by Les Hall
This article first appeared in the Spring 2024 edition of the Neighborhood News of the Fisher Park Neighborhood Association. We thank Les for allowing us to republish it here.
In our Winter 2024 Neighborhood News we did an extensive update of neighborhood and political representatives’ efforts to alter or stop US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to turn Santa Ana’s portion of Santiago Creek into a barren flood control channel.
To briefly recap:
• In 1986 the Santiago Creek project was authorized as part of a larger USACE flood control project, and they finally got to Santiago Creek.
• The USACE and Orange County Public Works held 3 public meetings last year to explain the project, but local residents weren’t convinced the benefits of the flood control plan as designed were worth the environmental damage to the Creek and local communities. The USACE plan would essentially remove all the trees and natural habitat from the area. Local residents’ political representatives were also not convinced.
• Even though all of Southern California (and Arizona, and parts of Nevada and Utah) are part of the LA District USACE, the Santiago Creek project’s design work had been outsourced to the Chicago District USACE. Understanding and appreciating the value and uniqueness of Santiago Creek’s ecosystem didn’t seem the Chicago District’s focus. Their mandate was just getting water to the ocean ASAP.
• The USACE Santiago Creek project appears to be on hold. At the same time our elected representatives are looking for ways to preserve Santiago Creek and at the same time be mindful of flood risks and the need for reducing them.
Efforts to preserve Santiago Creek are in progress on several fronts. The most important thing we can do is be aware of the issues, continue to inform neighbors and others of the importance of Santiago Creek, and in particular reach out to elected representatives asking for their support. Your opinions, participation and input are important. Here are just a few details:
• Congressman Correa has proposed that language about preserving Santiago Creek be included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. The WRDA is biennial legislation that authorizes the USACE to implement projects across the country. Throughout public meetings last year, the USACE basically admitted its mandate was 100% flood control without the ability to also focus on stormwater capture, and habitat preservation and restoration. 4
• Hopefully this will allow the USACE to redesign and update its 40 year-old project to reflect current needs of preserving natural habitat and capturing stormwater, while also accomplishing f lood control objectives.
• IMPORTANT: in addition to the House WRDA there’s also a Senate WRDA, and both versions need to be combined to become law. Santiago Creek protections didn’t make it into the Senate WRDA so it’s critically important that you immediately contact both of California’s Senators ASAP: Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Laphonza Butler to ask for their support.
• The essence of Congressman Correa’s plan is to bifurcate the current USACE Santiago Creek plan and have the upper portion go forward first, hopefully with additional focus on habitat preservation and stormwater capture. The lower portion of Santiago Creek would be delayed or scrapped. There are still improvements to Santa Ana’s portion of Santiago Creek that may be important to minimize the effects of erosion and bank collapse, but protecting and even potentially restoring habitat would remain a priority.
Other efforts to preserve and even improve Santiago Creek’s habitat are also moving forward on the local level.
Northern Santiago Creek seems to be where “flood control” actually happens. If flood control efforts fail there during a 100-year flood, the southern portion of Santiago Creek in Santa Ana could suffer the results. The entire Santiago Creek is tied together so it’s important to all work together. There’s a proposal to create a Santiago Creek Watershed Council comprised of stakeholders along Santiago Creek: local political reps, agencies, NGOs, residents and businesses, etc. We’re hopefully looking to Orange County Supervisor(s) to take the lead on this process.
As an example of what could be accomplished, there’s a system called FIRO (Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations) that involves collaborative action between various dams and water storage facilities in the same watershed. (more information at https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/firo/). For flood control purposes, dams and other water storage facilities would work together to implement controlled releases of water before storms, balancing the need to capture and save water with flood control efforts. There are current plans to raise the level of the spillway at Santiago Dam to increase the water storage capacity of Irvine Lake, but while Santiago Dam has the ability to be part of Santiago Creek’s f lood control system, it’s not actually considered part of that system. Villa Park Dam is part of the flood control system but not intended as a water storage facility. These two dams and all other water storage and control facilities along Santiago Creek could be working together and coordinating more, especially in the event of a 100-year flood.
Lou Correa’s office helped coordinate a special public presentation by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) on April 4, 2024 about their efforts and potential plans for water conservation, storage and reuse. The importance of stormwater percolating into and replenishing OC groundwater reserves was discussed, as was the possibility of the OCWD using Santiago Creek all the way to the Santa Ana River as an additional groundwater percolation mechanism. This means the option of having more water slowly flowing through Santiago Creek is at least being considered again. Seems an opportunity for additional groundwater replenishment + an additional flood control mechanism and safety valve through periodic/continuous release of upstream water in lieu of total reliance on emergency prerelease before and during huge storms + additional water for replenishment of the entire Santiago Creek ecosystem. Congressman Correa was in attendance and continued to stress the importance of protecting the trees and the entire ecosystem and said that some in Congress are calling him “Congressman Lorax.” That seems a badge of honor for the Congressman, and a symbol for us of his commitment to habitat protection. He also seemed to support having more controlled water in lower Santiago Creek as an additional groundwater replenishment option. Also in attendance was the Chief of Programs and Project Management from the Los Angeles District USACE. The LA District taking a more prominent role in its Santiago Creek project seems a positive development.
The Santa Ana Zoo recently took over the Nature Center in Santiago Park (now the Santiago Creek ECO Center) to expand its outreach and training re: environmental and habitat preservation throughout Santa Ana. Santiago Creek downstream of Santiago Park all the way to the Santa Ana River continues to be a complicated area, with an ecosystem that needs protection for its trees, birds and other wildlife; areas that could benefit from erosion control and habitat restoration work; and continuing security issues. There are also considerable jurisdictional issues as to the government entity with ultimate responsibility for things that happen there. In order to acknowledge this area as an important asset of the City of Santa Ana, and to ensure the City has more of a stake in decisions, there have been some preliminary discussions with Santa Ana Parks and Public Works, and the Santa Ana Zoo about creating a Limited Access Habitat Preservation Park in a portion of Santiago Creek. At the moment these discussions are only aspirational, but they could develop into actual planning proposals. Public access and activities would be limited, and the park would focus on neighborhood docent-led tours, classroom fieldtrips and habitat protection, preservation and restoration efforts. Just some preliminary ideas and discussions. More neighborhood input, participation and/or support are definitely needed.