Work Signals Start of Bull Creek Restoration
Written by Greg Fuderer

The Corps’ Ed Louie and Greg Scovell and C.W. Crosser’s Paul Mundell inspect progress on the Bull Creek diversion channel. The white plastic will line the diversion channel, bypassing a section of Bull Creek while workers replace exotic vegetation with native plant species.

When complete, the project will return nearly 28 acres to a more natural state, benefiting native plants, animals and migratory birds and providing greater education and recreation opportunities for the park’s many users.

“This project will provide more foraging areas for wildlife, and it will be a great educational tool for school kids,” said Corps project manager Ed Louie.

To remove the vegetation, the Corps and its contractor, C.W. Crosser Construction, Inc., had to divert water from Bull Creek. That required closing a section of a popular walking trail along Lake Balboa’s western bank to install the temporary diversion channel, causing some consternation among park users.

Workers finish cement work on an access to the water supply line. When complete, the line will provide up to one million gallons of water per day to Bull Creek.

“It’s important for people to be able to come and relax,” Mundell said. “They’re used to going all around the park; they have a daily routine. We’re trying to expedite the work so we can turn the park back over to the people. But the main thing is to protect everything in place.”

Once the exotic vegetation has been removed, a newly-installed 12-inch water line will supply Bull Creek with water from Lake Balboa. The supply line will provide one million gallons of water per day, providing a year-round flow through the creek, around the island and into the Los Angeles River. The island will provide additional nesting and foraging ground and will be accessible by footbridges that will also serve as nature viewing areas.

Agie Jordan III, a program manager with the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, says the restoration project adds to a valuable and unique environment in the San Fernando Valley. “This is an important project for this area, because it’s a perfect balance with the existing park and nature,” he said.

Louie said U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the County of Los Angeles were instrumental in providing funds and other support for the project. The federal government will pay 75 percent of the $4.5 million project. The Department of Recreation and Parks will fund the local sponsor’s 25 percent share.

Work in the creek should be finished by October 2008. Construction of the island and its features is scheduled for completion in summer 2009. Louie said the project should be complete by fall 2009.