Inflatable Dam Undamaged

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

The concrete slabs that washed down Santa Monica Canyon Channel during last week’s rain did not hurt the inflatable dam, which siphons water to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, according to city and county officials.

“This rubber dam was deflated in anticipation of the rain, and the diversion structure was not damaged,” according to Elizabeth Vazquez, the public information officer for L.A. County Public Works.

Pete Brown of City Councilmember Traci Park’s office concurred, “They did an assessment of it and found no damage.” .

Public Works is conducting a project to loosen and clear the channel of the concrete overlay applied in the 1970s, and will be working an estimated three-to-four more weeks to remove the concrete slabs in preparation for anticipated wet weather due to El Niño. The engineer heading the project has promised to remove the concrete slabs more swiftly in future to prevent them from careening down the channel during any future rains.

City Councilmember Traci Park’s office is also working to get city departments to prepare for the anticipated fall and winter rains before their arrival, and several projects have begun in Pacific Palisades, according to Park’s Communications Director Pete Brown, who said he would send the list to Canyon News in the coming week.

A previous Canyon News article about the Sept. 6 rainstorm washing concrete down the channel has been updated to reflect the current information.