HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrand Canal.
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May 10, 1973
Mr. James W. Anderson
Executive Officer
California Regional Water Quality Control Board
Santa Ana Region
6843 Magnolia Avenue - Suite 4
Riverside, CA 92506
Subject: Grand Canal Dredging
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Enclosed is a copy of an Environmental Statement -
Negative Declaration for the dredging of The Grand
Canal in the City of Newport Beach.
The City is planning on attending the May 25, 1973
meeting of the Board to be held in the City Council
Chambers of San Bernardino. It would be appreciated
if we could have the approximate time at which the
Board will hear the matter.
Very truly yours,
Joseph T. Devlin
Public Works Director
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May, 1973
GRAND CANAL MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
NEGATIVE DECLARATION
BY
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
1. Location: The Grand Canal is a 100-foot wide man-made waterway in the City
of Newport Beach separating Balboa Island from Little Balboa Island. The
Canal is 1530 feet in length; extending from North Bay Front to South Bay
Front.
2. Project Description: The work consists of the maintenance dredging of sand
which has sloughed to the center of the Grand Canal, and the placing of the
sand back against the seawalls. No material will be exported from or imported
into the area. The total amount of material to be repositioned will not •
exceed 3,000 cubic yards. The final depth in the center of the Canal will
be minus five feet below mean lower low water. The project is jointly funded
by the City of Newport Beach and the County of Orange. Sketches are attached
showing a plan view and cross section.
3. Purpose of the Project: The purpose of this project is as follows:
a) Raise the level of the sand at the seawall to insure proper structural
stability of the seawall.
b) Increase the depth of the center of the Canal to allow for greater
recreational boating and swimming use.
c) Reduce the growth of weeds and the eutrophication of the Canal bottom.
4. Discussion of Environmental Impacts:
a) Marine Environment
In order to assess the possible environmental impact of the project, a
physical survey of the Canal bottom biota was conducted by City Marine
Safety personnel; and environmental reports prepared for similar work
elsewhere in Newport Bay were reviewed.
The results of the Marine Safety Department survey are quoted below:
"The existing muddy intertidal zone associated with the bulkheads
supports little macroscopic and microscopic marine life. The
canal center section has been examined subtidally; it supports a
very sparse population of crustaceans and invertebrates within the
canal subtidal zone. The only area in which a small population
of crustaceans was visible was around the pilings of the bridge
crossing the canal. At the south end of the canal, not within
Grand Canal Maintent
May, 1973
Page 2
the dredging zone, some small eelgrass beds were observed. These
beds appear to support some juvenile fish and invertebrates of
different species. This area, however, should not be effected by
the proposed dredging or fill operation."
Two recent projects in the City involving dredging near existing bulk-
heads have had environmental reviews conducted in late 1972 by Marine
Biological Consultants, Inc. of Costa Mesa. These projects are identi-
fied as the Balboa Cove Development, and the Bayshores Marina.
The consultant did not identify any significant environmental impacts
resulting from the dredging work associated with those projects. Brief
mention was made of short term localized siltation and water discoloration.
It was concluded that the limited population of bottom dwelling organisms
which would be disturbed would be restored within six to nine months
after dredging.
It is felt the same conclusions are applicable to the Grand Canal dredg-
ing project. Our experience in past maintenance dredging projects in the
Grand Canal supports this opinion.
b) Water Quality
There will be some short term water turbidity during the dredging opera-
tion. Past experience in dredging the Grand Canal has shown that the
proposed hydraulic dredging method, with the discharge spout being kept
under water at all times, minimizes water turbidity outside of the
project area.
c) Recreational Environment
The dredging of the Canal will again restore the boating and swimming
activities to their previous level. This will provide a recreational
benefit.
5. Basis for Negative Declaration:
The dredging of the Grand Canal has been reviewed in conjunction with
Sections 15081 and 15082 of the State guidelines. Comparison with the
criteria set forth in those sections indicates that the proposed project
will not have a significant environmental impact.
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