Long Beach celebrated the groundbreaking for the Colorado Lagoon Open Channel Project Saturday, which will reconnect the waters from Colorado Lagoon to Marine Stadium/Alamitos Bay.
The Colorado Lagoon is an 18-acre saltwater tidal lagoon located in East Long Beach which was formerly part of the Los Cerritos Wetlands and was naturally connected to what is now Marine Stadium.
Construction will begin in late November and aims to re-establish the natural water circulation between the two bodies of water, which could improve water quality and restore part of the natural habitat that existed in the former Los Cerritos Wetlands.
“Reconnecting Colorado Lagoon to Alamitos Bay will improve the Lagoon’s water quality as well as restore and expand our local wetlands,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a press release. “This project serves as the pinnacle of our Colorado Lagoon Restoration Plan.”
Currently, the lagoon and Marine Stadium are connected via a 900-foot underground tunnel that does not allow for adequate water circulation to the system that connects to the Pacific Ocean through Alamitos Bay.
The Open Channel Project is the final phase of the 20-year-plus project to restore part of the native wetlands.
Previous improvements to the Lagoon have included dredging contaminated sediments, major water quality improvements, creating a new subtidal, eelgrass and upland habitat, public access enhancements, a pedestrian bridge expansion and improvements to the reclaimed water irrigation system.
The City hopes the project will create new coastal habitats and tidal wetlands, restore and increase the tidal exchange to improve water quality in the Lagoon and preserve and improve recreational uses of Marina Vista Park and the Lagoon.
“The Colorado Lagoon Open Channel project has been over a decade in the making,” said Eric Lopez, Director of Public Works. “To finally see our hard work arrive at this milestone of breaking ground is cause for celebration.”
