Our Spring kayaking trips are available now (and they usually sell out!) We will kayak through Steamshovel Slough of the Los Cerritos Wetlands, which is only viewable via kayak.
Our kayaking dates and times are scheduled for Saturday, March 15th at 9 am Saturday, April 12th at 9 am
We meet at Mother’s Beach near the children’s playground. Street and metered parking is available but can fill up on weekends, so plan on arriving early so you have enough time to find a place to park.
The cost to kayak with us is $40 (an amazing deal!) to help cover the rental expenses of kayaks, paddles, life-vests, and for the tour leaders who guide the trips. Tour leaders will be experienced kayakers from LA River Expeditions and environmental educator Katy Dressendorfer.
Hope to see you out on the water with us! You will have an awesome time. Please email if you have any questions.
You can check out a great article in the Long Beach Post about our wetlands kayaking program here.
Rules for kayaking: You must be able to swim. You must be in decent shape to handle about 2 hours of kayaking (with some breaks). It is recommended that you have been kayaking before, of course, novice kayakers are welcome to join us. Wear proper attire for kayaking; you will get splashed (no jeans and tennis shoes). If you are a minor 12 years of age (or older) you are welcome to join us as long as you meet the above requirements and are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust endorses Proposition 4, a vital measure that will protect our environment, enhance safe drinking water, prevent devastating wildfires, and safeguard our natural landscapes from the threats posed by climate change.
Proposition 4 is a crucial investment in our natural resources and climate resilience, authorizing the state to issue a $10 billion bond aimed at addressing urgent environmental needs. Proposition 4 will help us make significant strides in these key areas:
Coastal Protection: With rising sea levels threatening our coastal regions, Proposition 4 allocates $1.2 billion for restoration efforts and the protection of vulnerable shorelines.
Water Supply and Flood Management: Nearly $3.8 billion is earmarked to enhance both the quality and quantity of our water, repair vital infrastructure, and mitigate flooding risks.
Wildfire Prevention: A dedicated $1.5 billion will focus on improving forest health, protecting our ecosystems, and reinforcing safety measures for communities at risk from wildfires.
Parks and Recreational Areas: An investment of $700 million will enhance recreational opportunities, allowing expansion and renovation of our parks while addressing the impacts of climate change.
These funding allocations highlight a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, with direct benefits to California’s wetlands, including the Los Cerritos Wetlands. We urge you to vote early and to vote yes for Proposition 4.
Joe Geever is a water policy expert and former staffer for the Surfrider Foundation. Joe’s expertise includes coastal zone management, marine living resource management, and marine protected areas.
Ben Harris is Senior Staff Attorney, Regulatory Affairs and Legal Policy for Los Angeles Waterkeeper. Prior to joining LA Waterkeeper, Ben spent two years as a fellow at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, where he represented clients in their pursuit of environmental advocacy and co-taught the environmental law clinic.
Now that the Notice of Preparation of the proposed pumps for the circulation project for Alamitos Bay has been released, we’re taking a deeper dive into what is being proposed, what the process is, and what impact this proposal could have on the plan to restore Los Cerritos Wetlands.
Some of the topics our speakers will cover include an overview of the basics about the Clean Water Act (specifically in the context of Alamitos Bay and the San Gabriel River). What is non-source point pollution? Where is the pollution in Alamitos Bay coming from? How are those non-source point pollution regulated? What is the role of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and what is their role in addressing water pollution? What is currently in the works to resolve water quality and water pollution problems in our watershed (for example the Clean Safe Water program).
Why is the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust interested in Alamitos Bay pollution abatement issues? How could the pump for circulation proposal impact the potential restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands? How could the current plan, which possibly removes marine life (plants and animals) from Alamitos Bay impact the proposed restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands? Are there creative solutions that deal with the pollution nearer the source while simultaneously maximizing the outcomes of the wetlands restoration?
Learn more at our annual member meeting — all are invited to attend. In addition to hearing from our guest speakers, Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust members will be voting on Board of Directors nominations. It should be a great meeting and we hope you will attend.
For further details or to RSVP, send an email to Elizabeth.
P.S. Perhaps you received our recent newsletter in the mail. If you didn’t, I encourage you to check it out. It’s full of the latest news about what is happening with Los Cerritos Wetlands.
We envision the day when all of Los Cerritos Wetlands is a protected resource for the wildlife and the community Help us reach that goal by donatingduring Long Beach Gives early giving period.
We have accomplished amazing things thanks to the vision and tenacity of our early founders. Since that time, over half of Los Cerritos Wetlands is in the public trust, and we have beaten back some really bad and damaging development proposals. We also provide 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.
We have much to celebrate when it comes to protecting and restoring our local wetlands habitat. I am especially looking forward to the restoration and transfer of more of Los Cerritos Wetlands into the public trust. To learn further details check out the article below.
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 Rec. 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.
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 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 and provide them with tours and lessons to 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.
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. Perhaps you received our recent newsletter in the mail. If you didn’t, I encourage you to check it out. It’s full of the latest news about what is happening with Los Cerritos Wetlands.
