As an organization, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust has 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 rapidly vanishing coastal wetlands. Fast forward to today, when almost half of Los Cerritos 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 is important to take the time to celebrate it.
Of course there is bad news for the environment these days, and much of it is emanating from Washington D.C. These are concerning times for those of us who care about our nation’s parks, wilderness areas, and open spaces. I worry about their safety and their future. However, much can be done to protect the environment at the local level, and with your help, we are persevering here in our cities, where it will be more important than ever to emerge as leaders in climate science and conservation. Despite the current regressive environmental policies at the federal level, we are excited about our progress locally, as plans move forward to transfer more of Los Cerritos Wetlands into the public trust and restore them. We celebrate our innovative programs for the public to experience our wetlands, as well as the expansion of our outdoor education for local school children. We’re also proud that our city has implemented a ban of many polystyrene products, keeping harmful pollution out of our fragile wetlands and coastal ecosystems. These are the local victories that will uplift and sustain us during these challenging times.
The fight to protect and restore Los Cerritos Wetlands will continue into the new year and beyond. We are grateful in the knowledge that we will prevail because of the partnership and support of our members. I urge you to affirm or renew your commitment to the restoration, exploration, and defense of Los Cerritos Wetlands by making a tax deductible donation to the Land Trust today.
Donations of up to $6,000 to Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust will be matched dollar-to-dollar through December 31, 2019.
To donate click here.
Don’t forget. We have two interesting
community events coming up in January.
Wetlands Nature Walk on Saturday, January 4th, 2020
Join us and our partners, educators from the biological consulting company, Tidal Influence, on our Heron Hike to the Marketplace Marsh and back at Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, January 4th.
Our walk begins with a brief orientation to our wetlands. We will discuss the history and ownership of various parcels within Los Cerritos Wetlands. We will then walk towards the levee and discuss the reintroduction of the tides. After that, using oil roads, we will walk to the old bridge on the levee and discuss the San Gabriel River and the future of bringing water back into the land. Then we will view the City-owned lands, including Marketplace Marsh. After that, we will head back to our meeting place, Bring binoculars, if you have them; we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife.
Parking lot gate will open at 7:45 am and close at 8:15 am. No latecomers can be admitted for the tour, and all participants must stay for the entire tour, which will end by 10:00 am.
Meet in the driveway/parking area at the corner of 1st Street and PCH in Seal Beach. Close-toed shoes required; and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information email Elizabeth or download this hike flyer.
Draft Environmental Impact Report status update meeting for comprehensive restoration planning
The group running the planning effort for the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s comprehensive planning process will be hosting a status update meeting on January 23, 2020 at the Recreation Park Community Center at 4900 E. 7th St in Long Beach, CA 90804. The meeting starts at 6:30PM, and I urge you to attend. At the meeting you will learn about the next steps for our local wetlands. Look for additional details in upcoming emails, or for further information contact LCWA@tidalinfluence.com.
Please join the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust for a very special screening and program on Sunday, September 29.
Advance purchase tickets for this event are $10. Tickets bought day of event are $12. To buy tickets click HERE.
“Artifishal” is a film about people, rivers and the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. It explores wild salmon’s slide towards extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature.
Come early and mingle. Directly following the screening, attendees are invited to stay and hear from Colin Kelly, Senior Staff Attorney for Orange County Coastkeeper. He will update us on our own local marine ecosystems and threats due to proposed aquaculture off our local coastline.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
Screening of “Artifishal” begins at 11:00 a.m. (duration 75 minutes)
Special guest speaker Colin Kelly, Senior Staff Attorney- Orange County Coastkeeper begins at 12:20 p.m.
Measure W, the Safe Clean Water Program, was passed in 2018. Los Angeles County is currently in the process of implementing the numerous Measure W programs that will help improve and protect water quality.
Click here to send a letter to our Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor to encourage Measure W implementation will address local flood risks and other nature-based priorities.
Don’t forget to attend tonight’s wetlands restoration planning workshop hosted by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA). There was some confusion about the date and location in my previous email so I want to confirm that the workshop will be at 7:00 p.m. on March 21st (tonight) at the Community Center in Recreation Park at 4900 E. 7th St. in Long Beach.
At the workshop you will be able to give input about the plan to restore Los Cerritos Wetlands, so we hope you will attend and spread the word.
The LCWA’s consulting team, lead by Environmental Science Associates (ESA), will run the workshop where they will review the status of the planning effort and provide an overview of the steps ahead.
This next phase of the planning effort will build on the Final Conceptual Restoration Plan, which will then result in a Program Environmental Impact Report-the next step towards a comprehensive restoration framework for Los Cerritos Wetlands. Previously the LCWA identified existing opportunities and constraints for restoration, public access and interpretation. The LCWA Board of Directors adopted the final Los Cerritos Wetlands Conceptual Restoration Plan in August 2015.
Using information contained in the Final Wetlands Conceptual Restoration Plan, the comprehensive planning process will result in a restoration design for the entire Los Cerritos Wetlands complex. That alternative will be studied, and potential impacts analyzed.
What: Public Scoping Meeting for the Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Plan
Where: Community Center in Recreation Park, 4900 E 7th Street, Long Beach
When: Thursday, March 21st, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority is a joint powers authority composed of the City of Seal Beach, the City of Long Beach, the State Coastal Conservancy and the Lower Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. The ESA consulting team also includes Altman Environmental Consulting and Coastal Restoration Consultants.
Hope to see you at the meeting.
