Lower Curtis Park - Dirt Import and Stockpile Project

The City of Mission Viejo is proceeding with the Lower Curtis Park - Dirt Import and Stockpile Project under an amended Streambed Alteration Agreement issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which now incorporates additional mitigation requirements mandated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This amendment responds to a Notice of Violation tied to Clean Water Act section 401 Water Quality Certification, necessitating a minimum of 2.26 acres of compensatory mitigation, with the proposed plan exceeding this requirement at 2.44 acres. The mitigation efforts are designed to offset environmental impacts associated with the project, particularly concerning water quality and aquatic habitat, and reflect coordinated compliance between state agencies and the city. Environmental oversight is managed by Jennifer Blackbird, Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, while Elaine Lister, City Manager of Mission Viejo, serves as the primary point of contact for project coordination. The project remains under review and regulatory alignment with state environmental codes as it advances through its implementation phase.