UltraSystems Prepared Initial Study and Mitigation Plan for School and Community Pool
After winning the contract and conducting all relevant technical studies, UltraSystems delivered the final draft of the Initial Study/Mitigated Report (IS/MND) in March 2025 to Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) for the Pool Modernization Project. The district will review and adopt the study at a future board meeting.
The Pool Modernization project is part of LBUSD’s 10-year Facilities Plan. The pool improvements will be made within the current footprint extending the pool from a 25-meter to a 45-meter length pool and will include the construction of concrete bleachers for spectators, locker room and equipment storage for the high school, and a public restroom and shower building for community members. UltraSystems conducted a variety of technical studies including the impact to biological and cultural resources as well as air, noise and light pollution for the IS/MND. Special care was taken to address community concerns specifically as it related to noise and lighting impacts.
The technical studies conducted for the IS/MND found no impact or less than significant impact in most categories. Cultural resources and biological resources had less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated. The terms of the required mitigation were detailed in the IS/MND report and included maintaining a tribal contact during construction in the event artifacts are found during soil disturbance. Construction will begin in May 2026 and is projected to take approximately 11 months. Laguna Beach High School will partner with neighboring high schools during construction to allow for practice time for their water polo, swim, and dive teams.
Over the last 30 years, the pool has served both Laguna Beach High School and residents of the City of Laguna Beach by way of a joint agreement. The specifics of the shared use and operation costs of the pool will again be under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between LBUSD and the City of Laguna Beach. Under the MOU, the City of Laguna Beach will be able to offer residents youth swim classes, open lap swim times, and U.S. Masters Swimming. The City of Laguna Beach initially sought other alternatives but ultimately found that an agreement with the high school was the best way to offer public pool access to their residents.
About Laguna Beach Unified School District
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is located in a small, historical coastal community in Orange County, CA. LBUSD is widely recognized as an outstanding district throughout Orange County and California. LBUSD has a clear, unwavering focus on student learning within a caring, supportive environment.
About UltraSystems
UltraSystems, founded in 1994, is a multi-disciplinary, full service environmental consulting and planning firm serving both the public and private sectors. The 30-year-old firm provides expertise in development planning; site selection and analysis; CEQA and NEPA compliance; technical studies, and environmental compliance during construction. UltraSystems Environmental is a certified DBE, SBE, and WBE company that is headquartered in Irvine, California.
