3 Newport projects in line for $3 million

June Casagrande

Nearly $3 million in federal money will help the city on three

high-priority projects, including a Big Canyon Reservoir cover.

A plastic cover for the reservoir is expected to be in place by

late next year now that the federal Omnibus Appropriations bill has

designated $900,000 toward the $5-million cover. The U.S. House of

Representatives has approved the local money, and the Senate and

president are expected to do the same.

City funds will pay the difference, Assistant City Manager Dave

Kiff said.

Two long-awaited dredging projects also get funding in the bill. A

project to dredge waterways in Newport Harbor won $1 million, and a dredging project to restore the Back Bay ecology won $970,000.

City leaders credit U.S. Rep. Chris Cox with convincing Congress

to fund the local projects.

“We’re very happy that Chris Cox rose to the occasion and he

brought us in this extra money,” Mayor Steve Bromberg said. “The fact

that we were able to get the money during such tight federal budget

times was an exemplary move by our congressman.”

“The Orange Coast depends on clean water, clean beaches and clean

air for our unique lifestyle -- not to mention economic growth,” Cox

said. “Keeping our environment clean helps us to attract visitors and

keeps the travel and tourism business healthy.”

The Back Bay dredging project was particularly difficult to get

funded because of a freeze on new Army Corps of Engineers projects.

Now that that initial funding has been approved, it will be easier to

get continued support for the dredging.

The roughly $33-million dredging project will also get funding

from $13 million in city funds. Work is expected to start within 18

months and will take two years.

“The goal of this project is to restore the Back Bay to its

optimal ecosystem,” Kiff said.

The project will move about 2 million cubic yards of sediment from

the bay.

Dredging in Newport Harbor is ongoing. Its main objective is to

keep waterways navigable by removing silt at the bottom.

City officials have been trying to get federal money for a

reservoir cover for several years.

In addition to protecting against pollution and even terrorist

attacks, the cover will help against problems the city has had with

midge fly larvae in tap water. It will also mean that fewer

chemicals, including copper, will need to be added to the water.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.