LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Redondo Beach, Calif., this month celebrated the groundbreaking of the Alta Vista Park Diversion and Reuse Project, which will protect coastal waters from urban stormwater runoff — the No. 1 cause of coastal water pollution in Southern California — and use collected rainwater for park irrigation. The $2.2 million project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Joining the EPA was Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, members of the Redondo Beach city council, local elected officials and members of the public. “With this innovative project, the City of Redondo Beach is taking a positive step to protect beach users and at the same time conserve Southern California’s scarce water supply,” said John Kemmerer, associate Water Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.

As a result of this project, stormwater that would otherwise impact the beach south of the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier will be collected, treated and used to irrigate Alta Vista Park. Water that is not needed for irrigation will be infiltrated into the ground, thus reducing discharges to the ocean.

The project is designed to help the City of Redondo Beach comply with Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements to reduce stormwater pollution. Completion of the project is scheduled for September 2010.

The $2.2 million project is being financed by federal Recovery Act funds administered through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. Under the Recovery Act, California received $280 million from EPA for water quality protection projects. At least 20 percent of these funds must be provided to “Green Projects” that support sustainable practices, such as the Alta Vista Park project.

For more information on the Alta Vista Park Diversion and Reuse Project, please visit www.redondo.org.