Crystal Cove runoff could go through sewer system

Susan McCormack

CRYSTAL COVE -- Hoping to help pacify objections to construction near

Crystal Cove State Park, Irvine Co. officials said they would consider

building a system to divert development runoff to a sewer system instead

of two creeks.

“It’s something we’re willing to do if ... it will be helpful in

improving perceptions of the water quality issue,” said Paul Kranhold,

spokesman for The Irvine Co., who said officials have been meeting with

environmental groups to discuss the idea. “We’re obviously comfortable

with our existing plans, but this would be an added level of insurance to

those people that still have concerns.”

The company’s original plan was to allow the runoff from 800 planned

homes across East Coast Highway from Crystal Cove flow into Los Trancos

and Muddy creeks. But recent action by local environmentalists, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Coastal

Commission has influenced the company to look for an alternative.

But the EPA has since requested the state Water Quality Control Board

wait before making its decision to issue a building permit for the Irvine

Co. until runoff issues are fully explored.

Additionally, the Orange County Coastkeepers, a nonprofit dedicated to

keeping nature refuges free of contamination, appealed the water quality

board’s decision, and the Coastal Commission is expected to conduct a

hearing on the runoff issue in December.

The Irvine Co. has not yet put the new proposal into writing but

officials have met with environmental groups to discuss it over the past

couple of weeks. Kranhold said the agencies considering the runoff issue

have also been informed of the proposal.

The plan includes diverting runoff during the summer months into an

existing sewer line, which would guide the water to a Huntington Beach

treatment plant, Kranhold said. Heavy volumes of water, such as winter

rainfall, would be too much for the sewer to handle, Kranhold added.

Leaders from the local Surfriders Foundation and Friends of the Irvine

Coast said they support the proposal, but wonder if it will come to

fruition.

“There’s virtually no runoff during [summer] months,” said Nancy Gardner,

founder of the Newport Beach chapter of the Surfriders Foundation, who

has discussed the proposal with the Irvine Co. “But, it’s immensely

better than what was initially proposed.”

Fern Pirkle, president of Friends of the Irvine Coast, also said she

thinks the idea is positive.

“It sounds very good,” Pirkle said. “Whether it will control everything

that needs to be taken care of, I’m not sure.”

Pirkle said her group’s water consultant is reviewing the proposal this

week to determine how much of an influence it may have.

Kranhold wouldn’t discuss how much the project would cost if implemented,

but did say it would be expensive. Kranhold said a decision as to whether

the Irvine Co. will implement the system will likely come after the water

board and Coastal Commission make their decisions on the company’s

building permit.