Phase 2 of Devil’s Gate Habitat Restoration Begins

Los Angeles County Public Works officials started Phase 2 of habitat restoration activities included in the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project on Wednesday.

The work, which is expected to be completed by mid-November, will include grading to recontour soil and help improve water flow through the area during inclement weather, as well as improve the distribution of water throughout the vicinity.

In Phase 1 of the habitat restoration project, 300 coast live oak acorns, 10,346 container plants, and approximately 713 pounds of seeds were planted.

Phase 2 will include the use of construction equipment for grading soil. However, the construction work, supervised by Public Works officials and an environmental consultant for the county, is not part of sediment removal operations currently underway in the reservoir.

The Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration project is a four-year effort to increase flood protection for communities downstream of Devil’s Gate Dam and restore habitat within a popular section of the Arroyo Seco Watershed.

The county Public Works Department plans to remove 1.7 million cubic yards of sediment from the reservoir immediately behind the 100-year old dam. In addition to providing flood relief to communities that have endured nearly a decade of elevated flood risk in the Arroyo Seco, the project will establish a permanent stormwater maintenance area that allows for the creation of 70 acres of enhanced habitat and recreational opportunities for local communities.

Work on the habitat restoration project will occur from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — the same hours as the regular sediment removal schedule.

Public Works will maintain the same dust mitigation protocols currently in place for sediment removal and continue to monitor air quality in old and new work areas.

Grading work in Phase 2 of habitat restoration will be followed by more planting and seeding with native riparian species, approximately half of which will be harvested from nearby Hahamongna Watershed Park by the Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery.

For more information on the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project, including the habitat restoration plan’s Phase 2 activities, visit devilsgateproject.com. Send inquiries to devilsgateproject@pw.lacounty.gov or call (626) 458-2507.