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Community Members:
The innovative Newport Bay Trash Interceptor (aka, Trash Wheel) is nearly complete and was successfully tested during recent rainstorms.
The $5.5-million, sustainably powered system is designed to collect floating trash before it enters the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Harbor and beaches. Construction began in September 2024.
The Trash Interceptor is positioned in the San Diego Creek just upstream from the Upper Newport Bay. It is expected to capture 80 percent of the floating trash and debris from the creek, which amounts to hundreds of tons every year.
The City and its construction contractor tested the system for the first time during the late January rains, collecting a considerable amount of trash and debris that would have otherwise flowed into the bay.
The Trash Interceptor is modeled after a similar project in the Baltimore Harbor, but with several innovations added because of its location. Newport Beach's system sits on a floating platform that rises and falls with the tide. The platform holds a 14-foot wheel that spins using power from the river current or solar panels to move a conveyor belt. From the conveyor belt, the trash is deposited into a dumpster for collection by a standard trash truck.
The project was funded by the City, the State Dept. of Water Resources, the Ocean Protection Council, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Help your Harbor/Surfrider Foundation.
The City looks forward to formally dedicating the project with our funding partners and contractors in March.
City Manager, Grace K. Leung
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The trash and debris shown above was collected during the season's first rainstorms in late January. Trash gathered in the boom is drawn automatically to a conveyor belt and deposited in a dumpster for disposal. |
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The rendering above shows the Trash Interceptor's position on the north bank of the San Diego Creek. Power is provided by water current, which turns the 14-ft. wheel, and solar panels atop the canopy. |
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The City's Harbor Department has produced a new safety video designed for customers renting small vessels such as paddleboards, kayaks, small vessels or personal watercraft.
The 3-minute video is available on the City's Youtube channel and web site. It is designed to encourage awareness and safe practices for residents and visitors when operating small vessels in Newport Harbor.
The video will be distributed to rental concession operators in the harbor area, who are encouraged to show it to customers before they embark.
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The City recently received an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) for the Sunset Bridge project, which included construction of a new bridge and parking lot at Superior Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
The project earned the 2025 Merit Award in the Structural System/Bridges category. The new bridge and parking lot opened to the public in October, 2024.
The City shares the award with Ardurra Group, which provided construction management and inspection services; Dokken Engineering (design services); and Chambers Group (environmental services).
ACEC is a national organization comprised of over 600,000 professional engineers, architects, and land surveyors.
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L to R: Dino D'Emilia and Lisa Penna of Ardurra; Andy Tran, Newport Beach Civil Engineer; and Bradley Waldrop and Dolores Salgado of Ardurra receive the ACEC award February 5. |
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The City's Public Works staff collaborated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Orange County Public Works, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the Orange County Health Care Agency to address homeless encampment-related issues at the Lower Santa Ana River Salt Marsh on February 4.
The work focused on cleaning up the area, addressing camping and other unauthorized activity, and protecting wildlife habitats. The crews made efforts to minimize any negative impacts on habitats in advance of bird nesting season.
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The City will be rehabilitating public restrooms at the Balboa Island Ferry, 503 S. Bay Front. and at 208 Washington Street through late spring.
Portable restrooms will be provided for public use during construction.
Parking in the area may be limited or reduced, and pedestrian detours may be established for safety.
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Crews will be conducting paving work at Superior Avenue from West Coast Highway to Placentia Avenue from Monday, February 24 through Friday, February 28.
The work will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lane closures will be in place.
Motorists are asked to observe and follow all temporary traffic control signs and personnel.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to improve our streets.
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The public is invited to a Sunday Musicale with a classical recorder and piano duo on February 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Friends Room of the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.
The program will feature Yuki Shimaboto and Kaouru Enjoji performing a variety of songs from Amazing Grace to Bohemian Rhapsody.
This event is free and reservations are not required.
Click here for more information.
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Children are invited to practice their reading skills with a BARK Reading Dog. February 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Corona del Mar Branch, 410 Marigold Ave.
Reading out loud helps kids become better readers, and reading to a friendly dog makes reading fun.
No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult, ages 6-11.
For a complete list of children's library events and programs, go to newportkids.org.
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 This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
- Permanently housed a couple who had been living on the streets. Both work in Newport Beach.
- Placed a person in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
- Enrolled five people into services.
- Continued to shelter people: Twenty-five people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard.
Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.
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WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
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