Devil's Gate Update
Hello Crestview Parents,
We wanted to share with you that we have been informed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works that Monday, May 20, will be the official start of the Devil’s Gate Dam Sediment Removal Project.
Public Works has obtained a robust air quality monitoring system. This image shows where Tetra Tech (the company engaged by Public Works to do the monitoring) has placed the monitors. The closest to Crestview is number 2, which has been placed at the high school.
La Canada Unified School District obtained baseline information on April 29th from a separate environmental consultant. They will continue to monitor the air quality independently from Public Works.
Crestview's own Purple Air monitor has been installed so that we are immediately aware of changes in air quality conditions, as we are still unsure about the timeline between when the County reads their monitors' data to when they alert the public. We were able to establish baseline information, which is being logged by the parent, with extensive background in this area, who is monitoring the air quality for us.
The hauling is scheduled to continue until 3:30 p.m. each day. As of now, the trucks will use the Arroyo/Windsor exit from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and they will use Berkshire exit from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As the plan stands now, it may increase traffic at pick-up time. A Los Angeles County Sheriff will control traffic through the intersection of Berkshire and Oak Grove during the peak hour of 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. daily during hauling. We may experience the trucks rolling at the maximum volume of 50 trucks per hour from May through November 2019, and then annually from April to November through 2022.
The red arrow is the truck route from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.:
There is an active community of parents and residents who have been working very hard to:
- Get clarity on how and when the data from the monitors will be posted and responded to.
- Convince the County to institute a better system of monitoring all pollutants from diesel trucks (smog checks).
- Ask that the project seriously consider Clean energy trucks.
- Ensure that a Community Safety Plan is formed, as well as, an Immediate Action Plan*. This is unprecedented, but County Supervisor Barger has articulated that she would like this to become a model project.
*On April 25th the City of La Canada Flintridge articulated the community’s request for the County to prepare an “Immediate Action Plan” (for the near-term) and a “Community Safety Plan” for long-term (emphasis on emissions and traffic circulation) in a letter that was signed by the City Council and sent to County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, with cc to Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella. We are awaiting response. Work is being done to have similar letters sent from City of Pasadena, Altadena and from the area schools.
Again, Crestview is in a relative zone of safety, but as the work starts we are keeping our eye on it. If you have any questions, please contact Baudelia Taylor, btaylor@crestviewprep.org,Cindy Rigney, crigney@crestviewprep.org, or Kim Barros, kimberly.barros@gmail.com.You can also reach Public Works at 626-458-2507.
Warmly,
The Crestview Parent Association
Devil's Gate- Update 1 (April 4, 2019)
Dear Parents,
We would like to update you all on the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration Project. As you may be aware, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) plans to remove 1.7 million cubic yards of sediment from the nearby dam over the next 4 years during the months of April through November. It has become critical to remove the sediment to protect the area from flooding. There has been some concern over the impact the work will have on air quality in the surrounding area.
The heavy trucking is scheduled to start on May 7th.
The critical area of concern is within 500 meters of the work. Crestview is just outside of this zone, but we intend to monitor the air quality ourselves and respond accordingly.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has continually taken the community’s concerns about the environmental impact of the Devil’s Gate project very seriously. On April 2nd, the County passed a motion by Supervisor Barger to provide air quality monitoring for the Devil’s Gate Project. This motion requires LACDPW to work with CARB (California Air Resources Board) and AQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management District) to place air quality monitoring devices at the project site and interpret the data. Those results will be made public and used to evaluate any potential next steps, should the air quality become compromised. LACDPW stated that this information will be posted on their website devilsgateproject.org. Supervisor Barger has also formed a Community Advisory Committee comprised of residents who can translate the data gathered and disseminate the information to the community through the County.
Meanwhile, La Canada Unified School District engaged an independent environmental consultant (Ninyo & Moore) and is in the process of reviewing the recommendations from that Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The district will review and discuss a monitoring plan at the April 16th general meeting, which I plan to attend to gather information and ask the District if and when they plan to provide better air filters for the schools in the district, including Crestview. The District posts regular updates about the project on their website.
Crestview will share updates and information about the project on the Parent Portal. It is important to have baseline air quality information, so rather than wait on the district and/or county to provide air quality monitors, Crestview has and is installing it’s own monitor. Crestview plans to respond to the data by adjusting the schedule on days where the air quality might be unsafe, especially in regard to use of the back field. While we will regularly check information posted by LACDPW and the County, we would like the ability to independently interpret the data from our own monitor. If anyone in our Crestview community is able to interpret the data from a Purple Air monitor and communicate the results to us so that Crestview can respond accordingly and include this information in our updates, please contact Baudelia Taylor, Cindy Rigney or Kim Barros. Additionally, if the district does not provide better quality air filters before the work starts, Crestview will move ahead to purchase and install the filters.
Our plan of action is continuing to evolve. It looks like the County and District are both very responsive to the community’s concerns. County Supervisor meetings and District meetings are open to the public. Should it become necessary, we've gathered the following information:
LACDPW Hotline:
626-458-2507
Brittany Barker. Onsite Civil Engineer for LACDPW
626-476-4875
Terrence Mann, AQMD Compliance Agent assigned to Devil’s Gate
909-396-3023
We will continue to monitor the situation closely. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kim Barros at kimberly.barros@gmail.com.
Warmly,
The Crestview Parent Association