County Set for Devil’s Gate Dam Sediment Removal

As part of its winter storm season preparations, the Los Angeles County Public Works Department will next week begin work on the removal of about 5,000 cubic yards of sediment immediately in front of the Devil’s Gate Dam in Pasadena.

The work is also part of critical interim measures undertaken to safeguard operations at the dam and reduce the risk of flooding and mudflows during anticipated storms.

The measures, which include last year’s installation of protective structures on the dam itself to keep sediment from blocking its outlet works, are necessary pending completion of a draft Environmental Impact Report on the proposed Devil’s Gate Reservoir Sediment Removal and Management Project. The draft EIR is expected in January, 2013, with project construction set to begin in summer 2014.

Next week’s sediment cleanout is expected to take less than a month to complete. Under an agreement with the City of Pasadena, the sediment will temporarily be placed at Johnson Field to avoid truck impacts to the neighboring community.

No trees will be removed during the cleanout, and a biologist will be present to monitor the operation and ensure no impacts to wildlife. Hiking and riding trails within the reservoir will remain open, except for brief closures to move equipment and materials along the existing maintenance roadway. Green waste will also be moved from immediately in front of the dam and transported to Scholl Canyon Landfill at a rate of no more than 10 trucks per day.

For further information, visit www.LASedimentManagement.com/DevilsGate.