Hopes high for money for cove cottages

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- Leaders of a state agency concerned with coastal

access and open space are anxiously awaiting a possible $5 million to

restore the cottages at the state park.

In December, members of the California Coastal Conservancy submitted a

preliminary application to the State Water Resources Control Board for

the funds.

The conservancy is trying to tap into a pot of money available via

Proposition 13, a statewide water bond that passed in March 2000. The

funds are expected to be available later this year.

The money could be added to a growing list of sources available to

California State Parks planners as they craft a final plan for the 46

beachfront cottages.

California State Parks officials have also secured $3.8 million from

the California Coastal Commission. In addition, the department has

pledged to spend $1.1 million on interim improvements.

Parks spokesman Roy Stearns said the restoration of the cottages would

cost about $16 million. Stearns added that an additional $5 million would

go a long way too.

“That helps,” Stearns said. “If we get that money for Crystal Cove, we

can guarantee that we’ll get something done.”

The money is by no means guaranteed.

Conservancy officials submitted the request as a kind of feeler letter

to the water board. Dozens of agencies are competing for the grant

dollars.

However, Gov. Gray Davis and parks department leaders have said the

cove is a top priority in their future plans.

“I’m confident that if we don’t get this money we’ll get some other

money,” said Sam Schuchat, the conservancy’s executive officer. “This is

a place that’s on [Davis’] radar screen.”

The preliminary application is similar to a “letter of intent,” in

which the conservancy mapped out how the money would be spent. Since

Proposition 13 was a water bond, the money would be used to update

deteriorating septic tanks underneath the cottages.

Local water-quality regulators have said the tanks were probably

leaking into Crystal Cove, before state officials ordered them to be

drained last summer and filled with sand.

Schuchat said the conservancy would be sent a formal grant application

in the next month, if the funding request moves forward.

The water board is expected to award the grants later in the year.