We’ll have more follow-up on this story coming soon, but for now here’s the press release from the City of Long Beach announced $3.2 million in Stimulus funding that will go towards restoration of Colorado Lagoon:
The City of Long Beach has received $3,202,977 in Stimulus funding that will help improve the water quality and prevent recontamination at the Colorado Lagoon.
The funds, from the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be used to:
1. Clean and modify the underground culvert that connects the Colorado Lagoon to Marine Stadium.
2. Construct a bioswale on the western lagoon arm to help filter runoff.
3. Construct a low-flow diversion system to redirect dry-weather run-off into the sewer system.
The diversion system will also capture initial flows during rain events, which are usually the most contaminated. Construction of the bioswale will begin in September 2009. The culvert cleaning and construction of the low-flow diversion system will begin in early 2010.
It is anticipated that this effort will create or retain approximately 15 direct construction jobs and other related jobs associated with the engineering work, permitting effort, and project and construction management.
Other improvements are being planned to further improve water and sediment quality. The Master Restoration Plan is outlined in greater detail in the project Environmental Impact Report, which is available at:
http://www.lbds.info/planning/environmental_planning/ colorado_lagoon_restoration_ project.asp
Long Beach and its government partners (City of Long Beach, Port of Long Beach, Long Beach Transit, and the Army Corps of Engineers) have received $44,378,956 in Stimulus dollars, with $23,528,816 more expected within the next month.