HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 12 Public Comment From: PAt Kilro
To: SuSiin M.Domen.MMC
Subject: Public Comment Agenda Item 12
Date: Tuesday,August 23,2016 1:45:26 PM
Good afternoon Ms. Domes,
I am unable to attend the City Council meeting tonight, so as a City resident I request the City
Clerk read my comments on agenda item 12 into the public record at tonight's meeting. Below
are my comments.
Good evening Mayor& Councilmembers.
The City administrations proposal to divert the recycled water flows away from the
Downtown Riverwalk Channel and into an underground drainage pipe is completely
unnecessary and destroys the multiple benefits associated with City's Riverwalk.
In my 20-years as City's Director of the Lake & Aquatic Resources Department
this is the most preposterous project I've heard. Most cities would celebrate a
meandering stream through their downtown to enhance the beauty, develop
riparian habitat, and spur economic development along such a unique aquatic
feature.
In my opinion, City Manager Yates and engineers have mischaracterised the
problems, failed to detail the scope of alleged problems and failed to propose
creative use of this unique resource.
The solution to the problem of excessive growth of aquatic vegetation in the
channel can easily be solved by properly Aquascaping the channel to limit
desired growth of aquatic plants where you want them. It's typical for Riverside
Flood Control District to turn streams into barren concrete flood channels that
are devoid of life, but I'm at a loss to understand why the City Administration
would help fund such a destructive project.
The Outlet Channel along the Downtown Riverwalk is really a finger of the
Lake. I should know, as I personally worked with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to establish the navigable lakebed at an elevation of 1,255-Ft above
mean sea level (NGVD29). When the Lake-level reaches this elevation it
slowly begins to overflow to Temescal Wash at the confluence of Wasson
Creek. No floodwaters are conveyed from Lake Elsinore below this 1,255'
elevation. Furthermore, Lake Elsinore rarely overflows, which means this
channel is available 99% of the time to be used as a great amenity for the
community's Downtown Riverwalk. Aquascaping this channel below 1,255'
elevation will not impede the flows from infrequent floodwaters out of Lake