CAPE-Represented Employees Assemble Draft EIR for Devil's Gate Reservoir Project to Protect Downstream Communities from Flooding

Publication and initial review of the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) marked a crucial turning point in the Devil's Gate Reservoir Sediment Removal and Management Project. CAPE-represented employees at the LA County Department of Public Works Water Resources Division have been working on the Draft EIR for three years following the debris flows that filled the reservoir nearly to capacity after the 2009 Station Fire stripped the hillsides.

The Devil's Gate project ambitiously proposes several options to remove between 2.4 and 4 million cubic yards of sediment and debris over 5 years of construction. The amount of sediment and debris targeted for removal is more than seven times the volume of the Rose Bowl stadium. The Devils Gate Dam is located adjacent to the 210 Freeway just to the north of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Day-to-day work on the project has been spearheaded by several CAPE-represented employees at the Department of Public Works, including Tom Budinger who is a Principle Civil Engineering Assistant at the Department. Budinger explained that the proposed project will remove sediment from the Devil's Gate Reservoir to restore storm runoff capacity behind the dam to reduce the risk of flooding in downstream communities.

Three other CAPE-represented employees are also working on the Devil's Gate Reservoir Project. Associate Civil Engineer Eric Lim, Civil Engineer Alma Fuentes and Section Head Senior Civil Engineer Ken Zimmer have dedicated their time and efforts to making sure all of the detailed documentation is accurate and properly on file.

Following a 75-day public review period that includes three public meetings in the communities impacted by the project, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider official certification that the EIR assembled by DPW workers is complete and properly considers all of the environmental issues, including biological and wildlife impact, automobile traffic and related air quality issues, and impact in the proposed sediment disposal areas in Irwindale.

A copy of the Draft EIR is available online at http://www.LASedimentmanagement.com/DevilsGate.

CAPE Member Tom Budinger (at center of photograph) explains the Devil's Gate Reservoir project options to Pasadena residents attending the November 6 public hearing.

Devil's Gate Reservoir Sediment Removal and Management Project area.