Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust | Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust (LCWLT)

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Dear Friend of Los Cerritos Wetlands,

I am happy to report to you that we have wrapped up a summer of fun and educational field trips (in partnership with Long Beach Parks and Recreation and Marine), where we hosted kids from 13 urban parks who participate in Long Beach’s Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) program. Local neighborhoods are supported by extended evening hours of free supervision at designated parks by employing neighborhood youth. Some of the enriching activities offered through Be S.A.F.E. include arts and crafts, outdoor games, sports, science activities, computer labs, and fun field trips to places like the Los Cerritos Wetlands.

In addition to hosting fun field trips, our work defending undeveloped, and therefore rare, coastal open space requires community support, and we are so appreciative of all of those who have joined our fight to protect Los Cerritos Wetlands.

Supporting the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust helps to ensure the protection, preservation, and restoration of our unique and vital local wetlands habitat. Additionally, with help from supporters such as you, we will continue to educate students in Long Beach and Orange County public schools about wetlands. Providing them with tours and lessons to foster a connection to nature and each other, helps bring classroom concepts to life.

Your donation, large or small, will make a difference and help move the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust closer to our fundraising goal.

Please don’t wait. Donate now.

Please follow the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust on Facebook and Instagram, visit our website, and forward this email to your friends and family to get the word out. We appreciate your support!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

P.S. Check out this charming thank-you note from one of our young field trip participants.

Thanks to all who made a phone call or sent an email to protect the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

*For decades the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has protected our environment. Legislation that will forever weaken that law passed yesterday,* *but we won’t give up.*

I am sad to report that the California Legislature passed, and the Governor subsequently signed into law, a budget bill that contains provisions that fundamentally weaken CEQA. The only positive aspect of the legislation is a promise to introduce a “clean-up” bill to address some of the worst aspects. What that means exactly, I’m not sure, but as I learn more, I will share the details with you.

Click here to read a really good summary of what happened, according to CalMatters (an excellent website for tracking the latest news from Sacramento).

What is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)? CEQA is (was?) a bedrock California environmental protection law that requires, among other things, that before a proposed development can be approved, the impacts of that development be analyzed and reported in the form of an Environmental Impact Report. Sounds simple because it is, but you can see how special interests, who seek to exploit our environment, wouldn’t want that kind of review and oversight.

A couple of important things to note.

1) Although there was an effort to remove the requirement of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) from proposed development review, that important provision remains. For more than half a century, the rule has been that if there’s a fair argument that environmental damage may occur, an EIR must be prepared. State Senator Scott Wiener initially sought to reverse the presumption, requiring EIR advocates to prove that an EIR was necessary, but he dropped that provision to expedite the bill’s passage.

2) Developments near (or in) the Los Cerritos Wetlands will remain subject to the oversight of the California Coastal Commission and adhere to the laws of the Coastal Act, thus allowing our local and fragile Los Cerritos Wetlands some additional protections.

Nevertheless, we are sad that it will be easier to exploit vulnerable habitats throughout the state, including coastal habitats, oak woodlands, chaparral, forests, desert vistas, and grasslands, without any environmental review or mitigation. We are sad that vulnerable communities will be more likely to be exposed to toxic industrial projects with little to no protections for those living alongside industrially zoned land. Shockingly, the bill provides no guardrails to protect against the worst health and safety impacts on residents and school children in these areas.

I thank all of you who made a phone call or sent an email to those legislators who represent us. Community support for the protection of Los Cerritos Wetlands inspires and sustains me.

Stay tuned; there will be more to come, and I will keep you informed. In the meantime, have a safe and sustainable 4th of July holiday. And join us on the July 5th nature walk, if you can. Details are below.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

P.S. It’s not too late to contact your legislator and voice your opinion to ensure that
SB 131’s clean-up amendments will result in meaningful improvements to the bill. The amendments are being drafted now. Ask them to commit to addressing the aspects of the bill that pose significant harm to communities and the environment. That’s all you need to say!

Your legislator’s contact information can be found at https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

Attend our Raptor Ramble nature walks before they are paused due to the restoration of the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands.

Raptor Ramble/Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Nature Walk.

Join us on Saturday, July 5 or August 2 to learn about the upcoming restoration of Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands and the important raptor habitat.

These special tours will be led by knowledgeable ecologists who helped design the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands restoration project, which is expected to break ground in Fall 2025. Our curated Raptor Ramble tours are the public’s final opportunity to view this land before the restoration begins. Tour attendees will learn about plans for hydrological connections, earth moving, public access, and large-scale plantings of native habitats while observing the current condition of the land. In addition to learning about the restoration design details, participants will look for raptors (birds of prey) and other charismatic species that forage and nest in the area. Participants will likely see rare bird species that will benefit from the improved habitat. The final portion of the tour will spend time along the Heron Pointe Cultural Trail, where attendees will learn about the native people who lived on the land, how they utilized its resources, and how the Tribal Advisory Group and local Native American tribal members contributed to the restoration’s final design.

Our walk leaders possess extensive knowledge about the restoration project, site history, and local wildlife. Bring binoculars if you have them; we will observe many fascinating species. Don’t miss this opportunity to access this land before the restoration project begins!

To learn more or to sign up for one or more of the upcoming nature walks,
use this link.

Our letter to the City detailing the impacts they should study regarding a new development proposed near Los Cerritos Wetlands.

*Arial view of the current tank farm property located at 6701 E 2nd Street.*
*The proposed project site encompasses approximately 53 acres.*

A new development is being proposed for the soon-to-be former tank farm located at 6701 E 2nd Street and Studebaker Road. While I am glad the ugly and toxic storage tanks are being removed, the question is what should replace them in that spot to balance landowner needs while protecting the nearby fragile Los Cerritos Wetlands ecosystem. As you can see in the image above, the proposed Sares Regis Group’s “Sea Ranch” development would be situated in a particularly environmentally sensitive location that straddles the Los Cerritos Wetlands and the San Gabriel River.

Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), environmental projects are analyzed through the production of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The first step in that process is a Notice of Preparation (NOP), which the City circulated in early May.
Of course, with such a large project proposed for such a sensitive ecological area, the City of Long Beach must conduct a thorough analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. We have submitted our thoughts to the City, which you can read here.

Wrapping up another great year of field trips to Los Cerritos Wetlands for Title 1 schools.

Students learning about wetland entomology by participating in a bug hunt
(fake bugs, not real ones!) out at Los Cerritos Wetlands.

Thanks to the generosity of the AES Corporation, the Port of Long Beach, the California Coastal Conservancy, Long Beach Parks Rec, and Marine, the Adams Legacy Foundation, and the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority, we have hosted a record number of field trips this year for students who attend Title 1 schools.

We love hosting these enthusiastic scholars whose grades range from 2nd through 5th (and sometimes a bit older). Not only are the students bright and inquisitive, but you can see they enjoy the rich learning experience provided by our colleagues from Tidal Influence. The students enjoy a truly hands-on learning experience: hunting for bugs (fake bugs, of course) to learn about wetlands entomology, making a mud ball full of seeds that they hurl into the wetlands (thus adding seeds to the area which helps grow wetlands plants), and making a plant press of a wetlands plant (part of a wetlands botany lesson) that they take home.

With the school year wrapping up, we are turning our eyes towards field trips for students who participate in Long Beach’s Park and Rec program that provides summer activities for youth in our City’s urban parks. We love those kids too and can’t believe we have been hosting those field trips for over 10 years!

It’s all part of our philosophy and values…..that access to the natural world should be available to all, not just those who have the resources to travel and visit exotic natural areas. Shouldn’t we all do what we can to create a more just and equitable society?
Los Cerritos Wetlands is, and should be, a resource not only for fragile and threatened species but for the human population of Long Beach as well. We are making progress, and that is worth celebrating.

Cheers to our funders and cheers to you for supporting the protection and preservation of Los Cerritos Wetlands. We couldn’t do it without you; we appreciate you.

Students learning about wetlands ecology at the Los Cerritos Wetlands
Zedler Marsh outdoor classroom

Additional opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed business park near Los Cerritos Wetlands.

*View of the current tank farm property located at 6701 E 2nd Street.*
*The proposed project site encompasses approximately 53 acres.*

A new development is being proposed for the soon-to-be-former tank farm on Studebaker Road and 6701 E 2nd Street. While I am glad the ugly and toxic storage tanks are coming down, the question is what should go in that spot that will balance landowner needs while protecting the nearby fragile Los Cerritos Wetlands ecosystem. As you can see in the above image, the proposed Sares Regis Group’s “Sea Ranch” development would be located in a particularly environmentally sensitive location that straddles the Los Cerritos Wetlands and the San Gabriel River.

Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), environmental projects are analyzed by producing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The first step in that process is a Notice of Preparation (NOP), which included a public meeting that was held on Wednesday, May 13th. However, the City is re-issuing this NOP to reflect revisions to the project address and Assessor Parcel Number. Thus, there will be an additional opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed development on Monday, June 11th at 6:00 PM. If you would like to attend the meeting (and I hope you will), details and a link to join the meeting are below.

Meeting Information (Virtual)
Date: June 11, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Pacific via Zoom
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://longbeach-gov.zoom.us/j/91862732533?pwd=qP9QShLgN3zhaK8PxtJTLXnZbFlTaa.1
OR
Meeting ID:
918 6273 2533
Passcode: 766254

Part of the NOP process is to suggest to the City and the development proponents issues that should be studied in the EIR. I encourage you to send in your suggestions for issues to be studied or bring them up at the meeting. This development will be located near publicly owned wetlands (your wetlands), and your voice should be heard. Further details can be found in the Revised Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Sea Ranch Business Park. See you at the (virtual) meeting, I hope!

Attend our Raptor Ramble nature walks before they are paused due to the restoration of the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands.

**Raptor Ramble/Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Nature Walk.**

Join us on Saturday, July 5 or August 2 to learn about the upcoming restoration of Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands and the important raptor habitat.

These special tours will be led by knowledgeable ecologists who helped design the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands restoration project, which is expected to break ground in Fall 2025. Our curated Raptor Ramble tours are the public’s final opportunity to view this land before the restoration begins. Tour attendees will learn about plans for hydrological connections, earth moving, public access, and large-scale plantings of native habitats while observing the current condition of the land. In addition to learning about the restoration design details, participants will look for raptors (birds of prey) and other charismatic species that forage and nest in the area. Participants will likely see rare bird species that will benefit from the improved habitat. The final portion of the tour will spend time along the Heron Pointe Cultural Trail, where attendees will learn about the native people who lived on the land, how they utilized its resources, and how the Tribal Advisory Group and local Native American tribal members contributed to the restoration’s final design.

Our walk leaders possess extensive knowledge about the restoration project, site history, and local wildlife. Bring binoculars if you have them; we will observe many fascinating species. Don’t miss this opportunity to access this land before the restoration project begins!

To learn more or to sign up for one or more of the upcoming nature walks,
use this link.

credit: Kevin Mendoza — photo by Kevin Mendoza

New development proposed for SE Long Beach. Wednesday, May 14th, will be your first opportunity to give the City feedback.

*View of the current tank farm property located at 6801 E 2nd Street, Long Beach, California.*
*The proposed project site encompasses approximately 53 acres.*

Sadly, the vast majority of southern California coastal open space has been lost to development and infrastructure. With so few open spaces left, we must restore and protect what remains while, at the same time, fighting back against harmful development.

A new development is being proposed for the soon-to-be-former tank farm on Studebaker just north of Westminster at 6801 E 2nd Street. While I am glad the ugly and toxic storage tanks are coming down, the question is what should go in that spot that will balance landowner needs while protecting the nearby fragile Los Cerritos Wetlands ecosystem. As you can see in the above image, the proposed Sares Regis Group’s “Sea Ranch” development would be located in a particularly important and environmentally sensitive location that straddles the Los Cerritos Wetlands and the San Gabriel River.

Thanks to updated zoning for the area, there will be some good things about the proposed development (required bird safe lighting and native plant palette), but can more be done to protect the fragile wildlife that depends on this area? That’s what the environmental review process, required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is designed to do: inform us about development alternatives, including a no-build alternative. We are so fortunate in California to have CEQA, which at its most basic level provides information that promotes informed decisions. CEQA, which for decades has protected human health, as well as the environment, is now sadly under attack….see the section below and take action.

Under CEQA, environmental projects are analyzed by producing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The first step in that process is a Notice of Preparation (NOP), which includes a public meeting. The meeting for the Sea Ranch development is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th. The City has provided the following details:

“The City of Long Beach will conduct a virtual public Scoping Meeting to present the proposed project and environmental process and to receive public comments and suggestions regarding the proposed project. All interested parties are invited to attend the scoping meeting to assist in identifying issues to be addressed in the Draft EIR. The Scoping Meeting will include a presentation about the proposed Sea Ranch project, the required environmental review process, and the schedule. After the presentation, public comments will be accepted either orally or in writing via the chat function. The Scoping Meeting will be held via web conference at the following date and time:
Meeting Information (Virtual)
Date: May 14, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Pacific via Zoom
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join the meeting

We will be there to share our comments both at the virtual scoping meeting and subsequently in a formal letter to be submitted by the deadline of June 2nd. We encourage you to participate too. Make your voice heard! Perhaps talk about the importance of robust buffers to protect fragile wildlife from the hubbub of urban life. Or share your concerns that traffic impacts be fully studied and problems addressed. For a good read on the importance of buffers and sensitive lighting next to open space, check out this memo written by our advisor, Travis Longcore. Any development adjacent to the wetlands should, at the very least, have science-based, robust protective buffers and a plan to keep invasive lighting and noise away from fragile wetlands. More details about the proposed development can be found in the official NOP Scoping hearing notice, released by the City last week. Hope to see you at the meeting! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

The Sares Regis Group’s Sea Ranch project (depicted below) proposes 10 light industrial buildings ranging in size from 67,472 square feet (sf) to 124,265 sf, for a total of 938,681 sf. The project would include 200,000 sf of office space and 738,681 sf of light industrial space.

Protect CEQA, send a quick note to your representative. Ask them to oppose SB 607. Please do it today!

TAKE ACTION – Help Stop SB 607!
An Undermining of California’s Environmental Bill of Rights

Senator Scott Wiener has a bill before the California Legislature (SB 607) that threatens to undermine California’s most significant environmental law. The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, is a bedrock law that ensures that harm to the natural world is fully accounted for when decisions about proposed developments are made. Now, using the deception of helping infill housing, SB 607 would severely limit or even eliminate CEQA review for development affecting wildlife. The bill weakens environmental review requirements for nearly all private and government development proposals, including freeways, airports, dams, railyards, shopping centers, sports complexes, power plants, prisons, and mining operations.

Without appropriate review, how can we know the impacts on our community, air, and water of proposed development projects?

Please contact your legislator and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 607.

Click here to find your Senator.
Enter your address and then click on the locate button.
Follow the links on the form to your Senator’s webpage and click on their contact tab.
You can call their district office and/or use their online contact form and ask them to:

Oppose SB 607 (Wiener), which weakens environmental protections for nearly all private and government projects in California. SB 607 applies to most new development and would result in less transparent environmental review, agency confusion, and more litigation. CEQA acts as an environmental bill of rights, giving Californians access to critical information that affects their communities. At a time when environmental protections, especially those at the federal level, are under assault, California environmental laws must stay intact.

For further details about the problems with SB 607, please click here.

To view the sign-on letter in opposition to SB 607 (signed by over 100 California environmental groups, including the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust please click here.

Thank you for doing your part to protect our planet.

Reminder, if you missed our screening of “To Save Our Coast,” you can watch it online.

Attendees enjoying “To Save Our Coast” at the lovely Long Beach Art Theatre. We were honored to have special guests at the screening, including former California Attorney General Bill Lockyer and former California Coastal Commission Chair and Long Beach resident, Mel Nutter.

Many thanks to all who attended our screening of To Save Our Coast. Great crowd, great special guests, and most importantly, great film! To Save Our Coast tells the story of how ordinary citizens came together to save the California Coast from overdevelopment and exploitation. We owe them a debt of gratitude, that is for sure!

If you couldn’t attend in person, you can watch the film online. Of course, nothing beats the wonderful setting of the Art Theatre, but don’t miss seeing this inspiring and compelling movie.

Without the Coastal Act, California’s coast would look very different from what it does today, with far less public access. Our coast would be dotted with private beaches and who knows what kind of gigantic structures (think Miami Beach).

Click the image below to view the film.

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