State Water Board Presents Grant at Oceans Conference for Project to Protect Critical San Diego Coastal Areas

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - State Water Resources Control Board vice-chair Gerald D. Secundy presented a check today for $3.6 million dollars for the La Jolla Shores Ocean Protection Project at the California and the World Oceans '06 Conference.

The partners in the project, which include University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the City of San Diego and Coastkeeper, will take several actions to reduce pollutants carried into the San Diego Marine Life Refuge and the San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Both areas have been designated Areas of Special Biological Significance and have special legal protections as a result.

"California taxpayers approved Proposition 50 in 2002 to help public agencies and non-profit organizations implement projects that protect and restore California's coastal water quality," said Secundy. "The Water Board is proud to support this effort with $3.6 million from Proposition 50 grant funds. This money will help eliminate pollution that threatens the water quality in these two critical coastal areas."

"Scripps is proud to contribute to the leadership of this important project. On behalf of our team I thank the California taxpayers for their investment in California's beaches and coastal waters," said Dr. Tony Haymet, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

The plans for the La Jolla Shores Ocean Protection Project include measures to divert dry weather flows that carry organic matter, bacteria, oil, grease and residual chlorine into the refuge and reserve. New sewer connections are also part of the plan, along with measures to restore and control erosion from land along the coast. Sediment from erosion now settles into the sea.

Earlier this month the State Water Board also approved several grants from the Clean Beaches Initiative Grant Program for projects designed to clean up coastal waters and reduce postings and closures of California beaches due to bacterial contamination.

The projects recently approved are:

Port of Los Angeles Inner Cabrillo Beach Water Quality Improvement Project

The State Water Board approved a $2 million grant to the Port of Los Angeles on September 6, 2006, funded through the Proposition 40, Clean Beaches Initiative Grant Program. The grant will fund the design and construction of three measures to reduce the number of postings and closures due to bacterial contamination and improve circulation at this popular beach inside the breakwater.

City of Malibu Paradise Cove Storm Water Treatment System

The State Water Board at the September 6, 2006, meeting approved a $920,000 grant to the City of Malibu, funded through the Proposition 40, Clean Beaches Initiative Grant Program. The project funded by the grant will replace an existing storm water treatment system with a larger, upgraded system to reduce pollutants and sterilize potentially infectious organisms flowing to Paradise Cove Beach.

County of Orange Dana Point Harbor Baby Beach Circulation Project

The State Water Board approved $1 million in Proposition 40, Clean Beaches Initiative grant funds to reduce the number of postings and closures at Dana Point's Baby Beach. The project proposes to install six circulation devices near the shore to improve circulation in the harbor and flush bacteria out with the tide.

City of Long Beach Colorado Lagoon Beaches Project

The State Water Board approved a Clean Beaches Initiative grant of $3.8 million at its September 6, 2006, meeting for this project. The City of Long Beach proposes to reduce beach postings at the lagoon connected to Alamitos Bay by installing low-flow diversion structures and trash separation devices for large storm drains, vegetated bioswales to absorb runoff from small storm drains and around the adjacent golf course and cleaning and modifying the existing culvert to improve tidal flushing.

The State Board's mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California's water resources, and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations.