Restoration

After the initial Termino Avenue Drain project that stimulated community involvement, FOCL began to expand its scope. The restoration of the neglected Lagoon became the focus. FOCL has been working closely with the City of Long Beach to acquire funds necessary to clean our neglected Lagoon. In 2005, 3.1 million dollars from Clean Beaches Initiative was garnered for restoring the Lagoon.

To update you on where we are today, the City Council recently accepted additional grant funding critical to restore the Lagoon:

• $500,000 from the State Coastal Conservancy
• $150,000 from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, and
• $325,000 from the good neighbors and friends at the Port of Long Beach

With this funding, the City entered into two contracts with:

1. LSA Consultants, to complete the environmental impact report (EIR) on the proposed restoration efforts, including opening a channel to enhance tidal flushing between Colorado Lagoon and Marine Stadium and the Ocean  [~$500,000]
2. Moffatt and Nichols Consultants, to develop a monitoring program to insure restoration actions are making the Lagoon better [~$100,000]

In July of 2008, Moffat & Nichol Consultants were contracted to handle the design of the restoration. By mid-September 35% of the design is required per the grant agreements. These are exciting steps toward the fulfillment of the vision

In order to complete the restoration effort another $10M is needed.  The Army Corps of Engineers Estuary Recovery program has committed $900,000 for re-sloping the banks and dredging hazardous levels of lead and other contaminants of concern from the Western Arm of the Lagoon.  We had hoped there might be additional dollars to fully fund this part of the restoration, but the Estuary Recovery program has rejected an add-on grant request for $2.2M.  The Lagoon has received great support though.  Councilmember, Gary DeLong, City Manager, Pat West, and dedicated staff are pursuing Congressional Appropriations funding through Senators Boxer and Feinstein and Representative Rohrabacher.

Moreover, Councilmember DeLong has lobbied on our behalf in Washington DC to alter the criteria used to determine mitigation credits.  The Port of Long Beach, which has already contributed $325,000, is hampered by these criteria in providing greater assistance to restoration efforts at Colorado Lagoon.  Currently actions impacting deep-water habitat can only be mitigated with other deep-water habitat. We are hopeful that an adjustment to the mitigation criteria can be made. 

The EIR on the Colorado Lagoon Restoration is moving forward on schedule. What has occurred already:

• Draft EIR completed and circulated – late May
• Planning Commission study session – mid June
• End Public Review Period – early July
• LSA responds to Public Comments – August

• Planning Council Hearing – early September
• City Council Review – late September / early October
• Adoption of the EIR in October

One of FOCL’s goals is to involve the community in the restoration. We feel that the best way for our neighborhood to understand and appreciate the restoration is to be a part of it. This is why FOCL has created our Colorado Lagoon Champions Curriculum. The Champions Curriculum is a way for the community to take the lead on improving our Lagoon. We have developed a plan for high school and university students to get service learning hours and for community members to get their hands dirty with ripping out the non-native, invasive iceplant taking over the North Arm. If you would like to participate in our program, please read more about it here or contact our Education Director at taylor@coloradolagoon.org.

Continue to check back to read more about this exciting undertaking!