HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS3 - Buck Gully - Morning Canyon - Newport Coast Watersheds Grant ProgramCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Study Session Agenda Item No. SS3
October 12, 2004
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Bob Stein
949 - 644 -3311
rstein @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: NEWPORT COAST WATERSHED PROGRAM
Overview
The Newport Coast Watershed area covers about 10 square miles and extends south of
Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach to Morro Canyon (see attached map). Most of this
watershed area was annexed by the City of Newport Beach on January 1, 2002. The
watershed encompasses eight coastal canyons. Seven of the canyons fall within RWQCB-
Region 8 and City of Newport Beach limits. The eighth canyon, Morro Canyon, is part of
Region 9 and is under County and State jurisdiction. This compact watershed area includes a
very large percentage of native vegetation on undisturbed terrain.
Rapid development and increased public use in the Newport Coast watershed area pose
significant challenges for maintaining geotechnical and ecological stability in the coastal
canyons of the watershed as well at the adjacent beaches and two Areas of Special Biological
Significance (ASBSs). The problems in the area are wide - ranging and include:
1. Heavy overgrowth in Buck Gully and Morning Canyon posing a significant fire hazard.
2. Slope failures and rapid erosion in Morning Canyon.
3. Deep erosion at the toe of slope near the mouth of Buck Gully,
4. Continued downcutting at the Buck Gully "waterfall' that has moved 60 feet toward
Coast Highway in the past 2 years.
5. 70% sediment blockage of the Buck Gully 10 -foot arch culvert under Coast Highway,
6. Nuisance flows that run year -round in most canyons carrying fertilizers and pesticides.
7. Excessive bacteria at Little Corona and Crystal Cove beaches (303d listed).
8. Incursion of invasive and high water -usage plant species in Buck Gully and Morning
Canyon,
9. Slow recovery of Little Corona tide pools due to excessive fresh water flows, high
bacteria levels, and scavenging by 15,000+ visitors per year.
10. Disappearance of kelp beds at Little Corona and other areas along Newport Coast.
After detailing these 10 problems within a grant application, the City recently received a $1.1
million grant from the State Water Resources Control Board ( SWRCB) to address them. The
SWRCB saw the same problems we did and encouraged us via the grant to begin work solving
them. As such, we prepared the Newport Coast Watershed Management Program which
tentatively includes the following Action Plan:
Newport Coast Watershed Program
October 12, 2004
Page 2
Effective city coordination. To address existing canyon erosion issues in Morning Canyon and
Buck Gully, the City is proceeding with investigations and studies to determine the feasibility of
installing detention basins and grade control structures to stabilize these canyons. In order to
forestall canyon destabilization in other parts of the watershed, an inter - departmental effort is
required that will coordinate other city efforts to reduce fire hazards, eliminate un- permitted
construction in the canyon, eliminate nuisance flows (along with waterborne bacteria, pesticides
and fertilizers), and restore riparian habitat. These inter - related tasks involve the fire
department, building, planning, general services, water quality division, city attorney's office,
and public works. In order not to drive our residents crazy trying to get permits, staff
recommends looking at integrating all city requirements under the building department's permit
process.
Action Item: Creation of an interdepartmental Watershed committee chaired by Public Works.
Effective Water Conservation. An assessment and monitoring program will be implemented
to identify problems in each of the canyons so that specific programs or projects can be
initiated. For example, summer flows have grown significantly due to over irrigation. IRW D has
recently completed a nuisance flow study for Buck Gully to help identify the areas of heavy
usage. The City is following up to identify particular homeowner associations that may be
heavy water users so that actions may be taken to encourage more careful use of water such
as education programs, installation of hi -tech irrigation controllers, or perhaps changes in water
usage rates.
Action Item: Staff to contact property owners regarding water usage conservation plans.
Fuel Modification /Hazard Reduction and Conservation Ordinances. While this will be new
to this part of Newport Beach, we believe that the Council should actively consider new
regulations for this region that limit all canyon side landscaping to native -type, low- irrigation
species and that sets in place a fuel modification zone overlay. The goals of less water use and
less vegetative fuel can and should be complimentary. We will model both ordinances upon the
experiences of other Southern California agencies and our own Newport Coast FMZs. The
urgent nature of this threat to canyon houses flags this task as a top priority.
Action Item: Water Quality Division staff to prepare draft ordinance for review by the Watershed
committee.
Watershed Protection Education. The watershed is a tremendous resource and important
asset to City and County residents, and as such, community outreach programs are an
important part of the watershed program. Currently, the City's Tidepool Ranger program (a
coordinated countywide effort) conducts safe and educational field trips to the Newport Beach
Marine Life Refuge at Little Corona. The Watershed Management Program would consider
how to expand the current program to include watershed education. The Program envisions
additional information centers at Crystal Cove State Park to provide readily available
information on watershed activities and program plans. Additional educational opportunities
include guided field trips that make the connection between enjoyment of natural coastal
resources and the urgency of watershed restoration initiatives.
Action Item: Convene a citizen's advisory committee to formulate an educational outreach
program.
Newport Coast Watershed Program
October 12, 2004
Page 3
Specific Program Support. Restoring the watershed to full health will require widespread
community input and advocacy. The City has already received numerous offers of assistance
from the community. For instance, Newport Beach is fortunate to have an active chapter of the
Surfrider Foundation. This group of environmental advocates has sampled water quality and
has served as a resource to educate the community on water quality. The Newport Beach
Surfrider chapter, as well as the OC CoastKeeper has agreed to assist the City in implementing
a program to inform and train the community about the functions and benefits of a healthy
watershed. Further, MiOcean has offered to provide financial assistance for projects such as
the creation of wetland /detention basins near the mouth of Buck Gully. The City's challenge is
capitalize on these and other generous offers of assistance.
Action Item: Public Works to outline a program for enlisting community assistance to implement
specific projects.
Resident Communication and Input Importantly, the interests and concerns of area
residents need to be addressed. By providing as much information as possible to the affected
residents (in CDM and Newport Coast), we believe we can consistently solicit their input and
engender support for the Program's projects, because the Project's programs should:
• Reduce fire hazards;
Save water and water expenses;
Provide for cleaner beaches.
Action Item: Continue public outreach and meetings as well as build an e-mail distribution list
and a web link that provides as much information as possible to residents affected by the
Program.
Regional and Statewide Education. A successful Newport Coast Watershed Program will be
a useful case study for other coastal watershed management programs. The City's
commitment to move aggressively forward with our program has attracted agency support,
especially evident in the award of this large grant as seed money for the watershed program.
Staff intends to prepare follow -up grant proposals to expand capital improvement programs and
education programs. With strong agency, consultant and community expertise and support,
along with a strong motivation to implement the watershed program in this relatively small
watershed, Staff believes important changes can be produced in a few years.
The on -going efforts of the watershed program will be broadcast to the larger community using
www.cleanwaternewport.com. Web resources will allow us to share data with stakeholders for
analysis prior to release of the results to the public. The page will include general information
on the program, final reports, photo monitoring, updates on ongoing watershed activities and
results of studies as they become available. The web site can be used as a tool to educate the
community regarding ways to protect watershed resources, e.g., information on water -
conserving landscape design and irrigation techniques, or exotic pest plants that should be
avoided in environmentally sensitive habitat areas. The web site will link to the SWRCB's
website and other relevant sites. Hits on the website can be used as a measure of success of
the watershed program.
Action Item: Coordinated with the local public outreach function, Public Works will coordinate
with the City's PIO to develop information on our web site for the watershed program.
Newport Coast Watershed Program
October 12, 2004
Page 4
In -City Knowledge and Training. Finally, as the watershed program evolves, the City will train
staff within its Public Works, Planning, Building, Fire, General Services, and Administrative
Departments in watershed management issues and technology to provide a core of internal
experts to improve watershed planning, restoration and management.
Action Item: The City's Watershed Committee will formulate an inter - disciplinary training for
staff.
Under the NC Watershed Program grant, the City has committed to a schedule of three years
to perform the tasks outlined above. Given the known challenges, full implementation of a
watershed restoration program can realistically be accomplished in ten years.
Prepared by:
Robert Stein, P.E.
Program Manager
Submitted by:
~Stephen G. Badum
Public Works Director
Dave <i f
Assis t City Manager
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