Serrano Creek Stabilization and Restoration

Location: Orange County

Project Type: Restoration Planning

Status: Completed

Habitat Type: Enhancement, Planning

Cost: $2,000,000

Project Footprint: 1.1 stream miles

Assembly District: 70

Senate District: 35

Congressional District: 45

Project Lead/Grantee:
Serrano Creek Conservancy

Serrano Creek, a coastal stream corridor, is a tributary of San Diego Creek draining an area of about 2,590 acres at Trabuco Road within the City of Lake Forest. The proposed project will stabilize the creek beds and banks, restore riparian habitat, and reduce sediment loadings to Newport Bay.

Serrano Creek has undergone substantial erosion in recent years due to changes in the watershed. In general, sediment supply to the unimproved stream has been reduced and local runoff has increased, both in peak and duration. This phase of the project will prepare engineering plans and environmental documents for Serrano Creek between Trabuco Drive and Rancho Parkway for Phase II, Reaches 2 and 3.stabilize the creek beds and banks, restore riparian habitat, and reduce sediment loadings to Newport Bay.

Serrano Creek was divided into three reaches for potential projects. Reach 1, from Bake Parkway to Trabuco Road, was stabilized with funding assistance from the Wetlands Recovery Project in 2004. The next step for this project is to prepare the appropriate planning, design and environmental review documentation for the next reach.