2 Firms Play Role in Pipeline

Two Ventura County companies will play key roles in construction of a 42-mile pipeline that will bring state water to Santa Barbara County.

One of the firms, Staal, Gardner & Dunne, a Ventura-based geotechnical engineering company, has already begun to study soil and rock conditions along the project’s route from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Lake Cachuma north of Santa Barbara.

The other firm, also based in Ventura, is Hamner, Jewell & Associates, a real estate consultant to governmental agencies. It has been chosen by the Central Coast Water Authority to do right-of-way acquisition work along the pipeline route.

Lillian D. Jewell, Hamner, Jewell’s owner and chief executive, said she expects to deal with only about 100 property owners in obtaining easements for the underground pipeline. Many parcels along the route are 1,000 acres or larger, she said, explaining why so few owners are involved.

“In most cases, we expect to reach amicable agreements as to price,” she said. “If people do contest our offer, the matter will be turned over to the authority’s legal department.” All offers will be based on independent appraisals, she added.

Jewell, a licensed real estate broker, said she will visit each of the landowners to present the water agency’s offer. She expects her company’s work on the project to be completed by mid-1993.

Timothy N. Dunne, Staal, Gardner’s president, said a key part of his firm’s role will involve identifying any potential geological hazards, such as earthquake faults.

“In addition to our preliminary studies, we’ll continue working on the project after construction starts in the spring of 1994,” he said.

Water agency officials said that Staal, Gardner--a subsidiary of a Dutch concern, Fugro-McLelland N.V.--will be paid about $250,000 for its work, and that Hamner, Jewell’s contract will amount to about $165,000.

The Santa Barbara County phase of the project, officially called the State Water Project Coastal Aqueduct, is scheduled to be completed by mid-1996 at a cost of $120 million.