City of Los Angeles will fund additional repair work in order to re-open the perimeter road for public use and recreation. This work is scheduled for completion later this year.

"Using EWP to fund these repairs was necessary and the right thing to do to protect the reservoir and affected homes from future erosion and further damage," said Ed Burton, retired state conservationist for NRCS California.

In addition to providing emergency assistance through EWP, NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935. For more information on NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service