Hard going for Lazy River plan
by Kelly Feser Eells

As Casitas Municipal Water District reviewed bids submitted for the construction of an approved alternative swimming facility - the "Lazy River" - the Ventura Audubon Society, with support from the Ventura-based Environmental Defense Center, was appealing to Superintendent Steve Bennett's office for "timely intercession."
In a letter dated Oct. 20, 2002, Audubon Society President Neil Ziegler recounted his organization's frustrations with the district and its interpretation of the 1970 Lake Casitas General Recreation Development Plan; frustrations, he explained, that have been mounting since the approval of the Blue Heron Water Playground in the mid-1990s.
"The district claimed an exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act" for that project, said Ziegler. "This exemption, CEQA Section 15303, specifies 'accessory structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences.' These are obvious references to residential, non-commercial structures but this and other CEQA exemptions have been narrowly defined in (subsequent) court decisions."
A "joint challenge (issued by the Audubon Society and the EDC) to the Lazy River proposal," said Ziegler, prompted the district to perform a "limited Mitigated Negative Declaration" - approved Sept. 11 - "covering only this," the third phase of the so-called water park project.
He notes that, while the MND was forwarded to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and California's Department of Fish and Game, "both have stated their lack of jurisdiction over this property" and declined review. The County of Ventura was also invited to submit comments, but it, too, "claims no jurisdiction or enforcing authority."
The Audubon Society has also appealed to, and is currently awaiting reply from: Sen. Jack O'Connell; Congressman Elton Gallegly; Sen. Barbara Boxer; Sen. Diane Feinstein; and Ventura County Grand Jurist Thomas Black.
In the meantime, the project was released for bid and, on Oct. 23, district board directors voted unanimously to award Caliber Pools, an Azusa, Calif.-based firm, the contract for its construction. Director Jim Coultas points out that, in addition to submitting one of the lower bids (coming in somewhat under the projected $1 million estimate), "Caliber appears to be better" all-around, with a résumé that includes pool projects for both the 1984 Olympics and California State University-Northridge.
Most channelized or, "lazy," rivers have a uniform depth of 3 feet, and safety codes dictate that their width be a minimum of 15 feet. Many have what is known as a "family friendly" entry, which does double duty as both inner tube pickup point and lounging area. Because Caliber's was a generalized proposal, "any director will be welcome" to offer specific design input as staff negotiates the contract and the project moves forward.
While a summer 2003 opening would be "ideal," Coultas adds, "Obviously, we'd rather have it done right than fast."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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