State funds on tap for water cleanup

A $4.6 million state grant to clean up Aliso Creek is no drop in the bucket.

The grant is a substantial portion of the local matching funds needed to meet federal funding requirements for the proposed $45 million SUPER project, the acronym for Stabilization, Utility Protection and Environmental Restoration of the creek.

The project is one of seven submitted by the county for Proposition 50 funding, as part of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

“We are starting to get something going, and a lot of the credit goes to the hard work of Elizabeth [Councilwoman Pearson-Schneider] to help get this project moving,” said Marilyn Thoms, Orange County manager of South County watersheds.

Pearson-Schneider, who began lobbying Congressman John Campbell for federal funding to clean up the creek as soon as he was elected in June, heard the good news Monday.

“The local match is about $11.25 million,” Pearson-Schneider said.

Clean Water Now! Coalition founder Roger Butow said the Prop 50 grant was a signal to federal legislators that local intent to restore the creek is serious.

“I’ll personally pledge to do everything in my power to expedite SUPER within the boundaries of our mission statement,” Butow said.

Thoms credited the success of the grant application to a cooperative effort.

“Every city and water and special district in South County committed to the process,” Thoms said. “That’s kind of unheard of.”

Butow said special kudos should go to Pearson-Schneider, The Athens Group and the Mongage Resort and Spa.

“They deserve recognition for being committed visionaries — something only CWN!C was doing from 1998 to 2004,” Butow claimed.

Local fundraising will continue.

“Anyone can contribute,” Thoms said. “We will really be begging.

“We might even set up a lemonade stand on Aliso Beach,” she joked.

The SUPER project does not have unadulterated support.

“It’s no secret that there is still a small, yet vocal, group with lingering animosity toward The Athens Group over Treasure Island, folks who still seek a ‘pound of flesh,’ ” Butow said.

“This type of groundless foot-dragging or petty dispute could jeopardize funding.”

Sierra Club spokeswoman and South Laguna environmental activist Penny Elia spoke out against the SUPER project at a press conference held in September.

Efforts by the Coastline Pilot to contact Elia for a comment were unsuccessful.