It's been debated, wrangled over, disputed, taken to court and EIRed, not once, but twice. And still it's a subject that can raise the temperature of residents in the neighborhoods in Alamitos and Belmont Heights and around Colorado Lagoon.
The "it" in this case is the (some say dreaded) Termino Avenue Drain Project. After nearly two decades of often heated battle and controversy, the $22.6 million project is slated to start turning dirt in October. And for those who want to get in their final licks or hear what could be the last words, figuratively, that is, on the project, there will be a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the auditorium at Wilson High School.
Residents will have a chance to learn about the upcoming construction phase of the project that will install a a storm drain to relieve flooding problems in 596 acres of watershed that naturally flow into Colorado Lagoon. Construction is scheduled to start Oct. 13 and will take about two years to complete and prompt temporary street closures.
The meeting is sponsored by Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, Fourth District Councilman Patrick O'Donnell and the Department of Public Works.
Residents and environmentalists initally feared the project would not be able to handle tidal flushing and cause flooding in nearby neighborhoods. Also there was fear that more contaminated sediment would flow into the already environmentally damaged and polluted lagoon. The issue eventually went to court where a judge ruled that planner needed to re-examine data.
The result is a new project, with a second EIR, that was passed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in June. Community groups including Friends of the Colorado Lagoon brokered a deal that purportedly not only drains flood-prone areas along Redondo Avenue and Anaheim Street into Colorado Lagoon, but includes diversion and filtration systems that will actually help restore the lagoon.
If your interested in a little light reading before the meeting, the Draft EIR, all 500 pages is available to the public.
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