A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
who we are The local agency responsible for overseeing the cleanup and restoration of the San Gabriel Groundwater Basin. what we do COORDINATE Groundwater Cleanup INFORM the Public ASSIST Cooperating Respondents PREVENT or Minimize Migration of Contamination PROTECT Groundwater Resources by Removing Contamination Quickly and Efficiently INTEGRATE Cleanup with Water Supply MINIMIZE Economic Impact to the Public FUND WQA Projects and Programs with Outside Funding Sources staff RANDY SCHOELLERMAN, P.E. Executive Director DAN COLBY Assistant Executive Director/ Senior Project Manager MARY SAENZ, CPA Director of Finance STEPHANIE A. MORENO, MPA Director of Communications/Board Relations MICHELLE SANCHEZ Senior Administrative Assistant/ Office Coordinator JACKIE MONTGOMERY Accounting Specialist PEARL ESCOBAR Project Resource Specialist RICHARD PADILLA Legal Counsel
T his fiscal year the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA) faced some unexpected challenges, yet we also made significant agreements and advancements on the road to full restoration of the San Gabriel Groundwater Basin. In the ever-changing Southern California water cycle, it was a good water supply year. The Main San Gabriel Basin, the backbone of our local supply providing roughly 80% of the water demand each year, reached its highest level in five years. On the flipside, a perfect storm of dry air and wind led to the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. We are grateful for the heroic first responders and grieve with the countless victims in times of their profound losses. While the Altadena fires did not directly impact our Basin, the processing of the Altadena fire’s potentially hazardous waste by USEPA at Lario Park near the San Gabriel River heightened our concern about the possibility of future contamination. Significant upgrades moved forward this year for some of the 34 treatment plants in the Basin thanks to the dedication of our partner agencies, and our distribution of $5.5 million in federal funds from FY 2023.
Randy Schoellerman, P.E. Executive Director
That said, a successful Basin cleanup requires continuous funding. Unfortunately, the FY 2024 federal appropriations bill did not include money for the WQA-coordinated restoration. While we will continue to advocate for federal funds, we did, after years of negotiations, come to an agreement with the State Department of Toxic Substances Control for the continued operation and maintenance of the South El Monte Operable Unit (SEMOU) Intermediate Zone Remedy, so that the cost will not fall solely on Basin ratepayers. The agreement will provide $10M over the next five years to reimburse the city of Monterey Park, Golden State Water Company, and San Gabriel Valley Water Company for operating the extraction wells and treatment facilities that make the SEMOU cleanup possible. I would like to thank my hard-working staff for their dedication to this agency’s mission and goals. Additionally, a thanks to our Board of Directors for their continued advocacy and decision-making that helps to lessen the burden on ratepayers. Their efforts kept the assessment stable this fiscal year while disbursing millions in funds to advance the Basin restoration.
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
2 ■ SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY
2024-2025 ANNUAL REPORT ■ 3
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