Lake Being Built Near Pond for Watercraft Show

Crews have been moving 20,000 cubic yards of earth to dam part of the Santa Ana River and create a temporary lake this weekend for the Jet Jam watercraft festival.

Water recycling will be emphasized at the event, which runs Friday through Sunday, featuring professional watercraft racing, concerts and other festivities.

To create the giant pool for the water events, 12 million gallons of water, bought from the city of Anaheim for about $25,000, will fill the normally dry portion of the riverbed, next to the Pond.

Plans are being made to recycle the water back to ground basins upstream, Bob Carr, the city’s assistant general manager for water services, said.

Event organizers hoped to recycle the water after the first Jet Jam last year. But the water contained contaminants, requiring disposal into the sewer system.

As a requirement of the water sale this year, the city “placed conditions to make sure there is no repeat of last year,” Carr said.

Stephanie Vinge, Pond spokeswoman, said water quality experts will assist in efforts to avoid contamination.

“We’ve been working with 14 different agencies to make the event possible,” she said.

Requirements include placing a liner on the river bottom to prevent seepage into the ground-water supply, Carr said. The event organizer, Ogden Entertainment, also has ordered special fuel that lacks gasoline-related chemicals, which could contaminate the ground water, Carr said.

The water will be tested before it is recycled, Carr added.

Jet Jam hours are Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Tickets Friday are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets Saturday and Sunday are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. Tickets are half-price for children ages 6 to 12. Information: (888) 538-5261.