CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Buck Gully Erosion Work Delayed

A $2 million project that will protect homes along Lower Buck Gully will be delayed a year, city officials have confirmed.

The project will add wire cages filled with river rocks to Lower Buck Gully, diverting water as it heads toward the beach. Without the measures, officials fear that some houses may slide down the hillside if a major storm causes erosion.

The project required required 26 neighbors to grant easements to the city, and some were reluctant to sign off on the plans. In October, Robert Stein, a city engineer, and City Manager Dave Kiff joined City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner as they went door-to-door in the area, trying to get residents to cooperate. (Read our story here.)

After several months of working with residents, considering different plans or possibly abandoning the project and giving up $800,000 in grant funding. But in February, the city obtained the easements and began to go forward in the permitting process, which includes getting Coastal Commission approval.

The project originally was to begin this month and take about six months to complete.

“The project is still moving forward,” Stein said. “But we won’t have the permits to start construction this year. We have to move it to September 2011.”

A letter updating the situation will be sent to residents in the next few weeks, he said.

Buck Gully file photo taken during January 2010 storms.