CITY PONDERS FLOOD-REDUCING DAM DRY CANYON BASIN WOULD SLOW FLOW OF STORM WATERS.

Byline: Joseph Giordono Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - City leaders today will consider approving work on the second of six regional water detention basins intended to remove a number of homes from the flood plain.

The proposed Dry Canyon Regional Stormwater Detention Basin would hold back approximately 165 acre-feet of storm water. It would also reduce the peak flow of a potential 100-year flood from 1,783 to 190 cubic feet per second.

The cost for the Dry Canyon dam - to be located at the northern terminus of Anderson Drive - was not immediately known, but the city has received $10.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to construct all six dams.

The proposed site does not contain wetland vegetation, hydric soils or wetlands, said interim Director of Public Works John Watring.

Additionally, the site would not adversely affect any historic sites and is not associated with any endangered or threatened species.

In December 1990, the city identified the need for 11 storm-water detention basins to reduce the potential of flooding the valley floor. In May 1998, the city was informed that FEMA had approved funding and construction for six of the structures.

Earlier concerns had been raised by the California Department of Parks and Recreation that construction of the Dry Canyon detention dam would significantly diminish native plant and wildlife habitats.

According to a letter from Russel G. Guiney, the district parks superintendent, there were also concerns about revegetation of the construction area.

But according to Michael Kuhn, Simi Valley planner, the dam would be located so low in the canyon that the concerns were unfounded. He also noted that a golf course is already under construction in Dry Canyon further upstream from the proposed project site.