Aliso Creek

Seen from the air, the Mississippi snakes across the terrain in thousands of curves and loops. The landscape is dominated by circular and semicircular arcs, the remains of old meanders. Cutoff loops become ponds or lakes, called bayous. A river's length and shape are determined by a number of factors: topography and volume of water are the most important. In its mountainous headwaters, a river is fast-moving; rushing straight down slope, rough with rapids, and carrying large boulders.

Seen from the air, the Mississippi snakes across the terrain in thousands of curves and loops. The landscape is dominated by circular and semicircular arcs, fossils of past meanders. The Louisiana bayous are old loops now cut off from the main river channel to become lakes and wetlands. A river's length and shape are determined by a number of factors; topography and volume of water are the most important. In its mountainous headwaters, the river is fast-moving, rushing straight down slope, rough with rapids and carrying large boulders.

Redevelopment proposals for properties owned by Athens Group in South Laguna canyons came under scrutiny Monday night at a public meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission. “On an issue of this magnitude, it is critical that we have maximum public involvement,” Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman said. “I thought people did a good job of doing what you are supposed to do in a scoping session, which is to identify areas of concern and to suggest alternatives to be analyzed in the EIR.” The usual comment period is 30 days for an initial study that deems an EIR is necessary.

CORRECTION: Anne Caenn's name was misspelled in the story "Aliso Creek presentation draws crowd" in the April 6 issue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A standing-room-only crowd attended the Wednesday night Athens Group presentation of its plan for the development of its Aliso Creek property. The presentation included slides that showed construction clustered on the property closest to Pacific Coast Highway, except for the residential lots formerly known as Driftwood Estates; an ocean-to-the-mountains trail connection, long desired by environmental groups; tennis courts and a reconfigured golf course that will remain open to the public, with preference given locals; improved water quality in Aliso Creek and the spill into the ocean at Aliso Beach; restoration of habitat and flood protection.

Supervisor Tom Wilson During my travels in and around Laguna Beach, I've become aware of a lot of speculation about what is or what is not happening in Aliso Creek, specifically as it relates to Montage and Ben Brown's. My experience tells me that rumor mills move quickly, so I wanted to take a minute and share with you what I know. As one of five Orange County Supervisors, I have had the opportunity to get involved in a number of very exciting projects.

Urban runoff at Aliso Beach is now running between 2 to 8 million gallons per day (up from 1 to 5 million 10 years ago), according to county monitoring reports. In 1976, surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found tidewater goby (a fish found in California's coastal wetlands) at the beach wetlands pond, indicating a zero flow to the beach. The urban runoff ocean plume is pushed by currents into Treasure Island Cove, only 400 yards up coast in front of the Montage Resort, to expose unsuspecting visitors to possible gastrointestinal and respiratory illness, skin infections and even eye infections that can lead to blindness if not treated properly.

The stabilization of Aliso Creek is not set in concrete. Construction of 26 low, concrete structures in Aliso Creek is only one option under consideration as a way to rehabilitate the creek and prevent further erosion, a county official assured the council Tuesday in an update on the status of the Stabilization, Utility Protection and Environmental Restoration project. “We had a lot of negative comments about the structures,” said Mary Anne Skorpanich, director of the Orange County Watershed Program.

Seen from the air, the Mississippi snakes across the terrain in thousands of curves and loops. The landscape is dominated by circular and semicircular arcs, the remains of old meanders. Cutoff loops become ponds or lakes, called bayous. A river's length and shape are determined by a number of factors: topography and volume of water are the most important. In its mountainous headwaters, a river is fast-moving; rushing straight down slope, rough with rapids, and carrying large boulders.

After 13 years, the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. will no longer host its annual Plein Air Invitational with the Laguna Art Museum. The association, known as LPAPA, first got word about the decision in December, according to President Greg Vail. It's already had discussions to continue the event at Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course, which itself is in the midst of a pending sale. The decision was made official earlier this month, Vail said. Several things were cited as a reason, he said.

For the fourth year, the World Hunger Bowl will satiate an appreciation for art and fill the stomachs of those in need. About 25 professional artists from all over the world donated bowls — from as far as Kenya, Germany and Uganda — which will be auctioned off for charity Saturday at the Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course. The event, which will feature 100 bowls including eight from Laguna artists, also includes tasty soups and other culinary offerings by local restaurants such as K'ya Bistro, French 75, Sundried Tomato Cafe, Sapphire Laguna, Nirvana Grille and Mozambique.

At the Jan. 24 City Council meeting Mayor Pro Tem Verna Rollinger publicly supported funding sources for the removal of arundo in Aliso Creek. Arundo is a reedlike plant that can grow to more than 20 feet. The removal was a goal of the proposed SUPER — Stabilization, Utility, Protection and Ecosystem Restoration — project for the creek . The county had permits to remove the arundo but lacked funding, Rollinger said. However, Proposition 50 allocated $3.9 million to the SUPER project that must be used within the next two years or it will revert to the state.

Nature is humming along at Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course - quite literally. The picturesque lodge and nine-hole golf course is the site of a new "green" initiative that combines locally-grown produce with the power of bees. Six new table-height planter boxes, built in June near the location of the conference and meeting rooms at the Inn, are now producing several varieties of lettuce, plus Thai peppers and a number of herbs, in addition to strawberries. At a remote location on the property, a beekeeping box hums along, with a healthy stock of Italian brown bees inside.

A 17-year-old was taken to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach after falling off a 50-foot cliff early Sunday morning. Police were first called to the Aliso Creek Inn at 10:45 p.m. Saturday to break up a large party. A couple hours later, at 12:32 a.m., dispatchers received a call regarding a male teenager that went missing. He was located prior to their arrival at the bottom of a cliff near Country Club Drive. Police believe the teen ran away when police arrived earlier in the night because he was heavily intoxicated and wanted to avoid officers, Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

It is that singular, frenetic time of year, right before the summer tourists, when Laguna Beach residents resemble squirrels stocking up for winter. We are excited for summer on the one hand, yet we are bracing ourselves for the onslaught. We freely admit that it's a bittersweet feeling of embrace and frustration. We realize the downtown is starting its tense, random congestion, and so we hurry to shop and visit friends. We cope by remembering our little shortcuts to avoid the crowds.

Caring for less fortunate neighbors is par for the course in Laguna. The reopening of Aliso Creek Golf Course on Sunday raised funds to be donated to the Laguna Beach Relief and Resource Center for the survivors of the December Deluge. The proceeds included green fees, entries in a closest-to-the-pin contest, instruction sessions, Tee Box sponsorships and individual donations. "The community really showed up," said J.D. Blashaw , golf operations manager. Insurance broker John Campbell announced Wednesday that 186 golfers played the course the day it reopened and between $9,000 and $10,000 was raised, $2,100 of it from the Tee Box sponsors.

Forecasts of rain haven't dampened plans for the reopening Sunday of Aliso Creek Golf Course, closed since December when flooding inundated the fairways. Aliso Creek Inn General Manager Kurt Bjorkman said Tuesday that no decision will be made until Saturday to delay the Sunday re-opening, which will be a benefit for the survivors of the disastrous winter rainstorms. All golf proceeds on Sunday will be donated to the Laguna Relief and Resource Center, which is coordinating assistance to the flood survivors.

Fifth District Supervisor Pat Bates Pat Bates was preaching to the choir when she updated the Laguna Canyon Conservancy on county environmental projects and programs. Bates, who is running unopposed for reelection for the first time in her 25-year political career, was the guest speaker at the final meeting of the conservancy before the Festival Season hiatus. She spoke on issues that are of major concern in Laguna. “I have a number of environmental projects and programs that I’m excited to be able to share with you this evening, projects that you have been following for a number of years,” Bates said.