LAGUNA BEACH : Construction of Disputed Top of the World Reservoir Set to Begin
To the chagrin of environmentalists concerned about the loss of open space, construction will begin within two weeks on a 3-million-gallon reservoir that proponents say would help authorities battle brush fires.
The tank will be built in the Top of the World neighborhood near Alta Laguna Park over nine months to a year. During that time, some trails in the popular hiking area will be closed to the public.
“We’ve asked for as much patience as possible,” said Laguna Beach County Water District manager Joseph A. Sovella. “As with any large project like this, there’s going to be some traffic and inconvenience.”
The $3.9-million project has been a source of contention here for years between proponents and environmentalists, who felt it should have been built in a less environmentally sensitive area. Tensions increased dramatically after the 1993 firestorm that destroyed hundreds of homes here, with some people saying a larger reservoir would have aided firefighters.
In September, the city’s Planning Commission approved the project. The water district board awarded the contract July 14.
The reservoir will be one of the two highest water tanks in the district, which stretches from Crystal Cove State Park on the north to Cardinal Way at the south end of town. There is a 500,000-gallon tank on the site.
The reservoir’s high elevation will allow gravity to help the water circulate when thereare power outages, Sovella said.
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