Environmental projects poised for federal boost

Paul Clinton

Two proposals in Congress that would bring federal money to a handful

of local environmental projects have cleared key hurdles on the road

to final approval.

A bill proposed by Rep. Chris Cox that would partially fund an

Irvine Ranch Water District proposal to install a network of natural

wetlands along the San Diego Creek Watershed cleared a House of

Representatives committee a week ago.

At the same time, Cox’s request for federal money to defray the

cost of a string of other projects sailed through the House, as $31.6

million was allocated for eight Orange County projects.

“Nothing is more important to Southern Californians than the

quality and availability of our water,” Cox said in a statement.

“That the House has approved over $30 million for Orange County water

quality, at a time of tight budgets and careful spending, reflects

the attention to our needs being paid by Congress.”

Cox’s Irvine Basin Surface and Groundwater Improvement Act, which

he introduced in April, would offer federal funding for up to 25% of

the cost of the wetland-filter project, which is known as the Natural

Treatment System.

The bill for the water district, which was introduced by Cox on

July 17, cleared the Resources’ Subcommittee on Water and Power. HR

1598 will now head to a full committee next, then the House floor.

During the project, the Irvine Ranch Water District will install

31 wetland filters along San Diego Creek to purify polluted runoff

flowing down the watershed. The project’s timeline is being reworked,

said Beth Beeman, a spokeswoman for the district.

The water district has said the project will cost $41 million to

build and about $3 million per year annually after that to operate.

“Irvine Ranch Water District appreciates everything that

Congressman Cox has done to support the Natural Treatment System,

which is designed to improve water quality in [Upper] Newport Bay,”

Beeman said. “Today, urban runoff is something that concerns all

Orange County residents who value coastal resources and this bill

will make it possible to greatly reduce pollution in one of the

county’s key watersheds.”

The money for the other local projects was included in the Energy

and Water Appropriations Bill, which the House passed on July 18. It

next heads to the U.S. Senate.

The bill includes $1 million to restore the ecosystem at the

state’s reserve in Upper Newport Bay. The funds will be used to

reduce upstream watershed erosion, downstream silt removal and other

restorative efforts in the 752-acre reserve.

As part of the bill, Orange County will also receive $25.7 million

for water conservation and flood control along the Santa Ana River.

The county also will receive $186,000 to restore the ecosystem

along San Diego Creek and $100,000 to improve water quality along the

shoreline.

Other funding, about $4 million, goes to county efforts to used

reclaimed water from the groundwater aquifer for drinking. Several

other South County projects also received funding.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.