Harbor Task Force Meeting July 11 2018

Harbor Task Force Meeting July 11 2018

Jul 14, 2018 | CI Neighborhood News, City_Of_Oxnard

Scroll down for video

Harbor Task Force Meeting 7-11-2018

The Oxnard Channel Islands Harbor Task Force committee held a special meeting on July 11, 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to receive presentations on:
     1. The water quality problem, the response, water quality data collected, potential causes and next steps on the Channel Islands Harbor water quality change by Scott C. Johnson – Senior Scientist/Laboratory Director, Aquatic Bioassey and Consulting Laboratory Inc. M. S. Marine Biology, CSU Long Beach and Dr. David A. Caron – Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences, USC, Chief Science Officer of Aquatic EcoTechnologies Inc. Ph.D in Biological Oceanography conferred jointly by the Massachussetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanography Institute.

   2. The shutdown of the Mandalay Power Generating Station re-circulation pumps. As of March 29, 2018 in response to the California State Water Resources Control Board adopted Once Through Cooling Policy on May 4, 2010. The Mandalay Power Generating Station compliance date is December 31, 2020. The shutdown may be a contributing event on the change of water quality at the Channel Islands Harbor. Thien Ng – Assistant Oxnard Public Works Director.

    3. Discuss the two harbor area relevant measures that qualified for the November 6, 2018 election ballot,
a. Seabridge Community LMD assessment reduction. About 27%
b. Harbor Patrol assessment reduction. About 80%.
Ken Rozel – Assistant City Attorney.

Several residents from the harbor area communities spoke at public comment.

Harbor Task Force Meeting – 6PM July 11, 2018

A report from the City on the Harbor Water Quality and all key harbor development items that impact the quality of life on our Channel Islands Harbor. Mayor Tim Flynn and council member Bert Perello lead the Harbor Task Force.

State waterboard Policies and NRG historical data:

Representatives of a team of biologists hired by Oxnard to analyze the water samples taken since discoloration and an odor were first noticed at Channel Islands Harbor a month ago gave a presentation.

Dr. David A. Caron from Aquatic Eco Technologies and Mr. Scott C. Johnson is a a Senior Scientist/Laboratory Director, Aquatic Bioassay & Consulting Laboratories, Inc.

Next Steps

  • Finalize analysis of data collected on July 6th
  • Reduce frequency of City WQ sampling to 2x’s per week
  • Two sampling events remaining on contract:
    • Await potential next event to sample at peak of bloom
  • Install aerators in back basins
  • Establish a Monitoring & Action Plan
    • Install remote sensor(s) to continuously monitor dissolved oxygen, pH and chlorophyll
    • Prepare action plan to mitigate water quality problems

Mandalay Generating Station

  • RWQCB will hold a public hearing for the Mandalay Generating Station permit termination on September 13, 2018 (9:00 a.m.) at the Ventura County Government Center
  • Public comments related to the permit termination will end on August 10, 2018 (5:00 p.m.)
  • Mandalay Generating Station (NPDES No. CA0001180, CI No. 2093), Cassandra D. Owens, Chief Industrial Permitting Unit, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 320 West 4thStreet, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013

PRESS:

r

CALL TO ACTION

NOTE: THIS DEADLINE IS PASSED!

LETTERS NEEDED TO
Regional Water Quality Control Board
Deadline August 10th

CLICK HERE Templates and Information

July 5, 2018 Special Meeting – 9:00 AM

Jul 4, 2018 | City_Of_Oxnard, Trash

Posted on 7/4/2018 see most current info: https://www.oxnard.org/city-council-meetings/
7/4/2018 PDF: 07-05-2018_Agenda_CC_special_mtg

Written materials relating to an item on this agenda that are distributed to the
legislative bodies within 72 hours before the item is to be considered at its
regularly scheduled meeting will be made available for public inspection at the
Library, 251 South “A” Street and the City Clerk’s Office, 300 West Third
Street 4th Floor during customary business hours. Any materials to be presented
at this meeting will be made available electronically 24 hours prior to the
meeting, at the end of this agenda. The agenda reports are on the City of Oxnard
web site at www.oxnard.org.

AGENDA
OXNARD CITY COUNCIL
Council Chambers, 305 West Third Street
July 5, 2018
Special Meeting – 9:00 AM

A. ROLL CALL/POSTING OF AGENDA

B. OPENING CEREMONIES
Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States.

C. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON REPORT ITEM
A person may address the legislative body only on matters appearing on the report item. The presiding officer shall permit a person to address the legislative body after the staff presentation on the report and before the consideration of the report by the legislative body.

D. REPORTS
Public Works Department
1. SUBJECT: Fifth Amendment to Agreement No. 7620, Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratories, Inc. (10/10/10)
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:

  1. Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Fifth Amendment to Agreement No. 7620 with Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratory, Inc. in the amount of $72,650 for monitoring services in Channel Islands Harbor.
  2. Approve a budget appropriation from General Fund reserves in the amount of $72,650 to fund the Fifth Amendment to Agreement No. 7620.
    Legislative Body: CC Contact: Rosemarie Gaglione Phone: 385-8055

E. ADJOURNMENT

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you require special assistance to participate in a meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1-805-385-7803.
City of Oxnard internet address: www.oxnard.org.

Channel Islands Harbor Water Quality Is Safe and Improving – July 3 2018

Jul 3, 2018 | City_Of_Oxnard, Press Releases, Trash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2018

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Main City Contact:  Rosemarie Gaglione, Public Works Director, rosemarie.gaglione@oxnard.org,

1-805-263-3494

Alternate City Contact:  Sujin Beck, Project Manager, sujin.beck@oxnard.org, 1-805-200-5293

PDF: Oxnard_Channel_Islands_Harbor_Water_Quality_Improving-7-3-2018

Channel Islands Harbor Water Quality Is Safe and Improving

Oxnard, California.  Dissolved oxygen levels are improving daily according to the data collected by the City. There are twenty-six sampling locations that are being tested on a daily basis, and of the twenty-six test sites, four sites have low dissolved oxygen levels. These areas are concentrated in the Seabridge Public Marina, Westport, and northern section of Mandalay Bay.

The public can view the test results at https://arcg.is/08ifCO on a geographic information system (GIS) map. The map contains the location of all the sampling sites and the data collected at those sites. The map also has a legend under the “Test Parameter” button to indicate what a normal range should be for each of the parameters that are being tested. Staff is working quickly to upload as much information as possible. At this time, the dissolved oxygen content, salinity, water temperature, and pH is available. The bacteria information will be up by Thursday, July 5, 2018.

Along with the GIS map, the City is also releasing a Frequently Asked Questions document to address the most pressing questions being asked by the public.

The City Council will hold a Special City Council Meeting on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. to award an agreement to Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratory, Inc. in the amount of $72,650 for water quality sampling and analysis services.  A verbal update report on the city’s work to date will also be provided to the City Council.

Residents are encouraged to report any odor or discoloration in the Harbor waters by calling 1-805-797-7598 or emailing Sujin Beck at sujin.beck@oxnard.org.

 

 

Follow us on social media at www.twitter.com/CityofOxnard (@CityofOxnard), www.facebook.com/CityofOxnard and www.vimeo.com/cityofoxnard.

 

###

Jesús Nava, Interim City Manager, jesus.nava@oxnard.org

 

City of Oxnard, CA Channel Island Harbor Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions July 3, 2018

Jul 3, 2018 | City_Of_Oxnard, Press Releases, Trash

  1. Is it safe to go in the water?

Yes, water testing was completed by the City of Oxnard and test results confirmed the water in the Channel Islands Harbor is not hazardous to human health.

  1. Why is the water brown?

The water itself is clear. When you look into the water, what you are seeing is brown algae, giving the appearance of brown water. A Marine Biologist is being hired by the City to review the test results and conduct additional testing and analysis to determine the root cause.

    1. How are the oxygen levels? When will test results be released to the public? How often is testing being done?


Please refer to the interactive maps which include daily logs by test location. Daily monitoring Monday thru Friday is occurring and measurements are being taken near the top and the bottom of the water’s surface.

      1. Is there a pump in Seabridge that was installed as a backup plan if the power plant closed? Is it running and if not, why?

The pumping vault infrastructure is set up to house an aeration system at two locations within the Seabridge CFD. There is no pump currently installed in the vaults.

      1. There has been a video circulating in which dead fish are shown. Where is this at? What is the City doing to rectify the situation?

This video was taken at the Seabridge public marina. The City has formed a task force and is adding a Marine Biologist to the team to assist in testing and analysis. Additionally, aerators are being purchased to conduct a pilot study within the Seabridge public marina to determine if aeration will improve this oxygen deficient area. However, the City will continue to perform detailed water sampling.

      1. How often did the NRG pumps operate previously?

The City has made a public records act request to obtain the facts as there is a great deal of conflicting information.

      1. Why can’t the City turn the pumps back on at the NRG plant until a resolution is reached?

NRG ceased operations and discharges to surface waters on March 29, 2018. On June 5, 2018 NRG requested the Regional Water Board discontinue coverage under the NPDES permit program because the facility operations and discharges of wastewater to surface waters have ceased. There is a public hearing on September 13, 2018 with the Regional Water Board in Ventura to consider the tentative order which will terminate the requirements in the NPDES permit. For more information or to submit a comment letter, please click here. (NOTE: the time for comments expired September 13, 2018 )

 

      1. What is the County’s role?

The County owns and operates the Channel Islands Harbor, which jurisdiction ends at the Harbor Blvd. bridges over the channels. Mandalay Bay, Seabridge, Westport, Harbour Island, the NRG plant and all land north of the bridges is within the jurisdiction of the City of Oxnard. In speaking with the County, they moved up their quarterly testing schedule. They tested in three locations: the west channel, the east channel and the main turning basin. All locations tested well below acceptable limits for bacteria and heavy metals. Dissolved oxygen levels were above the acceptable threshold, although a bit lower than usual in the west channel.