Tag Archives: Flood Control

IT STARTED OUT AS A 5.8 ACRE QUIMBY ACT DEDICATION, WHAT IS IT TODAY?

It is a strip of land approximately 150 ft wide by about 940 ft in length that is dying from a lack of attention.
Even after planting numerous plants (2,881 per the Planting Plan) and then spending almost $10,000 in emergency environmental permits and burrowing owl studies in this park, rebuilding the dog park at a cost of $10,500 for DG and fencing, this parkland has been all but abandoned by the city of Wildomar, excepting the expenditure of $950 for a bronze plaque.
All one has to do is look at the water bills which in the past have been $1452.28 for July of 2009, $1,827.37 in August of 2010, $1,243.18 in October of 2013 and is now down to $87.65 for May to June of 2014 (one month after re-opening the parks).
This parkland started out life in October of 1992 as the second Quimby land dedication, with Windsong Park being the first, in the then Ortega Trail Recreation and Park District. It’s value at the time was put at $237,133 with the improvements such as a park sign, access road, fencing, basketball court and bbq. It was soon determined that of the 5.8 acres accepted, 2.5 acres contained flood control channels. Of the 3.3 acres left a strip approximately 36 feet wide running the entire 940 foot length of the park contains a slope of 11% which exceeds the County of Riverside standard for Quimby donated parkland, the standard being 5% this is exceeded by more than double. Add to this a strip of land approximately 10 feet wide

Current 10 foot wide Channel that runs complete length of the  park

Current 10 foot wide Channel that runs complete length of the park


Sediment Removed?. This channel to be widened to 40 feet x 6 feet in depth. Note the slope to the right, unplayable

Sediment Removed?. This channel to be widened to 40 feet x 6 feet in depth. Note the slope to the right, unplayable


that CURRENTLY contains a concrete lined drainage channel running the entire length and you are left with just less than 2 acres of usable parkland. It was originally determined the developer was only required to donate 1.8 acres of parkland to satisfy their Quimby requirement. Looks like they succeeded.
When the County of Riverside turned over this parkland, after spending several million dollars on renovation, to the City of Wildomar the County failed to turn over, and the City of Wildomar failed to pursue all 5.8 acres of the original dedicated land (Even though city staff told the city council on July 22, 2009 that the county had turned over all of it, Staff Lied). This is a problem because the title to the flood control channel and associated access roads is currently held by the County of Riverside Economic Development Agency (EDA) leaving the maintenance of these channels, access roads and fences in limbo because this agency doesn’t really have a budget for maintenance, just ask the folks in Mead Valley. These flood control channels leading to Palomar and Grand Ave are also ideal for a trail Class One Trail as well as being necessary for the completion of the Murrieta Creek Trail link to Lake Elsinore.
Standing on Grand Ave. looking east towards Regency Heritage Park.

Standing on Grand Ave. looking east towards Regency Heritage Park.


In the channel which is accessed thru broken gate and fence looking back towards Grand Ave. Notice the accumulated debris.

In the channel which is accessed thru broken gate and fence looking back towards Grand Ave. Notice the accumulated debris.


Looking from where Union St. now ends at the channel back towards Grand Ave. Debris waiting to enter the park.

Looking from where Union St. now ends at the channel back towards Grand Ave. Debris waiting to enter the park.


From Union St. looking towards the park.

From Union St. looking towards the park.


CURRENTLY was used to describe the concrete drainage channel because in the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan this 10 wide strip is to be widened to 40 feet in width by 6 ft in depth.
This is the proposed new open channel "A" contained in the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan DEIR released in January 2014 by Riverside County Flood Control.

This is the proposed new open channel “A” contained in the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan DEIR released in January 2014 by Riverside County Flood Control.


The question remains is the widened area to be shared by the slope as well as the flat or is all going to be contained in the flat, narrowing this park even further. When the city manager was asked about this future prospect for this park he feigned ignorance. He has been sent the information on the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan.
This new drain will result in the removal of a 15 feet strip running the entire length of the dog park requiring the fence be moved along with the several of the apparatuses recently renovated.
The ends of the PVC pipe are 20 feet from centerline of the existing channel

The ends of the PVC pipe are 20 feet from centerline of the existing channel


Along with narrowing the existing dog park this channel will result in a loss of walkway,
The upright PVC in the can is 20 feet from the centerline of the existing channel near the basketball courts

The upright PVC in the can is 20 feet from the centerline of the existing channel near the basketball courts


the rebuilding of a bridge,
Each black mark is 1 foot, the top of the existing bridge is 2 feet with the bottom at 18 inches. The blue bag is 6 feet, the new depth of the proposed channel.

Each black mark is 1 foot, the top of the existing bridge is 2 feet with the bottom at 18 inches. The blue bag is 6 feet, the new depth of the proposed channel.


The edge of the new channel will extend out to the end of the PVC making it necessary to remove the existing circle at the park along with the existing planter.

The edge of the new channel will extend out to the end of the PVC making it necessary to remove the existing circle at the park along with the existing planter.


the possible loss of a gazebo,
The end of the PVC is 20 feet off the centerline of the existing channel.

The end of the PVC is 20 feet off the centerline of the existing channel.


the moving of numerous existing water lines and irrigation support apparatus.
Existing water valve servicing the parks irrigation system.

Existing water valve servicing the parks irrigation system.


This is an aerial taken by the County of Riverside in 2011 showing the existing channel.

This is an aerial taken by the County of Riverside in 2011 showing the existing channel.


This is the same aerial with the proposed channel whited-out.

This is the same aerial with the proposed channel whited-out.


This impending channel has been proposed in the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan which was released to the Public for comments back in January after several years of work being done on it by County Flood Control. Apparently the City of Wildomar only talks to County Flood Control when a developer needs something.
This parkland is in desperate need of a Parks Council to guide its future and the City of Wildomar needs its staff to separate the flood control aspects of it from the Parks and Trails aspects. I wish the Measure Z Oversight Committee all the luck in the world in determining what is expenditures for parks, trails and flood control.
If anyone is interested in reading about the history of the old Ortega Parks District there is a good synopsis at http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2002-106.pdf which is the State of California Audit of the district after bankruptcy.
The Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan can be found at http://www.floodcontrol.co.riverside.ca.us/ bottom of the page under CEQA/Section 18 is the Draft Program EIR for the Lakeland Village MDP it is about 60 megabyte.

IDEAS TO ENHANCE GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT IN LOCAL AREAS

This is my response to the State of California asking for ideas to a call for action to expand water storage capacity and improve groundwater management.

Living in Southwest Riverside California where 60+ percent of the water supplied by the local districts is imported due to an already depleted groundwater environment I see numerous areas where water is wasted.
One being the re-use of reclaimed water. Currently reclaimed water from the Santa Margarita watershed at Temecula is pumped north to the Santa Ana watershed rather than being re-used locally, other than a small portion being used to stabilize Lake Elsinore and watering some parks and schools. Part of this is due to the quantity and quality of the reclaimed water entering the Murrieta Creek a short distance from the ocean. An idea would be to take a portion of this reclaimed water being pumped north out of its current watershed, and introducing it into several of the ephemeral streams during their normally dry periods allowing for further cleansing by a natural process of stream flow, being this amount would be a known quantity it could by adjusted so that a large portion of this new flow would recharge the groundwater basin rather than flow to the ocean. This new flow would intern create new wildlife corridors and increase flow in existing threatened stream beds during times of drought.
Another method to increase groundwater recharge would be to either core holes or create channels in the existing concrete lined flood control channels creating places for additional reclaimed water to be introduced to opportunities to recharge the groundwater basins while still providing for flood control, primarily during dry periods rather than allowing this immense amount of reclaimed water that started out as imported water to be discharged into the ocean used only once

Kenny Mayes
Wildomar California

If anyone has an idea they would like to share with the state the can read what is already being proposed and submit their ideas at http://www.opr.ca.gov/s_groundwater.php

READY ON THE RIGHT ? READY ON THE LEFT ?

STAND DOWN!!
All is not ready on the firing line. The firing line being the bridge at Regency Heritage Park.
If standing on the bridge leading to William Collier Elementary School

Under the bridge peaking out of the garbage from the trolls point point of view

Under the bridge peaking out of the garbage from the trolls point point of view


and looking down range, to the southeast on the right (the side the school is on), is a MS4 channel “Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Systems” or storm drain or System designed or used to collect or convey stormwater (including storm drains, pipes, ditches, etc.) leading to Grand Avenue which collects stormwater from the mountains to the south of the park.
Approaching Grand Ave.

Approaching Grand Ave.


Another look towards Grand Ave.

Another look towards Grand Ave.


Looking back towards the park

Looking back towards the park


It also collects run-off from the rural area between Grand Ave, Union St. as far south as Sheila Lane
Heading towards Grand Ave and Sheila Ln.

Heading towards Grand Ave and Sheila Ln.


While standing in the same spot if one looks to the left (up the hill towards the houses) is a flood channel coming off of Palomar Street.
Looking towards Palomar St.

Looking towards Palomar St.


Another look towards Palomar St.

Another look towards Palomar St.


The channels are on property owned by Riverside County EDA and listed as part of the City of Wildomar’s drainage system on the Santa Margarita River Watershed MS4 Facilities Map.
If one looks straight ahead towards the end of the park one sees what I have referred to as the “Rabbit Hole”
The rabbit hole, discharge point from Bryant St. Drain Stage 1

The rabbit hole, discharge point from Bryant St. Drain Stage 1


Which is owned and maintained by Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District RCFC&WCD which collects run-off from as far south and east as Mission Trail, Bryant St. and the pit called Marna O’Brien Park.
All three of these systems combine to bring you
After only 3/4 of an inch of rain had fallen overnight.

After only 3/4 of an inch of rain had fallen overnight.


Sedco Bryant St. Drainage  from hills west of Grand Ave. after 3/4 of an inch of rain.

Sedco Bryant St. Drainage from hills west of Grand Ave. after 3/4 of an inch of rain.


Unnamed channel from Palomar after 3/4 of an inch of rain.

Unnamed channel from Palomar after 3/4 of an inch of rain.


With the current condition of the bridge trolls housing we end up with this
Water accumulated before the bridge to the school. Poor Bridge Troll

Water accumulated before the bridge to the school. Poor Bridge Troll


Which leaves behind this
All the sediment in the channel will end up here once again

All the sediment in the channel will end up here once again


After many man hours countless thousands of dollars and months later it still looks like this on Opening Day.
The morning of opening day. Work on the parks began in October of 2013

The morning of opening day. Work on the parks began in October of 2013

When Mother Nature pulls the trigger and releases her next load of measurable rain down range the City of Wildomar will not be ready on the firing line

REGENCY HERITAGE PARK MORPHING INTO OPEN CHANNEL A

After reviewing the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan available at http://www.floodcontrol.co.riverside.ca.us/, bottom of the page under Public Notices (CEQA/Section 18).
One can only wonder what is in store for the future of Regency Heritage Park.

Why is the City of Wildomar continuing to spend money on what is over time being transformed into a real flood control channel.

This park started life as a parcel of land dedicated as open space and drainage easement that was dedicated in April of 1992. The easement exist even without the dedication because this is a natural low spot in the topography of the area.

This parcel was subsequently acquired by Ortega Trails Recreation and Park District for use as a park. In the following years, 2005 and 2008, several drainage programs were completed adding to the runoff from the surrounding area that now flows through this park.

Terminus of Sedo-Bryant Street Storm Drain Stage 1 Completed 2008

Terminus of Sedo-Bryant Street Storm Drain Stage 1 Completed 2008


Sedco-Bryant Street Storm Drain which begins in the hills west of the park.

Sedco-Bryant Street Storm Drain which begins in the hills west of the park.


Unnamed Storm Drain that directs flow from Palomar Street east of the park

Unnamed Storm Drain that directs flow from Palomar Street east of the park

A portion of this drainage issue was addressed by the County of Riverside EDA when they rebuilt this park in 2007-08 as part of the rehabilitation of 4 parks in the area (Marna O’Brien, Perret Park, Regency Heritage and Windsong).

Current 10 foot wide Channel that runs complete length of the  park

Current 10 foot wide Channel that runs complete length of the park

The county added a drainage channel which collects water from three drainage facilities and guides it through the park. What the county failed to do was to continue this channel all the way to Corydon where it would tie into an existing facility that takes it under Corydon and on to the back basin of the Lake at Elsinore. This failure creates a lake at the south end of the park whenever it rains.

The terminus at the north end of the park of the current channel

The terminus at the north end of the park of the current channel


P12-22-13_13.49

Both the County of Riverside and the City of Wildomar also have failed in maintaining their MS4 systems (Storm Drains) which allows for enormous amounts of sediment and trash to collect at the current downstream terminus of these storm drains.

From the bridge in park looking south towards terminus of 3 drains

From the bridge in park looking south towards terminus of 3 drains


P12-22-13_13.39

That problem is about to be partially resolved by what is known as “Proposed Open Channel A” in the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan. The upstream origin of Channel A begins at the downstream terminus of Sedco-Bryant Street Storm Drain Stage 1. From there, the 40 ft wide by 6 ft deep trapezoidal channel extends westerly along the geographic low. At Corydon Road, the trapezoidal channel transitions into a 42 ft wide by 6 ft deep RCB. The 42 ft wide by 6 ft deep RCB would replace the existing 42 ft wide by 4 ft deep RCB. This Channel will be 1573 feet long, which takes it from the southeast end of the park to Corydon. It will have a 100 years flood capacity of 1,115 Cubic Feet a Second. (This is the same capacity as the outflow channel of the Lake at Elsinore.)

As a final note this may be the reason the City of Wildomar has never filed the Grant Deed for this property as it is still shown to be the property of Ortega Trails Recreation and Park District even though the County issued this Grant Deed on June 22, 2009.

Grant Deed issued June 22,2009 by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Grant Deed issued June 22,2009 by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors