|
Background Beach Information:
Owner: County of Orange, Public
Facilities and Resources Department
Contact: Vicki L. Wilson, Director
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COASTAL
BEACH
Located in southern Orange County,
and owned by the County of Orange, Poche Beach is located
on the borderline of the Cities of Dana Point and San Clemente.
On the upcoast side of the beach is Capistrano Beach and of
the downcoast side is the Shorecliffs Community Center Beach.
At the back-beach line the beach encompasses approximately
200 feet of shoreline. The Prima Descheca Canada Flood Control
Channel (M01) meanders across the beach, its outlet location
change with swell and sea conditions. Public access is provided
by means of a catwalk suspended from the Flood Control Channel
Wall under Pacific Coast Highway and the Orange County Transit
Authority railroad-bridge. There is public parking on local
streets adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway and local resident
parking in the Shorecliffs Community Association Parking lot.
This beach is popular for sun
bathing, swimming, body boarding and surfboarding.
A description of the existing
or potential health or water quality problem at the coastal
beach include but are not limited to:
1). Number of postings and closures
during the year 2000: The beach experienced several periods
of long-term postings. There were no beach closures during
the year 2000. Following is a summary of the posting:
· January 20 to January 21
· February 9 to February 10
· May 9 to July 6
· July 11 to July 19
· August 1 to September 21
· September 27 to March 11, 2001
2). Population use impact: The average annual visitor use
of this beach is estimated to be 112,000 based on ranger
and lifeguard surveys. The annual visitors utilization of
the adjacent beaches, and impacted by the M01 Channel urban
runoff is estimated to be over 500,000. Postings and closures
have ranged from hundreds to thousands of feet up and/or
downcoast of the M01 Channel outlet.
PROJECT INFORMATION
PROJECT LOCATION
The project is proposed for
diversion of non-storm flow in the M01 Channel at one or
more locations in the invert. The first location is an area
between Beach Road and Pacific Coast Highway where access
can be readily obtained for diversion of up to 200,000 gallons
per day (limited by size of receiving sewer pipe). The total
base flow of M01 has been measured to vary from 400,000
to 700,000 gallons per day. Thus a second diversion site
must be found. The City of San Clemente is currently investigating
the available capacity of several potential sewer access
points and potential sites for implementation of various
treatment technologies.
PROJECT GOAL
The goal of the project is to
divert a portion of the urban runoff to the sanitary sewer
for treatment and investigate and implement alternate treatment
or diversion of the remainder of the non-storm flow to significantly
reduce or eliminate beach postings and closures.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The project will be accomplished
by a combination of techniques to remove the bacterial loading
at the ocean outlet. First, a South Coast Water District
sewer line is available at Beach Road that can accept diversion
of up to 200,000 gallons per day of urban runoff. The District
has given conceptual approval for this plan. However, most
of the M01 watershed has sewer service provided by the City
of San Clemente and the remainder of the base flow must
either be treated in the City treatment plant, placed directly
in the connector to the South Orange County Wastewater Authority
ocean outfall line, or treated onsite by a portable treatment
system. The onsite treatment could also be accomplished
using other best available technologies.
The County of Orange is presently
in the design stage for biofiltration systems that will
be built as demonstration projects in the Aliso Creek Watershed.
If these projects demonstrate early effectiveness, then
they will be considered as options for bacterial loading
reduction. The City of San Clemente and the County of Orange
are investigating the available options by first determining
water quality trends; base flow rate variations; treatment
plant capacity, sewer line capacity, treatment and reuse
technology and siting and habitat issues. In addition, the
Surfrider Foundation and some local business sponsors are
investigating the watershed on a pipe-by-pipe basis to quantify
the volume of water and relative bacterial concentrations
of sub-watershed areas. The output will be a GIS map of
the watershed layered with data that will assist the City
and County in source control efforts. Based on the findings
of these investigations, a strategy for dealing with the
total watershed base flow will be developed.
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND COST ESTIMATE
Not available for the project
at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
Will be prepared to satisfy
CEQA after plans, specifications and estimates are completed.
LOCAL ISSUES
All local (Cities of Dana Point
and San Clemente) and regional (County of Orange and State
Coastal Commission) permitting issues will be complied with
following preparation of design development documents. Necessary
permits are anticipated from the following agencies: Regional
Water Quality Control Board, State Tidelands, City of Dana
Point, California State Coastal Commission, County of Orange.
There also, exist very strong local activist groups such
as the Surfrider Foundation and City Community Committees
that will be included in the project strategy and implementation
phases.
|
