Los Angeles vowed to stop wasting so much stormwater. But progress has been slow

LOS ANGELES — Only weeks ago, Angelenos watched as trillions of gallons of precious stormwater poured into the region's concrete waterways, slid down slick pavement and washed out to sea. After so many months of drought-related water restrictions, it seemed to many like a missed opportunity.

While officials say they're making progress when it comes to capturing more of the county's stormwater, a new report from watchdog group Los Angeles Waterkeeper has focused on the plan's sluggish progress so far, and calls for improved metrics and a more proactive approach, among other recommendations.

The Safe Clean Water Program — passed by Los Angeles County voters in 2018 as Measure W — allocates $280 million annually to projects aimed at capturing and cleaning stormwater when it falls. That includes reducing the amount of asphalt and hardscape that now prevents water from percolating into the earth.

But three years in, only 30 acres of new green space have been added under the program, the