On Tuesday, the Redlands city council approved an agreement with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. for professional engineering services in order to correct eroding creek walls. Connecting streams of Yucaipa Creek, also known as Live Oak Canyon Creek, and Oakmont Creek, located in Oakmont Park would close the distance between the creek and Live Oak Canyon Road.
The project, named the Live Oak Canyon Creek and Oakmont Park Project, will be conducted in two phases and will require a “consultant” to inspect the terrain and conditions of the crossing creeks.
Phase 1 will consist of city evaluations of the eroding walls, surrounding walls, the creek bed, and dams with consideration to the natural environment including trail ways and present oak trees. The city will then make a final report in order to develop a plan to best approach the issue.
Phase 2 builds upon the report, overseeing the development of plans, specifications, and cost estimates of the recommended solutions in order to prevent further erosion.
Chris Boatman, Redlands interim municipal utilities and engineering director, clarified that Huitt-Zollars, Inc. will conduct proper environmental procedures during this project in order to minimize any complications.
Savat Khamphou, Redlands city engineering manager broke down the necessity of the project, citing that erosion rates between 1995 and 2018 in the creek have caused over 60 feet of erosion in the south bank alone.
“Of the erosion, since 2016 to 2018 it [the bank] eroded up to 21 feet, not including the 2019 storm.”
Redlands Mayor Paul W. Foster made this project one of his top priorities, stating that the issue is simply not up for debate.
“This is not an option we have,” Foster said. “Correcting this problem is critical to maintaining the roadway in Live Oak Canyon. The erosion is something the City of Redlands is responsible for because of what’s going on in Oakmont Park.”
According to report, the project is set to last for up to two years with a budget of $319,650. Redlands Mayor Paul W. Foster also authorized additional appropriation for $319,650.
For full details regarding the project, visit https://destinyhosted.com/agenda_publish.cfm?id=73352&mt=ALL&get_month=10&get_year=2019&dsp=agm&seq=2227&rev=0&ag=162&ln=10415&nseq=2247&nrev=0&pseq=2211&prev=0#