BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

-- Noaki Schwartz

IRVINE -- The Irvine Ranch Water District has completed another

dredging project as part of the effort to keep excess sediment out of

Newport Bay.

The equivalent of 3,000 dump-truck loads of sand and sediment were

taken out of “catch basins” in San Diego Creek, which leads into Newport

Bay.

Since 1997, more than 13,000 dump-truck loads of silt have been

prevented from entering the bay. The water district estimates that

removing sand and sediment from the basins has saved county taxpayers

more than $1 million in additional bay-dredging costs.

The sediment is collected in three basins built inside San Diego

Creek, said Ken Thompson, water quality director. The basins, which are

more than 2,000 feet long, are at the entrance to Upper Newport Bay.

The water district annually assesses the need for dredging, although

during periods of heavy winter storms that bring in excess silt, the

basins are dredged at least once a year.