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Arroyo Grande city manager updates Lopez Lake litigation, bridge reopening and planned water outage
Summary
City Manager Matt Downing told the Arroyo Grande City Council that a federal appeals ruling restored prior Lopez Lake release schedules while Endangered Species Act litigation continues; the Trafficway bridge project reopened and a Valentine ribbon-cutting is planned; a Jan. 14 water‑service outage was scheduled for valve replacement.
City Manager Matt Downing opened the Jan. 13 Arroyo Grande City Council meeting with several operational updates affecting residents. He said a Ninth Circuit ruling in December favored San Luis Obispo County and vacated a lower-court order that had required additional water releases from Lopez Lake; as a result, Lopez Lake releases will return to the previous schedule while the broader Endangered Species Act litigation continues. To keep residents informed, the city has published updates on the litigation at arroyogrande.org/lopezlakelitigation, Downing said.
Downing also reported the Trafficway bridge replacement project is substantially complete, with detours removed Dec. 17 and the project finished on time and on budget. The city plans a public ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. Feb. 4, weather and scheduling permitting. He credited public works and engineering staff for completing the work.
On utilities, Downing announced a planned water‑service outage in the 1500 block of Hillcrest Drive for a water‑valve replacement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; customers in the area should expect service interruption during that window. He also noted that Caltrans work at the Grand Avenue/Fair Oaks off‑ramp will keep some ramps closed through the remainder of the week.
Downing highlighted public‑safety training news, reporting that Commander Greg Pierce graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, an eight‑month program of classroom instruction for law‑enforcement leaders. Finally, Downing summarized staff work on temporary traffic measures used during recent detours (temporary signals and a traffic circle near the high school), said some devices (notably a Caltrans facility signal) had to be removed, and said staff plans to return in April with policy recommendations about which temporary improvements, if any, should become permanent.
The city manager said he would answer follow‑up questions from councilors and residents and that staff will post further details and timing for the ribbon‑cutting and any service notices.
