The Malibu City Council Monday night took another step forward in its arduous quest to improve local ocean water quality by unanimously approving construction contracts totaling more than $7 million for the building of two storm water treatment facilities at Legacy Park and Paradise Cove.
Construction of the $50 million Legacy Park at Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way is expected to reach completion by October 2010, while the $1.1 million Paradise Cove storm water treatment facility is expected to be up and running by March 2010.
Malibu’s water quality has long been disparaged by surfers and environmental groups, who have filed a bombardment of lawsuits against the city claiming that city officials have not taken adequate measures to clean up polluted beaches and creeks, some of which have been continually cited among the most contaminated in the state.
However, city officials believe they are doing the best they can to meet all requirements to address water quality issues. They say the multiple lawsuits are preventing them from moving forward with plans to build wastewater and storm water treatment facilities in the area formerly known as the Chili Cook-Off site, an area comprised of septic system-dependent businesses. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board in April cited many of those businesses for violating wastewater discharge permit requirements.
While the Regional Water Board in October may decide to ban septic use in Malibu’s central area and the city’s plans to build a wastewater treatment facility there are currently in the works, city officials say the Legacy Park Project will provide storm water management to substantially reduce pollution in Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and Santa Monica Bay.
“The Legacy Park construction contract award is a significant step forward in completing an innovative storm water and urban runoff project that will reduce pollution and improve water quality in Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and the world-famous Surfrider Beach,” Mayor Andy Stern said in a press release. “The City of Malibu is excited to get this vital clean-water project underway so that children and adults can soon enjoy the health and recreational benefits of additional open space and a clean ocean.”
Council members voted unanimously on Monday to award a $6.3 million construction contract to LH Engineering Co., Inc. to create Legacy Park, the construction of which is expected to begin in September. The park will be located on a 15-acre parcel located along Pacific Coast Highway at Webb Way, and will capture, clean and disinfect more than 2 million gallons per day of storm water and urban runoff that flow from the surrounding watershed, the city states.
In turn, the Paradise Cove storm water treatment facility is expected to drastically improve ocean water quality along Paradise Cove Beach. On Monday, the council voted to authorize City Manager Jim Thorsen to execute a contract of up to $1.1 million for building the facility. Construction bids are scheduled to be opened and the contract awarded in September.
The 19th annual beach water quality report released last week by the Natural Resources Defense Council puts California at the bottom of the list. Nine of the most polluted state beaches are in Southern California, including Paradise Cove.
Legacy Park, which will double as a storm water treatment facility, was originally intended to treat wastewater as well, until the city in 2007 concluded from initial planning studies that it was not large enough to do so.
The elimination of a wastewater treatment from the park plans has caused environmental groups, including Santa Monica Baykeeper, Heal the Bay and the Surfrider Foundation, to revolt against the city’s plans to move forward with construction. The city on April 8 was served its third water quality-related lawsuit from Baykeeper, claiming that the Legacy Park Project violates state law by failing to meet water quality standards and by failing to adequately treat sewage, or wastewater, generated in the Civic Center area.
“We probably have the most aggressive storm water treatment system in the state,” Thorsen said in a telephone interview last week. “The city spends more funds per capita on water quality than any other city in California. Our Legacy Park storm water quality facility is a $50 million venture. It’s phenomenal and we should be applauded for all the water quality improvements we’re making.”