Budget crisis could halt Newport Bay dredging
January 27th, 2009, 11:27 am · 8 Comments · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor
A massive dredging project in Upper Newport Bay could be suspended within months if the state’s budget crisis remains unresolved, OC Public Works officials say. 
The $45 million, three-year project is intended to remove 2.1 million cubic yards of the sediment that constantly washes into the bay, a 1,000-acre refuge for wildlife and a favorite Orange County recreation spot. (Photo of Upper Newport Bay dredging by Sam Gangwer, the Orange County Register.)
Local funding can keep the project going through the end of May, said Susan Brodeur, senior coastal engineer for OC Public Works.
But $2 million in federal funding administered by the state, which had been approved for use on the dredging project, is now on hold, Brodeur was told in December.
And while the project might stop, the sediment flow is constant; without dredging, water flow in the bay would eventually cease, severely altering the native ecosystem. If the project continues without interruption, dredging would not have to resume for 21 years, Brodeur said.
“If we stop, it just means we’ll have to come back sooner,” she said. “It will be on the locals’ money. We most likely won’t get federal assistance.”
Brodeur hopes some of the coming economic stimulus might be applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project.
“It’s one of the top projects because it’s shovel ready,” she said. “Hopefully, that will be a good use of that stimulus money.”
While the dredging appears so far to be the only major county environmental restoration project threatened by the state budget crisis, California State Parks is also feeling the strain.
Restoration stopped last week at the former El Morro Village trailer park, which is being converted to a campground, after state funds ran dry.
Related post:
Former El Morro trailer park is latest victim of budget crisis
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Here’s an idea: tax all boat owners (especially those who own ‘yachts’) based on the size of their boat to raise revenue for dredging.
How does that sound?
GOOD!!!
All this sediment that is being displaced is ruining the area where there putting it!
I thought all you nature freaks want to “let nature be”, well sediment is natural! You need to leave the bay alone! Stupid people doing stupid things!
this is one aspect of the budget crisis that the citizens of laguna beach are thrilled about. when you guys (newporters) find the money to restart the dredging, go pollute your own backyards.
oh, what a shame. it would inconvenience all the high brown NB yacht owners. we can’t have that. use county inmates to dive into the bay and remove the sludge one shovel at a time!
Most of you people have no idea what you are talking about. The dredging has to happen because of increased sediment loading in the bay caused by human development in the watershed. It has nothing to do with “rich” yacht owners. I like the idea of the Irvine Company footing the bill. If the freshwater and the sea water stop mixing we might as well fill the whole thing in and builld more houses because as an ecological resource its value would be greatly diminished.
I love this quote in the article.
“If we stop, it just means we’ll have to come back sooner,” she said. “It will be on the locals’ money. We most likely won’t get federal assistance.”
Fine with me. If you can afford to live down there, then you should pay extra for the upkeep. Why burden the rest of the tax payers?
The bay holds no value except as an amenity to people that live adjacent to it? Its the largest estuary in Orange County. The reason we have so many water quality problems up and down our coast are a result of us messing with these environments. The best thing we have ever done for the environment in Orange County is open up the connections to our other estuaries. This Upper Newport Bay dredging project should be a high priority – locally and regionally.
I agree with Peter – this should be a local NB citizen issue. It’s not a state or county park – it’s the city’s land and problem. I think it should be left to become a meadow – it always has a stench whenever I’ve been near there.