Encino Reservoir's Solar Project: Balancing Energy and Nature

Before proceeding with a floating solar project at Encino Reservoir, Los Angeles conducted extensive wildlife surveys. These surveys, spanning April to July, documented 60 species, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and an amphibian, with particular attention to the protected Least Bell's Vireo, which was not detected. The findings established a crucial ecological baseline for the site, located near the Santa Monica Mountains.

The project involves a 5-megawatt floating solar array on about 10 acres of the reservoir, alongside ground-mounted solar equipment and battery storage. This initiative leverages existing water infrastructure for renewable energy production. LADWP anticipates the array will produce approximately 10,280 megawatt-hours of electricity annually.

Construction for this pilot project is scheduled to commence in summer 2026 and is expected to be completed by summer 2027. The Encino Reservoir project will serve as a test for floating solar viability within the LADWP system, offering insights into how renewable energy infrastructure can coexist with urban ecosystems.