In one short week, the public comment period for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) scoping process will be over. All written comments from the public on what you would like to see in the EIR are due at 5 P.M. on June 30th.
The process and the project are complicated. However, I think my 3-minute comment to City Council on June 18th (minute 6:00) sums it up pretty well. Here is a written transcript:
A few problems with this project
As I mentioned, the project is complicated and quite frankly I have been unable to get some very fundamental pieces of information. Despite being marketed as a “water quality project,” the cities have not provided current water quality data for the site. More concerning, South Pasadena claims water rights to the Arroyo Seco that don’t appear in the state’s CIWQS database. The Arroyo Seco is a fully adjudicated river, meaning all water rights are supposed to be clearly allocated and documented. If South Pasadena has legitimate rights, they should be easy to find in public records.
In addition, I have not been about to determine how the golf course is currently irrigated, how much they’re using and whether their water use is legally authorized. I have heard and read contradictory information on this, including that it is irrigated with Arroyo Seco water at night and if it needs water during the day, potable water is used. I have also heard it is only watered with potable water.
A water reuse project that can’t demonstrate basic legal authority to access the water source raises serious regulatory compliance questions. Before approving this project, residents deserve clear answers about: Documented proof of water rights; current water quality testing date; and legal justification for ongoing water extraction.
The lack of transparency around such fundamental issues suggests this project needs much closer scrutiny before moving forward.
Let our cities know what you would rather see
Nonetheless, it is time to let the City of Pasadena (the lead in the project) know what we would like to have included in the EIR. I am attaching two sample letters that may help you participate in this process. The first lays out concerns about the project as described in the draft Mitigated Negative Declaration. It includes suggestions to develop a project that addresses water quality using truly nature-based solutions that will preserve existing habitat and work towards a restored Arroyo Seco Watershed. You can find a similar letter using more technical language here. I hope these are helpful. Please use whatever you can, and email me if you have any questions.
Online Resources
- Save San Pascual Park
- Stewards of the Arroyo Seco
- LA City Information Report on the Arroyo Seco Water Reuse Project
- Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration: Arroyo Seco Water Reuse Project
- San Rafael-San Pascual Project Summary, Attachments
Written comments can be sent to:
Christina Monde, P.E.
City of Pasadena Department of Public Works
100 North Garfield Avenue, Suite N306
Pasadena, CA 91101
Email: CMonde@cityofpasadena.net.
Comments are due by 5 PM on Monday, June 30, 2025.