Project manager memorialized at Fairview, Prado Dam
By Danny Kelly

Girish Desai (USACE photo archive)

The City of Costa Mesa and County of Orange dedicated a tree during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Fairview Park Wetlands and Riparian Habitat Project in Costa Mesa on Oct. 1.

Ernesto Munoz, City of Costa Mesa city engineer, worked with Desai on the Fairview project, and dedicated the planting of the tree in Desai’s honor.

“(Girish) was instrumental in seeing this project through the process,” Munoz said. “If you know, this is a very large complex project with multiple stake holders that require the talent of an engineer and a manager to see that all schedules and budgets were met, and Girish worked very, very hard to ensure that we would all be standing here this afternoon, celebrating this grand groundbreaking.

“I personally enjoyed working with Girish,” he said. “I know that his contribution to the City of Costa Mesa, specifically this park (Fairview), will be remembered for a long, long time, and appreciated.  Our heartfelt condolences and appreciation go out to the Girish Desai family.”

A coast live oak tree was dedicated as a memorial to Corps employee Girish Desai at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Fairview Park Wetlands and Riparian Habitat Project in Costa Mesa Oct. 1. (USACE photo by Danny Kelly)

Although the ceremony was primarily about the life of Victor V. Veysey and the trail dedication, Col. Thomas H. Magness IV, Los Angeles District commander, took time to address Desai’s work on the project, and memorialize him as well.

“Please allow me to take a moment to honor someone who made a significant contribution and perhaps as significant a contribution to the construction of this trail, to the successful modernization of Prado Dam, and the overall Santa Ana River Mainstem Project … Girish Desai,” he said.

Magness went on to thank Desai’s family for his work, greatness and dedication to the Corps.

Ken Morris, L.A. District Programs and Project Management assistant deputy, worked with Desai on the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project, and knew him well.

“Girish’s contribution to the Corps of Engineers and his work on the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project was by far one of the highest achievements of a project manager in this district (Los Angeles),” Morris said. “He touched many lives, brought respect and cooperation from local sponsors, resource agencies and his co-workers alike during his time on this project.”

A coast live oak stands alongside the Veysey Trail, in memoriam of Corps employee, Girish Desai. Desai was the project manager of the Santa Ana River Mainstem project. (USACE photo by Danny Kelly)

“He was a co-worker and a friend, and his presence, wit, humor and professionalism will be greatly missed,” Morris said.

L.A. District receives top honors for design excellence
By Jennie Ayala

Downtown Phoenix as viewed from the Rio Salado. (USACE photo by Jay Field)

District team members received the award for the Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project in Phoenix, Ariz.

“The award not only recognizes this extremely significant community project, it honors all those who have dedicated more than 40 years to making it happen,” said Mike Ternak, project manager.

Rio Salado, the first large-scale environmental river restoration project in the desert southwest, is now the standard for habitat and wetland restoration in the Sonoran Desert.

Completed in 2005, the Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project boasts 595 acres, featuring terraced filled wetlands, hundreds of native trees and shrubs, 10 miles of trails, a variety of birds and fish, and an extensive water system that nourishes habitat.

The $116 million project restored more than five miles of the Salt River (Rio Salado) that goes through the very core of the nation’s sixth largest metropolitan area. Some of the project challenges included scarcity of water, maintaining flood control capacity, developing a sustainable environment, selecting appropriate plant palates and irrigation needs, acquiring and developing a sustainable water supply, Clean Water Act water quality compliance, maximizing the use of flows from storm water outfalls, minimizing impacts on the adjacent landfills, reusing and recycling waste material in the Project, and providing public access features such as trails, kiosks, and ramadas, according to Ternak.

The Rio Salado was once a contaminated and trash strewn area. Today it is a self-sustaining natural habitat that provides recreation for residents and a home for desert wildlife. (USACE photo by Jay Field)

The success of the Rio Salado Project has led to congressional approval for similar river restoration work on three other important projects in the Phoenix metropolitan area. These include Tres Rios, Va Shly’ay Akimel, and Rio Salado Oeste.

The project has not only restored the river, but has transformed the land around the river (once an uninviting, debris and trash-filled scar across the city) as Phoenix residents once again embrace its benefits, according to Ternak.

This is second time the district has received the award in the last three years. The Los Angeles District won the Chief of Engineers Environmental Excellence Award in 2005 for the Ed Pastor Kino Environmental Restoration Project in Tucson, Ariz.