Big Canyon restoration awaits fall, $5 million

June Casagrande

Right now, it’s an overgrown canyon full of nonnative plants and

haphazard brush. But when environmentalists look at the 54-acre area

known as Big Canyon Nature Park, they see a pristine environmental

preserve complete with mudflats that are home to the endangered birds

the least tern and light-footed clapper rail.

City officials say that work could begin as soon as autumn on the

$6-million Big Canyon Creek Restoration, the nickname for the project

to restore the area the city considers a nature park between

Jamboree Road and the Back Bay.

“There are a number of environmental problems in the area,”

Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said. “Generally the habitat is

completely degraded so that it doesn’t provide good habitat for the

endangered animal species that could be in there.”

One of the biggest problems is that a number of plants not native

to the area have been growing there for years, choking out the native

plants that on their own might create a natural wetland.

There’s also a high amount of bacteria and other pollutants in the

water that runs through Big Canyon Creek and into the bay.

The solution for both problems starts with a carefully planned

construction project to remove the foreign plants, replace them with

natives and install ponds that will naturally filter bacteria,

phosphorous and nitrogen from the water. At the same time, they may

move Back Bay Drive about 200 feet away from the water to create room

for a natural mudflat where endangered birds feed in low tide.

The city is now working on preliminary plans for the work as well

as some additional water quality studies.

Of course, the matter comes down to money. The planning and tests

alone will cost about $1 million, most of which has already been

secured from agencies such as the California Coastal Conservancy. But

until the planning and design are finalized, the city can’t apply for

the state funds required to actually perform the $5 million or so in

work.

Though that money might at first appear out of reach, no one at

City Hall seems to be sweating it.

“I think we’ve got a really good case for getting a cut of the

hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for this kind of work in

several state funds,” Kiff said, referring specifically to state

Propositions 12, 40 and 50.

City leaders will likely hit up the city’s representatives in

Sacramento for assistance in getting the money.

State Sen. Ross Johnson and Assemblyman John Campbell said they

would fight to help the city get the funding.

“I helped Newport Beach get funding last year, and I will

certainly plan to do the same this year,” Campbell said.

“This project is vital to the long-term health of Upper Newport

Bay,” Johnson added.

* 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.