Landslide Dewatering Well Discussion January 21

On January 21, 2025, the City Council will consider potentially expanding the City's network of deep dewatering wells in the Portuguese Bend Landslide area.

Since installation began in September 2024, 11 wells have removed over 112 million gallons of groundwater that has fueled unprecedented land movement.

The highly productive wells have yielded positive results. Land movement in the vicinity has decelerated significantly, with no new movement recorded in the Seaview and Portuguese Bend Beach Club neighborhoods in the past three months. To date, the Council has allocated $14.7 million for the emergency dewatering well program through the end of March 2025. This does not include other landslide remediation costs, such as repairs to Palos Verdes Drive South and winterization efforts. The City has funded this major project without financial assistance from the state or federal government.

At next week's meeting, the Council will be asked to consider whether to install more wells, and if so, how many. If additional wells are desired, the Council will consider which other capital projects could be postponed to make funding available for any new wells. City staff has identified about $4 million worth of such projects, which will not be ready for construction by the end of the fiscal year.

A staff report (PDF)with more information is available on the City website.

Meeting Info

The meeting will take place on January 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. in McTaggart Hall at Hesse Park and via Zoom. Watch live on RPVtv's YouTube channel, at rpvca.gov, or on Cox 33/FiOS 38. To participate in public comment during the meeting, fill out a speaker slip if you are attending in person, or complete a form online at rpvca.gov/participate to participate virtually or leave a pre-recorded voice message. Email your comments on this topic to [email protected].

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in programs, services, activities and meetings, contact the City's ADA Coordinator/Risk Manager at 424-327-3982, [email protected] , 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, at least 48 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.