Work to Begin in May on Phase 3 of Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project

Crews are preparing to resume work on the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project in Pasadena next month, which is now in the third of four phases and may be completed early, officials said.

Workers will begin setting up operations, or “staging,” in the area at the south end of Hahamongna Watershed Park on Monday, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works spokesman Steven Frasher said. “Sediment removal operations should begin on Monday, May 3rd.”

After examining the progress from Phase 2 of the project, meant to reduce flood risk and reclaim 70 acres of land, it was determined that progress moved quicker than expected, he said.

“We passed the halfway point at the end of last season last October,” according to Frasher.

“Aerial surveys revealed that the excavation is actually ahead of schedule and there’s a very strong possibility that the sediment operation will be able to conclude this November instead of November 2022… which would actually have the sediment operation concluding one year early,” he said. “And then the habitat restoration work would continue.”

The Devil’s Gate Restoration Project is in the process of removing 1.7 million cubic yards of sediments from behind the nearly century-old dam, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Works.

In addition to mitigating elevated flood risk for downstream residents along 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,” the agency said in a written statement.

But some local residents have complained about idling trucks and excessive dust emanating from the worksite, prompting study from the Pasadena Public Safety Committee. L.A.County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said last month she is monitoring the situation closely.

Frasher said Public Works was endeavoring to mitigate impacts to local communities from the project.

“There’s constant communication with key stakeholders both the Pasadena-Altadena area, La Canada, as well as residents and stakeholders in the Sun Valley and Irwindale areas, where the sediment placement sites are, so that residents and stakeholders are kept up to date on what’s happening with the projects,” he said.

With respect to air quality, “It’s constantly monitored and we continue to have dialogue with those stakeholders to see ways that we can improve air quality as technologies merit,” Frasher said. “The street cleaning is very constant, so that there’s not dust rising off the public streets. The worksite is kept watered so that we don’t raise dust within the worksite. And the monitoring shows that there’s no excessive particulates. And so we continue to work hard to keep that air quality basis that way.”

More information on the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project can be found online at pw.lacounty.gov/swe/devilsgate/#:~:text=PROJECT%20DESCRIPTION,of%20the%20Arroyo%20Seco%20Watershed..

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