This fascinating Los Angeles Times article about the imperiled wetlands of California (complete with time lapse modeling) summarizes the tough spot so many of our Southern California wetlands find themselves in. Hemmed in on one side by immovable infrastructure like buildings and roads and on the other by increasingly higher and higher levels of sea level rise, the future of our wetlands is uncertain. Here in Long Beach we are about to start the next phase of comprehensive restoration planning for Los Cerritos Wetlands. Issues like how best to plan for sea level rise and how best to protect existing not-going-anywhere-infrastructure will make this planning exercise particularly challenging.
Video of our local sea turtles provided by the Aquarium of the Pacific. See the turtles for yourself on Saturday, March 3rd.
On Saturday, March 3rd, you are invited to join us for a free 2-hour guided wetlands nature walk, led by naturalists from the environmental consulting group Tidal Influence. We will look for wildlife sightings, learn about our rich ecosystems, reflect on history, and see current restoration activities.
Our walk begins with a brief orientation to our wetlands. We will discuss their history and see an important portion of them, including the Pumpkin Patch property, as we walk along the San Gabriel River to view the sea turtles. On our return, we will stop at Zedler Marsh, where there is a nursery for wetlands plants and where restoration is in process. We will then walk on the levee back to our meeting place. Bring binoculars, if you have them; besides the turtles, we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife.
Meet and park in the driveway at the intersection of 1st street and PCH in Seal Beach. Our walk starts at 8:00 a.m., and the parking lot gate closes at 8:15 a.m. No latecomers can be admitted. Events are family friendly, but strollers are not permitted, and all participants need to be able to walk a couple of miles (slowly) without having to turn back. Close-toed shoes are required, and please bring sunscreen and water. Rain cancels. For more information or to rsvp, email elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org.
P.S. After our nature walk, you are invited to join in and help the community-based restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands, which takes place from 10:30 am -12:30 pm the first Saturday of every month. Participants are eligible to win prizes such as a T-shirt or tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Meet at the same place we meet for our nature walks. For further information about the restoration activities email iwanttohelp@tidalinfluence.com.
The People’s State of the City is one of the largest community organized events in the city and attracts over 500 people to hear about the current challenges facing working people in the city and ways to get involved in positive social change. The event features an outdoor community fair beginning at 5:00pm and an indoor program starting at 6:30pm. Free food, child watch, and interpretation in Spanish and Khmer are provided to all guests.
The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust will be there, with our fellow non-profit groups, in the Community Fair area of the event. We will have our information table set up complete with our brand new Los Cerritos Wetlands canopy and table cloth. If you are attending, please stop by and say hello!
In the end, we support this project because it includes comprehensive wetlands and habitat restoration, provides unique public access opportunities, consolidates oil operations offsite, and will transfer ownership of a substantial portion of Los Cerritos Wetlands into the public domain. These are all things for which the Land Trust has long advocated.
Our review process-of both the proposed oil consolidation and the restoration aspect of the project–was diligent and thoughtful. We formed a dedicated committee of Board members who did a great deal of their own research and reviewed all relevant information regarding the proposed project. We had numerous meetings with the BOM principals and their experts and consultants in order to ensure our many questions were answered and addressed.
We have always understood that the potential for wetlands restoration is the cornerstone of the project. However, the project area is known to be contaminated. We were concerned that site contamination could spread once outside water was introduced to the area. This could harm sensitive habitats and the species that depend on them. We were concerned that the restoration would not live up to its potential. To alleviate this concern, with BOM’s agreement, we brought our own soil and water expert into the process in order to ensure we had a clear understanding of the details regarding contamination on the site and how best to remediate it.
BOM has been a transparent and integral partner in our review process, responding promptly to our many detailed questions and providing our committee with the answers they needed to understand the project. In addition, as this project is implemented, BOM has committed to involving the Land Trust in order to ensure we are fully updated and involved as the project moves through the regulatory review process.
The project offers tangible conservation benefits. It will reduce the footprint of oil operations to approximately 10 acres from approximately 187 acres, accelerating and funding a transformation of this highly degraded landscape to a restored functioning wetlands and uplands.
The project maintains environmental integrity. As a result of our conversations with the BOM team and advice from our soil and water consultant, BOM has committed to a thorough and transparent process regarding the assessment and removal of onsite hazards and contamination. This will ensure there will be no site contamination of Los Cerritos Wetlands as the land transitions from oil operations to conservation.
The project could offer conservation benefits sooner. Through conversations with BOM, we know they are committed to accelerating the transition to conservation if at all feasible.
Our watchdog role is integral and ongoing. BOM has agreed to full communication with us, including production numbers, to track BOM’s adherence to its well abandonment schedule. The Land Trust’s experts will play a significant oversight role, including helping to scope an ecological risk assessment prior to restoration work, receiving and reviewing any and all reports about site conditions, testing, and clean-up protocols. We will be on-site when excavation or other key activities occur.
We appreciate the time and effort BOM put into reaching out to us, the many meetings they had with us, and their fast response to our concerns. We consider BOM a partner and look forward to an enduring relationship with them. We hope this will serve as a model for other projects that will impact Los Cerritos Wetlands.
For all of these reasons, our Board has voted to support BOM’s wetlands consolidation and restoration project and we look forward to a continuing partnership with them, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority, and other conservation groups in order to see through this joint commitment to transition from oil to conservation.
We know there are those who want conservation and restoration without the need for ongoing oil operations or a mitigation bank. But that was not on the table. We know there are differences of opinion on this matter and perhaps there always will be. However, it is my sincere hope that our community of environmental activists, who are working so hard to bring this damaged piece of wetlands back to life, will always operate from a place of respect for each other’s views and understand that while others may have a different path towards protecting our fragile blue planet, our goals are shared.
We have deepest appreciation for all who have taken time out of their lives to advocate with us for the protection and restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands. We have made great strides; and with your partnership and community support, I am sure we will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lambe, Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
We at the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust are so appreciative and humbled by the partnership of our members and supporters. Your support is most welcome and important; it is a show both of kindness and of action. As we watch with dismay at what is happening to our environment at the national level, vigilantly defending our local endangered natural resources and fragile ecosystems is more important than ever before. As stewards for an area of relatively undeveloped natural open space in the middle of a great, big city, we vow to stay ever watchful against the risk of overdevelopment and exploitation. It is in the friendship and generosity of our members and collaborators that we are uplifted and strengthened to do this work every single day. Thank you.
I hope you will join us or renew your commitment to the restoration, exploration, and defense of Los Cerritos Wetlands. Please make a tax deductible gift or become a member of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust today.
Our walk will begin with a brief orientation to our wetlands and their history, especially the long process to move the Hellman portion of Los Cerritos Wetlands into the public trust. We will walk on the main (oil) road, where we will look for wading birds in the tidal pools on our left. Then we will turn off the main road to view the tidal channel that flows through this section of Los Cerritos Wetlands, where we will pause to look and listen for Belding’s Savannah Sparrows. Then we will mount to the Heron Pointe cultural trail where at the visitor circle we will discuss the native peoples of the area. To return, we usually walk close to Gum Grove Park and look for raptors nesting in the trees.
Bring binoculars, if you have them; we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife. Close-toed shoes required, and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
For further information or to rsvp for the walk, you are encouraged to email Elizabeth.
