RIALTO, CA — The Inland Empire city of Rialto is planning to break ground this fall on an ambitious project that will bring 10 acres of lake, wetlands and trails to the community. This week, officials announced they are one step closer.
On Tuesday, the city reported it had received $2 million in federal funding to support its Lake Rialto habitat project, bringing total funding for the $8 million project to more than $5 million.
The project design is now 90% complete, according to Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, with Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA33) securing the latest funding.
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“Ensuring our residents can enjoy safe and clean open spaces for outdoor recreation is necessary to create a healthier, more sustainable community,” the congressman said in a released statement.
Lake Rialto will play “a vital role in the environmental success of the Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan,” Aguilar said.
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The project includes the creation of wetlands and wildlife habitats on city-owned property adjacent to the City of Rialto Water Treatment Plant. The treatment facility will provide recycled water for the lake itself, which will then flow into the environmentally critical Rialto Channel.
The endangered Santa Ana sucker and Arroyo chub swim from the Santa Ana River up the Rialto Channel during cooler weather, but during hotter days the water can be too warm for the fish. Because of the depth of the lake, much-needed cooler water can be taken from the bottom of the lake and discharged into the Rialto Channel, providing potentially significant environmental benefits to critical species, according to officials.
“The city of Rialto has worked diligently with potential partnering agencies to explore and maximize all of the environmental benefits of this project,” according to Tuesday’s announcement.
The lake will also provide a habitat for seasonal wildfowl that migrate to and from Mexico on the Pacific Flyway, “providing abundant birdwatching opportunities for the community,” according to the announcement.
“Rialto residents can look forward to enjoying the lake’s open spaces, walking trails and environmental education programs. Special programs for children will enable them to get a taste of the great outdoors right in their own city,” Robertson said. “Support for this model of an urban water stewardship project is something all of our elected policymakers should be advocating. This needs to be at the forefront of their priorities.”
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