HomeMy WebLinkAboutCoastkeeper Letter to Newport
3151 Airway Avenue, Suite F-110
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone 714-850-1965
Fax 714-850-1592
www.Coastkeeper.org
January 29, 2018
City Council
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Attention: City Clerk
Executive Director
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
3737 Main Street, Suite 500
Riverside, CA 92501-3339
Attention: Hope A. Smythe
Dear Newport City Council and Ms. Smythe
The Orange County Coastkeeper is writing you to express its support for an amendment to
Irvine Ranch Water District’s (IRWD) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Permit for its Michelson Water Recycling Plant. One element of this amended permit allows for
the controlled diversion of recycled water into the watershed of the San Diego Creek under
emergency conditions. We are pleased to see that this potential diversion would only occur if all
other options available to IRWD have been exhausted, making any diversion to San Diego
Creek infrequent and only an option of last resort.
Orange County Coastkeeper serves as a proactive steward of our freshwater and saltwater
ecosystems. Since the formation of the Orange County Coastkeeper, we have viewed IRWD as
a partner, protecting and enhancing the quality of water entering the Newport Back Bay.
IRWD’s commitment to protecting the San Diego Creek is evidenced by its investment in staff,
facilities (such as the San Joaquin Marsh and IRWD’s Natural Treatment System), and other
resources in place specifically for this purpose. We value this commitment and partnership with
IRWD, and look forward to many more years of working together to successfully achieve our
common goals.
Coastkeeper staff has reviewed the permit amendment being sought by IRWD for its Michelson
Water Recycling Plant. We have received briefings, attended workshops, and reviewed
technical materials so we have a thorough understanding of the permit amendment as it is
drafted. We recommend the addition of language requiring a reporting element to interested
parties in each case a discharge occurs. We encourage the City of Newport Beach to support
and the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board to approve this permit amendment.
If you need more information regarding Coastkeeper position on this request, please contact me
directly at (714) 850-1965 x302.
Sincerely,
Garry Brown
Founder & President