LCWLT Virtual Holiday Gathering

LCWLT Virtual Holiday Gathering


Dr. Joy Zedler, Aldo Leopold Chair of Restoration Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, is known for her passion and expertise about wetlands restoration.


As a San Diego State University (SDSU) faculty member (1968-1998) and researcher at Tijuana Estuary, she followed in the footsteps of activist Mike McCoy, who prevented the Tijuana River Estuary from being developed into a marina. Dr. Zedler founded SDSU’s Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory, which trained dozens of students and field hands in ecological restoration. Their collective work on the restoration of the Tijuana Estuary has guided those working to bring back degraded wetlands, and it has been a source of information and inspiration in efforts to restore Southern California wetlands.


Zedler Marsh, part of Los Cerritos Wetlands, is named in her honor as recognition of the important work she has done to guide the restoration of urban wetlands areas. Dr. Zedler also edited the well-known Handbook for Restoring Tidal Wetlands, which has been invaluable in the effort to restore Los Cerritos Wetlands.


Recently, Dr. Zedler gifted the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust with 100 copies of her newest book, Mud and Mudflats: Essential to the planet. It features science-based information, and it reprints more than three dozen drawings by Donovan McIntire that he created for Dr. Zedler’s 1992 book about the Tijuana Estuary. We are donating most of these books to local schools for whom we have hosted educational field trips to Los Cerritos Wetlands for the past 5 years. An important aspect of our work is to educate the community, particularly those who live in the most urban portions of Long Beach, about wetlands and the value of protecting them. Dr. Zedler’s important work and her books help us achieve that goal.


We are honored that Dr. Joy Zedler will be our keynote speaker at our virtual holiday gathering on Monday, December 21st, 2020, at 6 PM. We hope you will join us.


Dr. Zedler will be briefing attendees about her new book, Mud and mudflats: Essential to the planet, while discussing the need to protect and restore tidal mudflats. Recent research by others has strengthened an early argument that mudflats are critically important ecosystems, despite their small area. Find out how Long Beach mud likely contributes to global ecosystem services!  


For information about how to join the meeting and to rsvp, send an email to elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org.





Giving Tuesday, Holiday Event with Dr. Joy Zedler and Important Meeting this Thursday

Giving Tuesday, Holiday Event with Dr. Joy Zedler and Important Meeting this Thursday


Our local wetlands give our community so much. They support fragile and endangered wildlife, provide an outdoor classroom for local students, and offer a chance for all of us to spend time in nature. Sadly, our guided nature walks are currently on hold right now, but stay tuned. We hope that in 2021 we can start them again.


Over the years Los Cerritos Wetlands has been exploited, degraded and generally misused. But that is now changing. Slowly and surely, Los Cerritos Wetlands are coming back to life, and that is because of people like you, people who understand the value of this unique natural resource.


Our supporters have written letters and attended meetings when Los Cerritos Wetlands have been threatened by development proposals ranging from strip malls, to golf courses to luxury housing. Our community has helped to restore wetlands by planting native plants, removing trash, and removing non-native “invasive plants”. Our success is measured in the slow return of threatened and endangered species like the Belding’s Savanah sparrow. It is also measured by how much of the remaining wetlands is now in the public trust–currently close to half, with more on the way.


I am asking that you do one more thing and that is today, on Giving Tuesday, celebrate our local wetlands by making a contribution to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. There are many admirable and effective environmental protection groups here in Long Beach and we are proud to partner with them. But only the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is out there working every day to protect this vulnerable yet valuable eco-system which is a remaining remnant of a once vast wetlands complex that has all but disappeared. Your contribution, however much you can afford, makes a difference to the work we do. Not only does your contribution directly impact our ability to effectively advocate for Los Cerritos Wetlands, but it demonstrates to decision makers that Los Cerritos Wetlands is important to the community and worthy of their support and protection.


Please don’t delay. Become a member or make a contribution now to protect our wetlands. . . for ourselves, our families, and future generations.


Thank you for supporting the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust by participating in Giving Tuesday with me.


Sincerely,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


P.S. I know times are tough right now. If you can’t afford to donate please consider supporting our local wetlands by signing up for AmazonSmile. By signing up, when you shop on the AmazonSmile website, a percentage of your purchase is automatically donated to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. We hope you take a look and then sign up for the program. We appreciate your support!

Save the date. Virtual holiday community meeting featuring Dr. Joy Zedler.


Featuring special guest, Dr. Joy Zedler!

We are glad that our traditional end-of-the-year gathering will happen, but this year we will be gathering “virtually” on Monday December 21st 2020, at 6:00PM, via Zoom.


We are beyond excited that Dr. Joy Zedler, distinguished ecologist and groundbreaking researcher on the restoration of Southern California Wetlands, will be our keynote speaker.


Dr. Zedler will be briefing Land Trust members and supporters on the details of her new book for students (Mud and mudflats: Essential for the planet) while discussing the need to protect and restore tidal mudflats. Recent research by others has strengthened an early argument that mudflats are critically important ecosystems, despite their small area. Find out how Long Beach mud likely contributes to global ecosystem services! 


To rsvp or for details about how to attend the meeting on December 21st or to obtain a copy of Dr. Zedlers book send an email to Elizabeth.


Wetlands restoration vote will be Thursday, December 3rd

The vote to certify the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s (LCWA)’s Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) will be on Thursday, December 3rd. Those who have been following the years of planning for restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands will remember the many community meetings, public feedback, and expert analysis that led to this moment.


A certified environmental impact report for Los Cerritos Wetlands will provide guidelines for a someday fully restored wetlands. Certification of the PEIR will be followed by a public process to complete an optimized restoration plan. The Final PEIR and optimized restoration plan will enable the LCWA to move forward restoration projects. The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust have publicized and attended all public meetings, submitted many comment letters (aka feedback), and have worked very hard with the LCWA to improve their final plan. We are supportive of the certification of the PEIR, and we plan to say so at Thursday’s meeting. Of course, that doesn’t mean the end of our watchdogging and advocacy. A PEIR is a broad overview document from which restoration projects will spin off, each requiring its own review in order to determine impacts and benefits. Given how important wetlands are and how so few of them remain, public input and oversight will be critical.


What: Public meeting of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA)
When: Thursday, December 3rd, 2020, at 12:30PM
Attend: Click this Zoom meeting link or attend by phone at 1-669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 823 9641 3191 Passcode: 953048
Why: To participate in the LCWA’S upcoming board meeting and discussion about the certification of the LCWA’s Final Program Environmental Impact Report.
Happy Thanksgiving and Mark Your Calendar

Happy Thanksgiving and Mark Your Calendar


We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and are able to celebrate the holiday even though these times require we be socially distant and thoughtful in our interactions with other people.


The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is thankful for you and your care and concern for our local wetlands. As an organization we have come a long way from that first group of citizens who gathered in someone’s living room to begin the conversation of how they, ordinary people, could work together to advocate for the protection and preservation of Los Cerritos Wetlands. Fast forward to today where almost half our wetlands are safely in the public’s hands, and the conversation is more and more about how best to restore and rehabilitate them. 
 
That is good news, and it’s important to take the time to celebrate it. 


With appreciation for your support and vision of a fully restored Los Cerritos Wetlands,


Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s review of their Environmental Impact Report will be Thursday, December 3rd. 

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s (LCWA) meeting to review and likely certify the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), as part of the plan to restore Los Cerritos Wetlands, has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 3rd at 12:30PM. Those of you who have been following the restoration planning for Los Cerritos Wetlands will likely remember the many community meetings, public feedback, and expert analysis that led to this moment.


We, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust have been involved in the restoration planning process every step of the way. We have publicized and attended all public meetings, submitted many comment letters (aka feedback), and have worked very closely with the LCWA to improve their final plan. After some serious discussion, we are supportive of the certification of the PEIR, and we plan to say so at the December 3rd meeting. Of course, that doesn’t mean the end of our watchdogging and advocacy. A PEIR is designed to be a broad overview document from which restoration projects will spin off, each of those projects requiring its own review in order to determine impacts and benefits. That’s how the system works, and given how important wetlands are and how so few of them remain, public input and oversight will be critical.


What: Public Meeting of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA)
When: Thursday, December 3rd, 2020, at 12:30PM
Attend: Click this Zoom meeting link or attend by phone at 1-669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 862 8490 3707 Passcode: 504516
Why: To participate in the meeting and discussion about the certification of the LCWA’s Final Program Environmental Impact Report.


Check out the LCWA’s proposed resolution certifying the Final Program Environmental Impact Report and adopting Findings and Facts, a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.


I’ll be attending this meeting and hope you will too.
Environmental Review for Los Cerritos Wetlands Heads to Vote

Environmental Review for Los Cerritos Wetlands Heads to Vote


The vote to certify the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) as part of the plan to restore Los Cerritos Wetlands is coming up fast. The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA) is expected to hear about and then vote to certify the document on Thursday, November 5th at their quarterly meeting. Those of you who have been following the many years of planning for restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands will likely remember the many community meetings, public feedback, and expert analysis that lead to this moment.


The LCWA is required have a certified environmental impact report for Los Cerritos Wetlands because it is part of the roadmap (even if it takes a long time) to a final and fully restored wetlands. Certification of the PEIR will be followed by a public process to complete an optimized restoration plan. Together, the Final PEIR and optimized restoration plan will enable the LCWA to consider restoration projects and seek funding for restoration activities. A certified plan allows potential funders (both governmental and private) to have specific information about how their donations will be implemented.


The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust has been involved in the process every step of the way. We have publicized and attended all public meetings, submitted many comment letters (aka feedback), and have worked very closely with the LCWA to improve their final plan. After some serious discussion, we are supportive of the certification of the PEIR, and we plan to say so at Thursday’s meeting. Of course, that doesn’t mean the end of our watchdogging and advocacy. A PEIR is designed to be a broad overview document from which restoration projects will spin off, each of those projects requiring its own in-depth review in order to determine impacts and benefits. That’s just how the system works, and given how important wetlands are and how so few of them remain, public input and oversight will be critical.


What: Public meeting of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA)
When: Thursday, November 5th a 12:30PM
Attend: Click this Zoom meeting link or attend by phone at 1-669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 823 9641 3191 Passcode: 953048
Why: To participate in the meeting and discussion about the certification of the LCWA’s Final Program Environmental Impact Report.


The LCWA, as lead agency, is required under the California Environmental Quality Act to make written findings concerning each alternative and each significant environmental impact identified in the Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration PEIR. The Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations for that document is available here.


If you would like even more information check out the LCWA’s website about the project.


It will be a big day for the furtherance of restoration within Los Cerritos Wetlands. As always not everyone will agree, but we are pleased with this outcome and the role we played to make it better.





Good Outcome for the Wetlands.  We are committed to making it better.

Good Outcome for the Wetlands. We are committed to making it better.


Dear Friend of Los Cerritos Wetlands,

Outcome of Friday’s Coastal Commission vote on new zoning for the lands in and around Los Cerritos Wetlands was basically a good one.


The plan approved by the Coastal Commission included 16 recommendations by their staff that significantly improves protections for the wetlands and other habitat areas.


While we are happy with the overall outcome we are disappointed that Commissioners did not include our 3 additional recommendations which were 1) tie increased building heights to even more robust wetlands buffers, especially at the Marketplace property since it directly abuts sensitive wetlands; 2) tie increased building heights directly to benefits for wetlands and environmentally sensitive habitat areas; 3) make lighting standards as wetlands friendly as possible, based on science, to protect sensitive wetlands creatures. 


We will continue to advocate for those additional improvements but are happy, overall, with the outcome of Thursday’s Coastal Commission vote.


The new rules for the Southeast Area Specific Plan (SEASP) are now better for wetlands, and we will work to make them even better, and that is a good thing.


We are glad that there will be new zoning for the area so everyone will understand the rules.

Watch our testimony on our new You Tube Channel here.

Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust



Sincerely,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust



Wetlands Field Trips

Wetlands Field Trips


Since 2015, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust (LCWLT)’s Field Trip Program has introduced thousands of students and families to Los CerritosWetlands. The LCWLT believes that offering these trips free of charge, in addition to our in-person monthly walks programs, helps grow future environmental stewards. The field trip program includes the following:

– Summer field trips to the Hellman Property for youth and families participating in the BE SAFE program with City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine
– Classroom trips for students attending schools in North, West and Central Long Beach in the Long Beach Unified School District
– Classroom trips for students at Heroes Elementary in the Santa Ana Unified School District

The LCWLT is currently developing a virtual field trip program to continue to serve students and teachers during Covid-related school restrictions.

For information about field trips and field trip programs for youth and community groups, please contact Elizabeth Lambe at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org.






Coastal Commission Meeting About SEASP Coming Up Fast


Dear Friend of Los Cerritos Wetlands,


I can hardly believe it, after years and years of community meetings and discussions, new zoning for the lands in and around Los Cerritos Wetlands will have its final hearing this Thursday, October 8th, before the California Coastal Commission. It’s an important vote since the outcome will shape the future of Southeast Long Beach for years to come.


We, for the most part, support the final plan as long as the Coastal Commission agrees with their staff and accepts the 16 additional recommendations.


Beyond that there are just a few more things we would tweak:


1) If the heights of the buildings in the proposed South East Area Specific Plan (SEASP) area are going to go up (and they are) then there need to be large and robust buffers between the new buildings and the wetlands. In fact, buffers should be a prerequisite for any increased development height, but especially in the Marketplace shopping area since that area is right up against fragile wetlands. It is really the only site within the SEASP planning area where expanded buffers could recoup some of the wetlands/sensitive habitat loss due to development.


And of course, the Marketplace, and other spots in South East Long Beach do warrant revitalization. But unlike the other sites, only Marketplace directly abuts the wetlands. So while there will be new development, it should be configured is such a way that protects and expands the wetland footprintRoads, utilities and shoreline protection devices should be located outside of the buffers and located on the development site where there is room.


2) Building heights above 3 stories should only be granted if additional wetland and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) protections are provided. Incentives should directly protect wetlands and ESHA through wider buffers, voluntary purchase of wetland mitigation bank credits and purchase of wetlands to be conveyed to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority.


3) Lighting for buildings near wetlands should meet the highest of standards for protection of wildlife. SEASP currently incorrectly calculates the illumination from moonlight. This sets the wrong standard for illumination at the edge of habitat and needs to be fixed. Also, new development located on properties that contain or are located within 100 feet of wetlands, ESHA, or sensitive coastal habitat areas should be designed to achieve the minimum degree of illumination necessary for public safety, minimize light trespass, and limit the illumination of open space and sensitive coastal habitat areas to the maximum extent feasible. At the edge of habitat, the lighting from development should be downward directed, shielded, energy efficient, dark sky-compatible, and incorporate state-of-the-art improvements in lighting technology when replaced. Replacement bulbs or fixtures must be upgraded to incorporate best available technology, and programmable timing devices shall be utilized to turn off unnecessary lights where possible.


If you agree with us, please send a note to the Coastal Commission and tell them so. To make it as easy as possible, the note is even pre-written (although feel free to customize your note in any way you wish).


Lastly, please plan to attend (virtually) the Coastal Commission meeting on Thursday, October 8th, if you can. The Coastal Commission is famous for being one of the most powerful regulatory agencies in California. It’s fascinating to watch them in action. Our item appears to be on halfway through their agenda that day. It’s easy to sign up to testify (and I hope you will).


Sincerely,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust



Upcoming Special Briefing


As you likely know, we are busy preparing for the upcoming Coastal Commission hearing, which is scheduled for October 8th, when the new zoning (SEASP) proposed for the lands in and around Los Cerritos Wetlands will be heard.


In order to prepare for the Coastal Commission hearing we are hosting one more community briefing, this one featuring Dave Hubbard from Coastal Restoration Consultants.


Coastal Restoration Consultants is a consulting company that specializes in planning, managing and implementing large-scale ecological restoration projects.


For the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, Coastal Restoration Consultants reviewed the Sea Level Rise Modeling Study for the SEASP Area and Biological Support for the SEASP, Specifically Mapping of Areas Meeting the Criteria for Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) within the 1,475-Acre SEASP Area.


It’s sounds complicated but it really isn’t. ESHA are lands within the Coastal Zone that merit a higher level of protection from development and other impacts. Therefore, it is important that those fragile and important areas within Los Cerritos Wetlands that deserve that extra protection be fully identified, mapped out, and accounted for.


Climate driven changes, including sea level rise, increased flooding, and storm surge that can inundate the wetlands are an important consideration when planning for the future of Los Cerritos Wetlands. Therefore it is vital that decision makers have the latest, most up- to-date information on the potential impacts of sea level rise and these other climate change driven events.


I am delighted to share with you that Mr. Hubbard will be providing an overview, virtually, to Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust supporters. He will talk about Coastal Restoration Consultants’ research and what they recommend we advocate for to improve the final SEASP.


Mr. Hubbard, co-principal of Coastal Restoration Consultants has an impressive background and has been planning, implementing and monitoring restoration projects for wetlands and other native habitats since 1996. These projects have supported a range of goals ranging from re-establishment of hydrology and native vegetation, improvements in native biodiversity, ecosystem services, rare species habitat, water quality, and invasive species control.


Coastal Restoration Consultants’ research is fascinating and I think you will enjoy learning about it.


What: Special briefing featuring Dave Hubbard of Coastal Restoration Consultants.
When: Monday, October 5th at 7:00PM
Why: To learn more about what is being proposed within the zoning update, especially in the areas of ESHA and sea level rise.


Email me to rsvp and for information about how to join the October 5th briefing.


Also at the meeting will be Terry Watt, our planning and land use advisor, who will help
answer any questions you may have.


Hope to see you on Monday, October 5th, for our interesting community briefing, and then also on October 8th at the Coastal Commission meeting. I’ll send details about how to attend the Coastal Commission hearing in my next email.



Big News from the LCWLT- Upcoming Meeting, Long Beach Gives and Governor Signs AB 1788

Big News from the LCWLT- Upcoming Meeting, Long Beach Gives and Governor Signs AB 1788


Important Upcoming Meeting
I completely understand if you don’t remember SEASP because it has been quite a few years since it has been on anyone’s radar screen.  SEASP stands for the South East Area Specific Plan, which is the proposed new zoning for the lands in and around Los Cerritos Wetlands. After much discussion and community dialog, it was passed by the City Council back in 2017.  


Since then, the City of Long Beach has been in dialog with the Coastal Commission’s staff regarding SEASP because the final approval needed will be by the Coastal Commission. We recently found out SEASP will be before the Coastal Commission on Thursday, October 8th.


Where we are now is that Coastal Commission staff is recommending to Commissioners that they should approve SEASP as long as 16 additional conditions are met. Some of the additional conditions we agree with and some we don’t. For example the language contained within the staff recommendations really recognizes the important role that buffers play in protecting sensitive wetlands habitat from the hubbub of urban life. The Coastal Commission’s staff report strengthens the protections provided by buffers. However we think perhaps the lighting levels and standards could be tweaked to better protect fragile wetlands species.  We are also worried that the final plan be able to truly protect Los Cerritos Wetlands from climate change, particularly steadily increasing sea level rise.


We too have been busy and have hired our own experts to provide extra review and subsequent recommendations to ensure the final outcome is the best it can be for animals, habitat, and the community. To learn more about the status of SEASP, our views on the matter and those of our experts we will be hosting two Community Zoom meetings. At these meetings you will hear directly from our experts to learn what’s in store for Los Cerritos Wetlands and how to make it better.


Zoom Community meeting #1 will feature Dr. Travis Longcore, a truly accomplished educator and scientist who had done groundbreaking research on the impacts of urban lights on fragile wetlands wildlife, especially on those species that are primarily nocturnal. He will walk us through the impacts of lighting on wetlands habitat, how best to measure impacts to habitat and how to make SEASP the most wetlands friendly it can be. The new SEASP is already pretty good, employing bird-safe standards recommended by the Audubon Society.  But Dr. Longcore will talk about things that can be done to make it even better. After all, whatever is voted on by the Coastal Commission will set the standards for the foreseeable future, so we better get it right.  


What:   Community meeting featuring Dr. Travis Longcore.  
When:  Thursday, October 1st at 7:00PM

Why:    To learn the latest details about the proposed SEASP and how to improve it, especially in the area of habitat friendly lighting, email me to rsvp and for information about how to join the meeting.  


Our second community briefing will be on Tuesday, October 5th and feature Dave Hubbard from Coastal Restoration Consultants talking about Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas and other issues within Los Cerritos Wetlands. I’ll be sending out further details about that meeting in my next email.

Also at these meetings will be Terry Watt, our planning and land use advisor, who will help answer any questions you may have.


Hope to see you on Thursday, October 1st, and then on Tuesday, October5th, for two interesting and thoughtful community briefings.

Long Beach Gives
Last week was a real whirlwind for those organizations that participated in Long Beach Gives, on Thursday, September 24th.


Collaboratively, in one day, 154 Long Beach based non-profits (including us!) raised $1,738,941. Isn’t that amazing? The goal was for one million and they came pretty close to 2 million. The goal for the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust was to raise $8,000 and we came pretty close, too. We raised $7,452. Since I am a compulsive person (LOL) I sure would love it if we could hit our goal of $8,000.  It would only take $458 to make it happen. If that motivates you, (and I hope it does) I urge you to make a donation through the Long Beach Gives portal. All contributions to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust are tax deductible.


Another cool thing about Long Beach Gives is finding out you have new friends and supporters. In this case we made new friends with the folks that produce the Ohana Festival, who donated to the Land Trust through Long Beach Gives. How cool is that?  

AB 1788
Thanks to everyone who made phone calls or emails and letters to Governor Newsom and our local legislators in support of AB 1788. Sincere appreciation for our local legislators, Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, Senator Lena Gonzalez and Senator Tom Umberg for voting yes on the bill. I am certain they were under a lot of pressure. Also three cheers for Assemblymember Richard Bloom for his years of persistence in tackling this issue!

This is a great win, not only for raptors but for other wildlife, and pets too.  


AB 1788 will prevent more poisonings by strongly curbing the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (with some exceptions) until the California Department of Pesticide Regulation finishes its reevaluation.


I urge you to send the Governor a note of thanks for signing this important bill.
 
Long Beach Gives is Here- Help us reach our goal today!

Long Beach Gives is Here- Help us reach our goal today!


The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust works to restore, preserve and provide public access to a unique habitat, the Los Cerritos Wetlands.  


Thanks to the vision and the tenacity of our early founders, we have accomplished amazing things.  Since our founding over half of Los Cerritos Wetlands is in the public trust, we have beaten back some really bad and damaging development proposals and have provided unique on-the-ground educational experiences for local school children, especially those who reside in the most urban parts of Long Beach, where natural open space is at a premium.


With all the bad news that is emanating out of Washington D.C. these days, isn’t it great we have so much to celebrate locally when it comes to protecting and restoring wetlands habitat.


Of course defending undeveloped, and therefore rare, coastal open space from those who wish to exploit our local wetlands requires community support, and we are so appreciative of all of you that have attended a nature walk, responded to an action alert, and spread the word about the value of Los Cerritos Wetlands.  


We are excited about all of our progress, as plans to transfer more of Los Cerritos Wetlands into the public trust and restore them move forward. We are expanding into the virtual world our innovative programs for the public to experience our wetlands since in-person wetlands visits are temporarily suspended. We are proud of the role we played in urging our city to ban polystyrene products and single-use plastic bags, thereby keeping harmful pollution out of our fragile wetlands. These local victories uplift and sustain us during these challenging times.


But now I need you to do one more thing.

Click here to donate to the LCWLT as part of Long Beach Gives.

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust has been chosen to participate in Long Beach Gives, a one-day giving cycle for Long Beach non-profits. On September 24, 2020 we are committed to raising funds towards the protection and preservation of Los Cerritos Wetlands via Long Beach Gives. Our fundraising goal is $8,000. Supporting the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust means ensuring the protection, preservation and restoration of our unique and vital local wetlands habitat. Additionally, with help from supporters such as you, we can make sure students in Long Beach and Orange County public schools continue to have access to wetlands tours and lessons, experiences that foster a connection to nature and each other and help 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. 

Click any of the links in this post OR click the red “Long Beach Gives” button on our home page.

It won’t take more than a few minutes and the charismatic raptors of Los Cerritos Wetlands and beyond will thank you.