Wetlands plan moves forward

Paul Clinton

UPPER NEWPORT BAY -- The Irvine Ranch Water District laid the

groundwork for a large-scale cleanup project earlier this week, setting

aside $1.36 million to study and plan a series of natural, wetland

filters.

The district’s board unanimously agreed at its Monday meeting to hire

Bon Terra, a Costa Mesa consulting firm, as part of the planning stages

before the installation of wetlands along the San Diego Creek Watershed.

Bon Terra will analyze the project’s potential effect on the creek’s

watershed.

At this point, there is no clear indication of how much it will cost

to create the wetlands.

Plans call for about 20 wetlands in Newport Beach, Irvine, Lake

Forest, Orange and unincorporated county land.

The wetlands would be installed in strategic locations along the San

Diego Creek Watershed to act as filters to clean polluted runoff flowing

into Upper Newport Bay, district officials said.

“Over the years, the runoff has increased,” said Norris Brandt, the

district’s assistant to the general manager. “This system will improve

the quality of that runoff.”

The project was made possible by state legislation introduced by

Assemblyman John Campbell, whose district includes many of the watershed

cities, including Newport Beach. Gov. Gray Davis signed the legislation,

Assembly Bill 810, into law Aug. 31.

The bill gives the district the ability to acquire land on which to

install the wetlands.

Environmentalists have generally endorsed the project, saying it would

be an effective way to cleanse the runoff. City officials have also

endorsed the project as a better solution than concrete channels.

“Anything that goes back to the natural process is helpful,”

Councilman Tod Ridgeway said. “Any nitrates, any toxics [in the runoff]

can be removed through this process.”

The district signed a $395,480 contract with Bon Terra to produce an

environmental report of the plan.

The remaining part of the budget will go to hire other environmental

consultants, pay a $210,000 bill from state and federal lobbyists and

other expenses.

Bon Terra is expected to complete a first draft of the report by

summer, Brandt said.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .