Great News for the Restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands

Great News for the Restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands



I’ve got some excellent news to share with you!


After years and years of public meetings, review, and planning, the restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands’ southern acreage is set to receive significant funding. This multi-year restoration will restore a wide range of wetland types from subtidal wetlands to upland transition habitats. Its design will take into account historical ecology, natural ecosystem processes, tribal cultural resources, public access, resiliency to sea level rise, and current site biotic and abiotic conditions. This funding will enable this important restoration project to get started and it can’t come a moment too soon. Learn more and then do your part to help ensure this critical funding moves expeditiously so restoration can begin.


LEARN MORE
Attend our 7 PM, September 5th community briefing featuring special guest speaker Eric Zahn to learn further details and how you can help. Eric Zahn is the Principal Restoration Ecologist at Tidal Influence LLC and the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project manager. The meeting will be via Zoom so you can easily attend virtually and I hope you will.


Email me to RSVP and I will send you the Zoom link. In addition to being really informative, Eric Zahn is an engaging and interesting speaker and you won’t want to miss him. Don’t forget to RSVP now!


DO YOUR PART
Whether you attend the briefing or not please take a moment to send in a letter of support to the California Coastal Conservancy supporting this proposed funding.

Don’t forget to add your name & address at the end and include why Los Cerritos Wetlands is important to you!

Why we support the project:
• The restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands provides a tremendous opportunity to increase open space for the community and wildlife in a densely populated area. 
• The Los Cerritos Wetlands represent one of the few remaining opportunities to restore a significant area of coastal wetlands in the Los Angeles and Orange County region. 
• Funding for this project will facilitate the final design for the restoration of 100 acres of wildlife habitat and the creation of new public access trails and facilities. It will also support the implementation of over 50 acres of habitat restoration. 
• The project will result in important benefits for wildlife, coastal access, and improved resilience to climate change. 

To learn more about the process of restoring Los Cerritos Wetlands (and beyond), check out the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s webpage on the Southern Los Cerritos Restoration Project.

Thank you for caring about Los Cerritos Wetlands and hope to see you at the community briefing on September 5th.


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


Below is the the Southern area of Los Cerritos Wetlands on a sunny day. The wetlands look good but they will look even better and provide better habitat once they are restored and invasive plants, like the yellow mustard weed in this photo, are removed. Did you know that invasive plants take over and crowd out native plants? We need native plants to provide food and shelter to coastal wetlands species. Photo: Jason Lustig
Action Alert: Support AB1322 the CA Ecosystems Protection Act

Action Alert: Support AB1322 the CA Ecosystems Protection Act


The California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2023 (AB 1322) needs your support! Please reach out to the representatives listed below and let them know you do not want toxic rodenticides to harm wildlife like owls, raptors, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes, and small mammals that are critical to the health of our ecosystem. Protect wildlife at Los Cerritos Wetlands and across the state of California by making your voice heard!

KEY FACTS
● The California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2023 would expand restrictions on toxic rat poisons and set a moratorium on a deadly first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide.
● The legislation would extend an existing moratorium on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.
● Widespread rodenticide use harms children, pets and wildlife.
● More than half of wildlife tested in California have been exposed to rodenticides. 


The bill is now before the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Anthony Portantino, and that committee will decide whether to advance the bill on September 1st.  During this critical step in the process, many bills are “held,” and do not advance.
 
We would greatly appreciate your help urging Senator Portantino to advance the bill. Contact information for Senator Portantino is available here and an email template is listed below, which we encourage you to add your voice to.

COPY & PASTE EMAIL:

Dear Chair Portantino and Committee Members,

I strongly support the California Ecosystems Protection Act of 2023 (AB 1322) that protects California wildlife and communities against harmful rodenticides. 
 
Anticoagulant rodenticides are poisoning California wildlife and have been documented in at least 38 nontarget species, including the critically endangered San Joaquin kit fox and California condor. The problem is so severe that over 70% of wildlife tested in California are exposed to rodenticides. National Park Service researchers have documented the presence of anticoagulant rodenticides in 39 out of 40 mountain lions tested in the Santa Monica Mountains, which are already threatened with local extinction from habitat fragmentation and lack of wildlife connectivity. In September 2022, the four unborn kittens of a pregnant mountain lion named P-54 also tested positive for anticoagulant rodenticides.
 
AB 1322 is desperately needed to extend the existing moratorium on dangerous second generation anticoagulant rodenticides and strengthen future restrictions on anticoagulant rodenticides, including the first generation anticoagulant diphacinone, to better protect wildlife, children, and pets.
 
Please advance the bill past Senate Appropriations.
 
Thank you for your time and consideration.
 
Sincerely,
 
FIRST LAST



EMAIL ADDRESSES & CONTACT INFO:

Senator Portantino’s Contact Info

Other Chair Members & Staff:

Staff member for Anthony Portantino; Ashley Ames (Ashley.Ames@sen.ca.gov)
Senator Angelique V. Ashby (staff member; Cassidy.Denny@sen.ca.gov)
Senator Steven Bradford (staff member; Christopher.Morales@sen.ca.gov)
Senator Aisha Wahab (staff member; Zachariah.Oquenda@sen.ca.gov)
Senator Scott D. Wiener (staff member; Raayan.Mohtashemi@sen.ca.gov)

Thank you to Raptors are the Solution for spreading the word about this important issue.
Join us this weekend for our September 2nd Raptor Ramble

Join us this weekend for our September 2nd Raptor Ramble

Come check out the Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, September 2nd. 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.
We recommend bringing binoculars if you have them, and the walk is great for both beginner and experienced birders.
•
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.
Once you start the walk with us you must stay for the entire time as we are walking behind locked gates in a restricted access area.
•
WHEN: Saturday, September 2nd, 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.
•
RSVP on Eventbrite here!
Questions about this event or other events? Email elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org


Also on September 2nd, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, you are invited to join community-based wetlands restoration. Los Cerritos Wetlands are being restored and made beautiful because of hard-working folks who volunteer their time to remove invasive plants and other weeds and plant in their place “habitat friendly” native plants. It’s fun, fulfilling and it requires no special skills or experience–just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Your contribution of time and effort is vital to the success of the restoration and would be greatly appreciated! For more information or to RSVP email iwanttohelp@tidalinfluence.com.
Join Us For Our Annual Meeting Thursday July 13th

Join Us For Our Annual Meeting Thursday July 13th


We are so happy to host an informative and interesting in-person meeting (held outside to be extra safe). I hope you will attend the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust’s community meeting on Thursday evening, July 13 at 7:00 PM.

The purpose of our meeting is to update the community about the progress of the restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands. It still blows my mind that at one point there was a golf course, strip mall, and houses proposed for our fragile local wetlands. I am thankful that while threats remain, those harmful projects were never realized and that now half of Los Cerritos Wetlands are publicly owned with more on its way. Now that this much-degraded land is safely in the public trust the next goal is to restore the land and bring it back to life. Eric Zahn has been spearheading that effort and he has important updates to share.


Learn details at our member meeting (anyone is invited to attend) on July 13. In addition to hearing from our speaker, Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust members will be voting on some Board of Director positions.


What: Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Board Election/Community Meeting
When: Thursday, July 13 at 7:00 PM
Where: Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
(in their lovely outdoor courtyard area)
317 Termino Ave
Long Beach, CA 90814


In addition to Eric’s presentation, we will be using this occasion to conduct our Board of Directors election, with four of our sitting directors seeking terms. Before the feature presentation, each of our Board candidates will have an opportunity to speak to attendees about their continuing commitment to Los Cerritos Wetlands, and Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust members will be able to vote.


Whether you are a member or not, all are welcome at this meeting. For more information about the meeting or to RSVP, email Elizabeth.


Hope to see you there!


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


P.S. Below is an image of the Seal Beach part of Los Cerritos Wetlands which is the first area scheduled to be comprehensively restored. Attend our July 13 meeting and learn more. (Photo by Jason Lustig)
Reserve your spot now for our August 5th Heron Hike

Reserve your spot now for our August 5th Heron Hike

I urge you to sign up now to attend our August 5 Heron Hike nature walk.

Join us, and educators from the environmental consulting firm Tidal Influence, on a wonderful nature walk at Los Cerritos Wetlands on Saturday, August 5.

The unusual Marketplace Marsh is an amazing feature of Los Cerritos Wetlands. Perhaps there will be water within Marketplace Marsh, but certainly, there will be lots of interesting plants and animals that attendees will learn about along the way. Environmental educators will take participants on a walking tour to Marketplace Marsh on the City of Long Beach’s wetlands and over to the San Gabriel River to property held by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority. We will likely come across great blue herons, as well as egrets and other water-loving wildlife.

During this 2-mile urban hike, you will learn about the history of land acquisitions in Los Cerritos Wetlands, and leaders will show us some freshwater marsh habitats that few people have ever viewed.

WHAT: Nature walk to Marketplace Marsh at Los Cerritos Wetlands.

WHEN: Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 8:00 AM. The parking lot gate will open at 7:45 AM and close at 8:10 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.

WHERE: Meet in the driveway/parking area at the corner of 1st Street and PCH in Seal Beach. There will be signs.

Close-toed shoes are required to attend the walk, and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Reserve your spot via our Eventbrite page. Feel free to email any questions you may have.


Also on August 5th, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, you are invited to join community-based wetlands restoration. Los Cerritos Wetlands are being restored and made beautiful because of hard-working folks who volunteer their time to remove invasive plants and other weeds and plant in their place “habitat friendly” native plants. It’s fun, fulfilling and it requires no special skills or experience–just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Your contribution of time and effort is vital to the success of the restoration and would be greatly appreciated! For more information or to RSVP email iwanttohelp@tidalinfluence.com.