August 11th, 2026

As mentioned in previous updates, on July 27th Council endorsed the recommended actions for the 12 dry stormwater detention ponds that were reviewed, and directed staff to proceed with next steps as described in the report. There are several dry stormwater detention ponds located throughout the City that range in effectiveness for flood prevention and environmental protection. Staff evaluated the first 12 of 148 legacy dry ponds constructed in the 1980s and 1990s. Inspections revealed that 78% of these ponds were inactive and ineffective during the October 2024 atmospheric river event. The 12 evaluated ponds were categorized: 7 for improved pond function (Category 1), 1 for repurposing as a park (Category 2), and 4 as surplus municipal land for potential disposal (Category 3). Staff will continue to evaluate the remaining dry ponds in phases by 2030, with some requiring more detailed reviews than others.  

Additional information can be found in the full report by city staff. 

November 20th, 2026

At their regular meeting on November 3rd, Council endorsed the evaluation approach for managing dry detention ponds and directed staff to evaluate the potential re-use of the identified 12 detention ponds in the staff report. After visiting 100 of them during the Oct 2024 atmospheric river, 78% were dry. 

An optimized review of dry detention ponds considered four possible scenarios for each pond site:  

1. Optimize the pond so that it activates more frequently for improved stormwater management; 

2. Upgrade the pond from a dry pond to a wet pond for improved water quality and stormwater detention performance, with the land to remain defined as detention pond and not considered a regulated wetland or watercourse;  

3. Convert the pond to an underground detention facility to allow more active or programmed park uses; or  

4. Repurpose the pond site for possible municipal use or disposal.. 

Additional information can be found in the full report by City staff.