Identifying the Constraints to Implementing a Vegetation Barrier along Valley Boulevard

RESEARCH

ENTIFYING THE CONSTRAINTS TO IMPLEMENTING A VEGETATION

RRIER ALONG VALLEY BOULEVARD

BY: TAYLOR F. GALINDO | ADVISOR: PROFESSOR JONATHAN PACHECO

BELL | SPRING 2024

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Purpose

The neighboring communities located adjacent to Valley Boulevard and The City of Industry experience high rates of asthma and cardiovascular

Objective

This study aims to understand if vegetation barriers are suitable for implementation along Valley Boulevard Furthermore, if this mitigation strategy is deemed necessary in the future, what will stakeholders need to consider?

Research Question

What are the constraints of implementing a vegetation barrier along Valley Boulevard?

M E T H O D S

1. Selection of Informants: The informants chosen for this study are primarily from local agencies The informants represent the need for insights from varied perspectives and professional backgrounds

2 Qualitative Data Collection: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the selected informants

City of La Puente: Director of Development Services and Associate Planner

City of Industry: City Manager and Assistant City Managers

La Puente Valley County Water District: General Manager

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control: Director of Community Strategies & Resources

Union Pacific Railroad: Senior Director of Public Affairs

UPON: Founder / Landscape Architect

South Coast Air Quality Management District; Public Affairs Manager Community, Outreach, Relations, and Engagement (CORE)

3. Data Analysis: After the interviews were conducted, the key insights from the interviews with the informants were categorized based on the overarching themes of concerns and constraints

CATEGORIES OF CONSTRAINTS

K E Y F I N D I N G S

Ave and Valley Boulevard, the West Boundary of Project Scope

Source: Author Source: Author

Source: Author

A vegetation barrier along Valley Boulevard would require an immense collaborative approach and input from various professional backgrounds

Research supporting the monetary value of green strategies is not yet readily available to local decision-makers

The effectiveness of vegetation barriers hinges on their longevity, which depends on careful consideration of species characteristics during implementation and maintenance

Purple pipe infrastructure to support urban landscapes is limited

Working with CBOs has helped further the success of proposed vegetation barriers and greening strategies

Utilization of a Systems Thinking approach can provide multiple benefits and expand opportunities to allocate potential funding

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

1 Redirect City revenues to support those affected by Valley Boulevard’s air pollution, focus on offsetting costs for carbon-absorbing plants and water bills, and fund collaborative pollution mitigation projects

2 Collaborate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to initiate local community emission reduction plans for future cycles

3 City of Industry to adopt a Climate Action Plan (CAP) with incentives for companies to reduce emissions and taxation for accountability, directing collected taxes towards emission reductions and strategies

4 Establish a committee in local jurisdictions to track and submit grant proposals for overall improvements to Valley Boulevard

5 Engage with Los Angeles County to conduct a comprehensive inventory and site analysis, prioritizing solutions with multi-benefits to address air quality concerns

6 Future greening strategies should prioritize longevity, considering tree characteristics, water resources, and maintenance plans for sustainable landscapes