Runoff plan gets Assembly seal of approval

Paul Clinton

UPPER NEWPORT BAY -- The Irvine Ranch Water District’s plan to install

a filtering network of man-made wetlands in San Diego Creek has moved

another step closer to reality.

The district will wait to implement the program until a bill proposed

by Assemblyman John Campbell (R-Irvine) becomes law.

Campbell’s Assembly Bill 810, which would give the district the power

to acquire land along the watershed to install the wetlands, sailed

through the Assembly and is waiting to be heard in a Senate committee.

The Assembly passed the bill 69 to 1 on May 17. Only freshman Assemblyman

Edward Chavez (D-Industry) opposed it.

Few have spoken out against the bill. Even Bob Caustin, founder of

Defend the Bay and a frequent critic of the water district, described it

as innocuous.

Caustin did say he worries the bill could pave the way for the

district to illegally seize public land for the wetlands.

“How they use [their new land acquisition powers] needs to be stated

so they don’t take public land,” Caustin said.

Campbell said he wasn’t worried about the district abusing its

authority.

“It puts a single agency with a good track record in charge of what is

a polluted waterway and unpolluting it,” Campbell said. “It’s a

completely natural process that has the side benefit of having a very

pretty area.”

The water district is completing its master plan, which will pinpoint

the locations of each of the wetlands it plans to install. The wetlands

will act as filters for polluted water heading from housing tracts and

other development into the bay.

Water district officials wrote the bill for Campbell, who introduced

it Feb. 22.

“What it does is add urban runoff to the services we provide,” said

water district official Norris Brandt. “It’s kind of a boring bill in

that regard.”

The bill has been referred to the Senate’s agriculture and water

resources committee. It must pass that committee before it comes to a

vote on the Senate floor. A vote has not been scheduled.