$1 million found for reservoir project

Paul Clinton

Rep. Chris Cox has tentatively pinned down $1 million in federal

funding for city leaders to help pay for a $5-million project that

would add a protective cover to the Big Canyon Reservoir.

The money would be used to protect the reservoir from

contamination that could taint the city’s drinking-water supply. Cox

announced the grant in an Oct. 8 letter to Mayor Tod Ridgeway.

“Some time ago, you contacted me to ask for my help in securing

federal assistance for Newport Beach’s project to safeguard the

city’s water supply,” Cox wrote in the letter. “I wanted to report

back to you with good news.”

Cox secured the funding through a Housing and Urban Development

appropriations bill, which is basically a check from the federal

government. The bill passed a House subcommittee Monday night.

The funding, which would be included in the fiscal-year 2003

budget, must still be approved by Congress and signed by President

George Bush. It could face congressional approval as soon as the end

of the year, Cox said.

The city’s Public Works Department has pledged to install a

plastic cover over the reservoir to prevent an infestation of midge

fly larvae, which closed the reservoir last year. The cover also

would add additional security to the reservoir, protecting it from

possible terrorist attacks.

Ridgeway lauded Cox’s efforts. He said the city had initially

requested $2.5 million but was told funding would be difficult to

find since Congress has directed a considerable amount of federal

money to security-related issues.

“He found a fund that could be in fact safe from the budget

environment back there,” Ridgeway said. “Believe it or not, we’re

excited about that.”

The City Council has added $2.5 million to its current budget for

the project, Ridgeway said.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment and politics. He may be

reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at paul.clinton@latimes.com.