Corona del Mar Today: A progress report on Buck Gully project

An erosion project in Lower Buck Gully is well underway as crews continue to place metal cages on the ground, filling them with rocks brought from a Corona quarry.

The project began last month and should be complete sometime next summer, city officials have said.

The work began with crews constructing a temporary road from the Little Corona beach path to the bottom of the gully. Then crews began to place the multi-layered cages, filling them with rocks that will divert water flow and protect the hills on Evening Canyon and Hazel Drive from collapse.

The project also will remove invasive plants and wildlife.

"Right now, it's like a total jungle," said Robert Stein, an assistant city engineer.

Some invasive plants have been removed, he said, including all but one clump of arundo.

"That's the most invasive plant in Buck Gully, and that's the last of it," Stein said, pointing to a patch near where a pile of rocks is stored.

Crews will complete the first of three cages before clearing more of the gully and moving about 100 feet inland to begin the next phase. Further upstream, they eventually will place five "bending weirs" that will control water flow. Construction is supposed to take about four months, with six months planned for reforestation including removing the road and replanting.

The rocks and cages eventually will be covered with vegetation, Stein said.

Plans for the project were in the works for more than a year. This summer, the California Coastal Commission granted approval of the project.

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NBFD Conducts Badge Pinning Ceremony

Three Newport Beach Fire Department employees were honored this week at a badge-pinning ceremony.

Charlie Dall was promoted from fire engineer to fire captain; Brent Jacobsen was promoted from lifeguard captain to lifeguard battalion chief; and Rob Williams was promoted from lifeguard battalion chief to assistant chief-lifeguard operations.

"All three were on hand to celebrate their promotions with family, friends and co-workers," according to a department statement. "These men are to be commended on enduring all of the hurdles it takes to achieve these ranks."

Dall has worked for the Newport Beach Fire Department since 1995, when he was hired at age 15. Jacobsen began his career as a Newport Beach lifeguard in 1982, and Williams has worked for Newport Beach since 1985.

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Begonia Park trees marked; no decision on removal