Ormond Lagoon and Proximal Area
Ormond Lagoon, situated along the south coast of California in the city of Port Hueneme was once home to a complex and productive wetland ecosystem. However, due to extensive development and urbanization, Ormond Lagoon now has few and fleeting wetland habitats for remaining species. The surrounding land uses vary dramatically, but are dominated by agricultural, industrial, and residential developments. Ormond Lagoon is part of the 75% wetlands lost along the Southern California Coast due to development (California Coastal Conservancy 1999). In addition to the environmental stress of on-site land use changes, such as the conversion of wetland areas into recreational beaches, are industrial and agricultural impacts affecting Ormond Lagoon’s inflows. Directly adjacent to Ormond Lagoon is a defunct metal recovery smelter formerly operated by Halaco Engineering Company (Halaco), which has contributed toxic compounds to the lagoon through environmental negligence and mismanagement. Following Halaco’s bankruptcy in 2006, the complex was designated a Superfund site, and although some risk of further damage has been mitigated, significant quantities of hazardous materials remain on the premises.
Ormond Lagoon, situated along the south coast of California in the city of Port Hueneme was once home to a complex and productive wetland ecosystem. However, due to extensive development and urbanization, Ormond Lagoon now has few and fleeting wetland habitats for remaining species. The surrounding land uses vary dramatically, but are dominated by agricultural, industrial, and residential developments. Ormond Lagoon is part of the 75% wetlands lost along the Southern California Coast due to development (California Coastal Conservancy 1999). In addition to the environmental stress of on-site land use changes, such as the conversion of wetland areas into recreational beaches, are industrial and agricultural impacts affecting Ormond Lagoon’s inflows. Directly adjacent to Ormond Lagoon is a defunct metal recovery smelter formerly operated by Halaco Engineering Company (Halaco), which has contributed toxic compounds to the lagoon through environmental negligence and mismanagement. Following Halaco’s bankruptcy in 2006, the complex was designated a Superfund site, and although some risk of further damage has been mitigated, significant quantities of hazardous materials remain on the premises.
Halaco Superfund Site, Heavy Metal Contaminants
Halaco operated a secondary scrap metal recovery facility from 1965-2004 encompassing over 11 acres of structures and 26 acres of waste deposition. Their processes recovered aluminum, magnesium, and zinc, from car parts, cans, castings, and other low grade scrap metal. An EPA diagnostic reports confirms that,
“Most waste remains on-site, including more than 700,000 cubic yards in the waste management area and an estimated 50,000 cubic yards buried in the eastern side of the 11-acre area where the smelter operated. Contamination found on-site includes a combination of several metals and radionuclides, including aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silver, zinc, cesium-137, potassium-40, thorium-228, thorium-230, and thorium-232. Contaminated soils and sediments containing one or more of the same metals and radionuclides have also been found on adjacent properties, including wetlands and a public beach. Several areas also contain elevated levels of thorium and radium. Waste material has moved into the underlying groundwater and sediments in a portion of the Ormond Beach lagoon.”
The recovery of the Ormond Lagoon wetland ecosystem is dependent on the remediation of the Halaco site. Further cleanup of the Superfund site and adjacent contaminated properties is expected to be planned in 2017 or 2018. Later on it will be useful to indicate that although this is a source of contaminants that may also affect the Goby, it is not a source of pyrethroids.