Wave Staff Report
PICO RIVERA — The county Board of Supervisors voted June 16 to direct county departments to coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on mitigation efforts as the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Project moves forward.
The motion, introduced by Supervisor Hilda Solis, cites potential impacts to parks, trails and surrounding communities during the years-long construction project.
The Whittier Narrows Dam, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a key component of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area flood-control system. The agency estimates the dam helps protect approximately 1.25 million residents in 25 downstream communities, including Montebello and Pico Rivera, from flooding along the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel rivers.
Built in 1957, the dam has been identified by the Army Corps of Engineers as a high-risk structure requiring major rehabilitation. Construction is expected to take five to seven years.
“Whittier Narrows Dam is one of the region’s most critical flood-control systems, but the communities surrounding it also rely on these same lands for recreation, mobility and open space,” said Solis, whose district includes Montebello. “As this project moves forward, the county should work to ensure that safety improvements do not come at the expense of long-term community access and that impacts are minimized and properly mitigated.”
County officials said the project is expected to significantly affect trails, roadways and recreational facilities used by residents throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
“The retrofit of the Whittier Narrows Dam is a regional solution to a regional challenge, but we also have to protect things like park, open space, bike trail connections and key access roads for the communities immediately surrounding the dam, said Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose Fourth District includes Pico Rivera. “Today’s motion will help us ensure that we work with cities like Pico Rivera and others to protect that access to those critical resources.
The Whittier Narrows Dam is a three-mile-long dam designed to hold and release water from the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel rivers. It is located about 11 miles east of downtown, making it the most urban dam operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.
It is near several cities, including Pico Rivera, Montebello, Whittier, South El Monte and El Monte. The Rio Hondo merges with the Los Angeles River in South Gate. The San Gabriel flows from the San Gabriel Mountains through Southeast Los Angeles County to the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach.
The construction project will have a major impact on recreational opportunities in Pico Rivera, which is immediately south of the dam.
The Pico Boys Baseball Organization, which has been playing on the other side of the dam for most of its existence, will have to find a new home during the project. The Pico Rivera Golf Course, at the eastern end of the dam, also will be affected.
The south access road to the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, a major venue for concerts and Mexican rodeos, will have to be closed during the construction, possibly limiting the number of events and size of crowds at arena events.
Rosemead Boulevard, the city’s busiest north-south thoroughfare, will be impacted with the highway being restricted to one lane each way during construction.
In Montebello, which is on the other side of the Rio Hondo River from Pico Rivera, will experience lane closures on Lincoln Boulevard on the extreme eastern boundary of the city. The San Gabriel River Bike Path also could be affected by construction.
“Pico Rivera residents have a strong connection to the Whittier Narrows Dam, whether for recreation, transportation or access to open space,” Pico Rivera Mayor Gustavo Camacho said. “As this federal infrastructure project advances, ongoing communication, multilingual outreach and thoughtful mitigation measures will be essential to helping residents stay informed and connected to the resources they rely on.”
The June 16 county motion directs the county’s Department of Public Works, in coordination with the Department of Parks and Recreation and local jurisdictions, to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify, avoid and mitigate impacts to facilities where feasible and ensure they are restored following construction.
The motion also calls for multilingual outreach to notify residents about construction schedules, detours and recreational closures or restrictions throughout the project.
County departments must report back to the Board of Supervisors within 60 days on coordination efforts with the Army Corps of Engineers.
In addition, the county chief executive office’s legislative affairs and intergovernmental relations branch, along with Public Works and Parks and Recreation, will send a five-signature letter to the Army Corps of Engineers and the county’s congressional delegation outlining concerns about project impacts and requesting enhanced coordination and community outreach.
