Caltrans Digging Up Muddy PCH Ponds, Making Them Into Bioswales
Written by 991KBU on April 15, 2020
Construction crews working for the state have been working for three weeks on a major project on PCH …. which sort of slipped into town without much notice.
Crews started at Zuma Beach … and are working their way east up at Heathercliff right now.
The 5 point 5 million dollar project is required by the state Water Board… to reduce water pollution coming off the highway … ponding and growing scum … which eventually washes into the ocean.
Caltrans is required to reduce its T D M L … the total maximum daily load of pollution that gathers on the roadside.
Caltrans is installing bio-swales along the highway.
Basically … muddy places where water sits and grows green stuff is being dug out.
Deep gravel and sand is placed there … and then packed down.
The water will thus seep into the ground … a process that will cleanse the water.
Cars will be able to drive or park on top of the swale.
Bioswales have already been installed on PCH at Morning View Drive.
One is being put in near the vacant lot owned by the city on Point Dume.
This project cost is $5.5 million … and crews will be installing storm water mitigation devices at 12 locations along PCH and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
