FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: March 17, 2005
Contact: Jennifer Stone (619) 531-4766

MUD, DEBRIS TO DISAPPEAR FROM FORRESTER CREEK

October 2003's wildfires denuded hillsides of vegetation. When it rains, the barren earth erodes into Forrester Creek causing it to overflow its banks creating a muddy mess for those who live along its meandering shores.

That problem will soon disappear thanks to a federal emergency grant which will help clear sediment-filled waterway.

"Since most of the creek is on private property, the County has been unable to legally clear it," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob whose district includes the waterway."Thanks to a $160,000 grant we've received from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), we can now take care of that."

Forrester Creek flows from Crest, through the City of El Cajon, and eventually into the San Diego River. Over the years, sediment built up around its headwaters to near the El Cajon city limits. That problem was made worse after the Cedar Fire.

With NRCS funding, County contractors will clear and clean sediment and debris from nearly 5,000 feet of the creek up to a depth of six feet in some spots.

County crews continually cleaned culverts under La Cresta Road and Greenfield Drive after the fire, but their efforts were frustrated as more sediment flowed in and blocked them again with each rain.