File photo.
More changes are in store for the lovely East Long Beach lagoon named after a different state.
The Long Beach City Council approved the next phase of the Colorado Lagoon’s restoration at its Tuesday meeting, looking to “further enhance the ecological value of the Lagoon through the creation of additional aquatic resources,” just after the lagoon received an A grade from Heal the Bay.
The next phase of restoration is set to kick off in September 2016, building off improvements created in 2010 and 2012.
“The Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project truly demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnerships with residents, State and Federal agencies, elected officials and community groups like the Friends of Colorado Lagoon,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement.
Items on the repair agenda include the creation of a new intertidal and subtidal shallow habitat, as well as eelgrass beds, which will provide foraging for local birds at Southern California’s few remaining coastal lagoons, according to a city release.
“The Lagoon is a true ecological landmark that benefits not just residents and visitors, but a wide diversity of flora and fauna that continues to thrive more than ever due to the investments and improvements we have made at this special Long Beach treasure,” said Councilwoman Suzie Price.
New details of the project include aquatic resources and an essential fish habitat, created through hydraulic dredging and filling of the Lagoon site. The north shore and eastern shoreline will be actively revegetated using a “pallette of California native plant species,” according to the release.
Additionally, the floating pier and foot bridge are set to be extended by 150 feet to span the expanded subtidal areas, requiring 16 new piles and a pile driven during construction. Stairs are set to be replaced by ADA-compliant ramps, and an ADA-compliant walking trail will round out the natural habitat, to make it truly accessible. Native vegetation, bike racks and benches will accompany bioswale dedicated to capturing runoff from the golf course.
One final phase of an approved master restoration plan will cap off improvements with daylighting of the underground culvert that connects the Lagoon to Marine Stadium to create a more natural vegetated channel and further improve tidal exchange, in addition to creating new aquatic resources. The city is working with the Port of Long Beach and federal and state agency partners to fund and construct the channel at some point in the future.
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