LAWA hears construction progress and McCluskey Canal water-quality pilot findings

LAWA board members on March 27 received updates on construction progress and on pilot testing related to the McCluskey Canal and the planned biota water treatment plant.

A construction presenter said contractors have been preparing materials and planners are aiming to put about 14 miles of pipe in the ground this season if frost conditions permit. The presenter reported 59 miles of pipe are either under contract or complete and 30 miles are already in the ground; 45 miles of pipeline were described as shovel-ready. Board members discussed advancing intake work this year and pressing regional power utilities to speed transformer and interconnection work.

On water quality, engineers described pilot testing at two sites—near the head gates at Lake Audubon and near Highway 200. Results showed substantially better quality at the head gates and degraded quality in the lower canal reach: higher total organic carbon, elevated algae, higher required coagulant doses and increased residuals generated in treatment. Staff said the degraded lower-canal water quality would raise operational chemical and residual-management costs and complicate disinfection byproduct control; a draft piloting report is anticipated within a month and will feed into preliminary treatment-plant design and cost estimates.

Board members emphasized coordination with power providers and the need to sequence intake, site preparation and the intake road work to avoid delays. Staff said they plan to begin intake-related site grading and road construction bidding later this year and anticipated that intake shaft excavation and liner work could start in 2026–27 depending on design and permitting timelines.