Remembering a special person


I was very sad to hear about the passing of Timothy Anderson, former Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Executive Director. He might even have been the very first one. I never met Tim in person but I heard many interesting stories about him and, as is so common these days, got to know him through his postings on Facebook.

He was truly beloved by so many people both here in Long Beach and also in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, where he retired.

Below are how Tim’s brother Carey Anderson described Tim from a Facebook account of his memorial service.


My brother was a hoot. He loved most everyone, designed and built great and beautiful boats, and loved sailing, nature, birds, and libraries. Tim used to tell me “ libraries should be open 24 hours and have free coffee”, and requested that he be buried with his most valuable possession, his Library Card! He loved the Morehouse Parish Library, one of the librarians came and spoke at the service. Tim finished the 8th grade and took off from home seeking adventure and understanding and he never stopped learning and acquiring new skills. He could build computers, and 3D print tools he designed, use his laser printer and cutter, build a curved Oak stair rail, and designed some great boats. He built me the world’s most beautiful sailing canoe, no brag, just fact.


You gotta give a shout-out and a thank you to all who work to preserve the natural world and wild spaces of our planet and Tim Anderson was one of those people. Please send a thought and a prayer to all who loved Tim and let’s keep on working together to protect and preserve local important natural areas like Los Cerritos Wetlands.
Join us for a walk on December 3rd

Join us for a walk on December 3rd


Come check out the Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, December 3rd. This guided outdoor walking tour is led by environmental educators from Tidal Influence, a local environmental firm that is actively working to restore the wetlands. Our Raptor Ramble nature walk will begin with a brief orientation to the Los Cerritos Wetlands, followed by a stroll through heritage coastal sage scrub and historic dredge spoils while looking for raptors (birds of prey) and other birds that nest in the area. As we pass the salt flats, we may see tiger beetles and coyote tracks while hiking up to the Heron Pointe Cultural trail.
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WHERE: Meet in the driveway/parking area at the corner of 1st St and PCH in Seal Beach. Close-toed shoes required, and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. There are no bathrooms along the route so please plan accordingly.
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WHEN: Saturday, December 3rd, at 8:00 am sharp! The parking lot gate will open at 7:45 AM and close at 8:10 AM. No latecomers can be admitted, and all participants must stay for the entire walk, which will end by 10:00 AM.
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Reserve your spot via our Eventbrite page. Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.


Hope to see you there!
BE SAFE Trips are Back and Sponsored by the Port of Long Beach

BE SAFE Trips are Back and Sponsored by the Port of Long Beach


The Port of Long Beach (in partnership with the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust) participated in Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine summer programming this year by sponsoring field trips to Los Cerritos Wetlands for kids who are enrolled in summer programs at Silverado, Drake, Seaside and Admiral Kidd Park (as well as other parks in Long Beach).  
 
On these wetlands field trips kids learn about the value of protecting wetlands and the role wetlands play in a functioning ecosystem. As part of the field trip experience, attendees help plant a wetlands plant which helps restore and bring our local wetlands back to life and they participate in an educational walk through Zedler Marsh where environmental educators help kids learn about wetlands plants, and animals.  
 
Sadly, due to COVID protocols, these popular field trips were canceled for the last couple of years, but now they are back! It was great to see our youth learning firsthand why it is important to protect our local wetlands while at the same time making memories and expanding their knowledge of an important ecosystem. 
 
You can check out the Los Cerritos Wetlands for yourself by attending a free-of-charge guided nature walk that takes place on the first Saturday of the month from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM. Hosted by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, there are three different tours that you can sign up for, the Heron Hike, Turtle Trek, and Raptor Ramble. For more information or to rsvp email Elizabeth  
 
The Los Cerritos Wetlands is a unique resource that provides the community with an opportunity to spend quality time in nature while also serving as important coastal habitat for threatened species.  
September is Coastal Clean-Up Month

September is Coastal Clean-Up Month


California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 9 AM-Noon. Help remove the trash and plastic pollution at beaches and waterways throughout the state, including in Long Beach.


The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust urges you to join one of the coastal clean-up sites located near Los Cerritos Wetlands, such as those sponsored by Save Our Beach, or check out those in Long Beach sponsored by Heal the Bay and the El Dorado Nature Center at the Belmont Pier. You can find all the Coastal Cleanup sites here.


It is a sad fact that trash from inland areas flows downstream to the coast, so cleaning up near the mouth of the San Gabriel River helps prevents more debris on our local beaches and wetlands. Close to 17,000 Californians participated in a neighborhood cleanup during September 2021, preventing over 150,000 pounds of trash from entering our stormwater systems and potentially polluting our coast and ocean.


However you choose to participate, please do your part to keep our beaches and waterways clean and healthy!