City OKs contract to repair Fairview trail

A Huntington Beach environmental consulting firm will remove unpermitted trail work in Fairview Park that harmed the habitat of an endangered species, officials said.

For about $14,000, Endemic Environmental Services will remove by hand the two decomposed granite trails that encroached on a vernal pool, potentially affecting the San Diego fairy shrimp’s habitat.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after investigating the matter, directed the city in November to remove the trails as an “emergency action.”

FWS approved Costa Mesa’s choice to go with Endemic, which also did work on the Fairview Park Wetlands & Riparian Habitat that opened in February.

The removal requires supervision of an approved “biological monitor,” according to FWS’ directive. Endemic could begin the process by Dec. 12. The work is expected to take about a week.

FWS must also approve the city’s plan to remove the trails and provide documentation after the job is completed.

The trails are within the 208-acre park’s southeastern edge, adjacent to Parsons Field and Jim Scott Stadium. One of them, along the stadium fence line, was officially approved by the city years ago. The second was an undefined path. Both were commonly used by schoolchildren.

Each trail was topped with the decomposed granite and possibly widened, without city permission, sometime this summer.

No one has taken responsibility for the work.

— Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint