Our next nature walk is on April 4th. It will be a brand-new walk in the Gum Grove Park area of Seal Beach.

Our next nature walk is on April 4th. It will be a brand-new walk in the Gum Grove Park area of Seal Beach.

Raptor Ramble/Gum Grove Nature Walk. Join us to learn about the ongoing restoration of the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands and the important raptor habitat it will enhance.
 
This tour will be led by an ecologist directly involved with the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project. The tour will start with an overview of the progress of the project and proceed with a hike through Gum Grove Park, where we may see raptors or monarch butterflies in the eucalyptus trees. We will hike to a high point along the trail, where we can view the restoration project and the “los cerritos,” or little hills of the region. Next, we will explore the Heron Pointe cultural trail, where we will learn about tribal cultural history and, if we are lucky, come across an endangered least Bell’s vireo in the bioswale. This is a new, limited-time tour, so come check it out!


Bring binoculars if you have them; we will observe many kinds of interesting wildlife. 


WHAT: Nature walk of Gum Grove Park at Los Cerritos Wetlands.


WHEN: Saturday, April 4, at 8:00 AM. All participants must stay for the entire tour, which will end by 10:00 AM.


WHERE: Meet in the Gum Grove Park parking lot, where Avalon Drive dead ends. There will be signs.


Closed-toe shoes are required for the walk, and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to RSVP, click on this link.
Following the Saturday nature walk, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority will be hosting its monthly wetlands restoration public service event. For those interested in participating, please meet at the corner of 1st St. and Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. From there, an event leader will escort you to the restoration site at the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands. Attendees will help with the removal of non-native invasive vegetation – all while enjoying the beauty of the wetlands landscape! For details, email iwanttohelp@tidalinfluence.com.

Fun and interesting Earth Month event hosted by Algalita

Fun and interesting Earth Month event hosted by Algalita

On Saturday, April 11, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Algalita is hosting a Clean Bay Collective Earth Month Open House at their office space along Alamitos Bay. This free, drop-in event is designed to welcome community members to Algalita’s shared learning center to learn how science, education, and community come together.


Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on demonstrations, including microscope observations of microplastics, water quality testing, and an inside look at one of the first accredited laboratories in the U.S. that tests for microplastics in drinking water: the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research. You can also explore the BYO Long Beach store and learn about practical reuse systems in action!


Event details:
Clean Bay Collective Open House
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (drop in anytime)
Location: 148 N Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA
ALL AGES WELCOME! 


For further information, contact Emily at Algalita.


Concerning wetlands-adjacent solar project to get a full environmental review before moving forward

Concerning wetlands-adjacent solar project to get a full environmental review before moving forward

The timeline for the intrusive solar panels proposed near fragile wetlands has changed. When (or if) the project moves forward, there will be a full environmental review.
The Hellman Corporation has decided to pause its proposed wetlands-adjacent solar array project and prepare an Environmental Impact Report, as required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).


That’s good news for all of us who were concerned about the impacts of new infrastructure on wetland wildlife (and nearby neighborhoods).


There are threatened and rare species that rely on the Los Cerritos Wetlands to survive. Birds could be negatively impacted by these solar panels, which, despite the promised anti-glare coating, could confuse, weaken, or kill them. Now we will have a better understanding of those impacts and what can be done about them.


Furthermore, the future of Los Cerritos should lean toward restoration and protection, not more intrusive and harmful infrastructure. After all, the vast majority of Southern California wetlands have been lost forever, and we must protect those that remain. The State of California agrees, as evidenced by the $32 million grant awarded to the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project. Once completed, that project will bring back to life much of the Seal Beach side of Los Cerritos Wetlands.


Much appreciation to those who wrote a letter of support for protecting wetlands, or made time to attend one of the four hearings about the project. You are all superstars, and I appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time to defend the wetlands and make the world a better place.


Also, many thanks to all who read my emails, take time to explore Los Cerritos Wetlands by foot or kayak, and talk to friends and neighbors about this great community and natural resource. It all adds up.

I’ll be in touch, and in the meantime, I urge you to spend some time in Southern California coastal open space this weekend and beyond. We are so lucky to live here!


Gratefully,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


P.S. See below! Check out the shrinkage of Los Cerritos Wetlands over the years. We need to protect those that remain!



Alamitos Bay including Los Cerritos Wetlands were once 2,400 acres.
Currently, the Los Cerritos 
Wetlands is only 500 acres. Let’s not lose any more.
Our next nature walk will be on March 7. It should be lush and green at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Hope you can join us.

Our next nature walk will be on March 7. It should be lush and green at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Hope you can join us.

Learn about restoration ecology at Zedler Marsh, a restoration site located within Los Cerritos Wetlands. Explore the different types of plant communities (coastal salt marsh, mulefat scrub, coastal sage scrub) being cultivated for the current and future restoration of the wetlands.


Our walk will begin with a brief orientation about Los Cerritos Wetlands. Tour leaders will discuss the challenges of restoring the Zedler Marsh wetlands area, the techniques they use, and the important role of California native plants. There will be opportunities for birding and other wildlife sightings.


What: Salt Marsh Stroll at Los Cerritos Wetlands.


When: Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 8:00 AM. The parking lot gate will open at 7:45 AM and close at 8:10 AM. No latecomers will be admitted to the tour, and all participants must stay for the entire tour, which will conclude 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. Due to restoration work, you will be given a pass to park across the street from the wetlands entrance. There will be signs to assist you. Do NOT use a map program like Google Maps to guide you; you will end up in the wrong location.


Close-toed shoes are required to attend the walk, and adults must accompany kids under 16. Reserve your spot via our Eventbrite page. Email Elizabeth with any questions or concerns.


P.S. Thanks to recent rains, Zedler Marsh will look fabulous in early March. It’s the highlight of the nature walk! Check out the image below!

Kayak with us on March 29. Spring is a great time to visit Steamshovel Slough in the Los Cerritos Wetlands.

Kayak with us on March 29. Spring is a great time to visit Steamshovel Slough in the Los Cerritos Wetlands.

You are invited to kayak Steamshovel Slough on Sunday, March 29, at 8:30 AM

This kayak tour is an incredible way to view one of the most pristine areas of the wetlands, Steamshovel Slough, with an environmental guide who will provide educational commentary. LA River Expeditions, which also hosts kayak tours of the Los Angeles River, will co-lead the tour.

The kayak tour will meet at the playground at Mother’s Beach at 8:30 AM and will wrap up by 10:30 AM. This timeframe is intended to ensure the tide is high enough to kayak in and out of the Steamshovel Slough.

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust underwrites a significant portion of tour expenses, and we are asking for a $40 donation per kayaker to help offset gear rentals and the cost of our highly qualified tour guides.

Click here for more information or to sign up for our kayak trip to Steamshovel Slough on Sunday, March 29th.

P.S. For a peek into what it is like to kayak in Los Cerritos Wetlands, check out the video below…and then sign up to join us!

Revised harmful solar project will be heard on Feb 23

Revised harmful solar project will be heard on Feb 23

It’s a smaller project, but those solar panels (the blue squares above)
are proposed to be located concerningly close to fragile habitat.
Friendly Reminder: We still need you to write a letter!
Email template here!


What we know about the proposed revised solar panel project. The majority of the solar panels would remain adjacent to some of the Los Cerritos Wetlands’ most biologically sensitive areas, likely affecting the fragile and threatened species that rely on the wetlands to survive. The project would now produce 1.2 megawatts, consist of two separate solar arrays with about 2,000 solar panels, and an undetermined number of solar tables….all to power oil and gas operations. Here is our most recent letter to the City of Seal Beach outlining our concerns. You can use points in our letter to write your own letter to the City.


We remain concerned about the impacts on nearby wildlife. In fact, we are so concerned that we asked respected biological experts at All Hands Biological Consulting to review the project. You can find their review here.


Very concerningly, there is insufficient review of the potential for solar panel glare to confuse birds and other wildlife, despite the promised anti-glare coating. And if the project kills birds, how many is acceptable, and what number might trigger additional mitigation? The applicant can self-report, and beyond that, neither the applicant nor the Planning Commission is required to take any specific action to reduce bird deaths. Before (or if) this project moves forward, we need answers to those questions, and more.


Keep voicing your concerns to the Seal Beach City Council regarding the potential impacts on the wetlands and neighboring communities. Ask for a full analysis of the project. Send a note to Shaun Temple, Planning Manager for the City of Seal Beach. Tell him that an Environmental Impact Report is the appropriate level of review for a project that could have significant impacts on the wetland wildlife that reside in this rare habitat. Ask him to share your views with the City Council.


Attend the Seal Beach City Council meeting on Feb 23 at 7:00 PM.
Tell them that if these solar panels are installed, they will likely remain for many years. In an era of rising seas and extreme weather, it is just wrong to add more stressors on the fragile and threatened species that rely on the remaining few acres of Los Cerritos Wetlands. At a minimum, there should be a full environmental review to better understand the impacts, how they will affect local wildlife, and the available alternatives.


With appreciation,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust


P.S. The accompanying materials for the proposed solar panel agenda item were just posted on the City of Seal Beach website. You can find them here.



Recap of Seal Beach City Council meeting concerning the wetlands-adjacent solar farm: Vote was postponed.

Recap of Seal Beach City Council meeting concerning the wetlands-adjacent solar farm: Vote was postponed.

Solar Panels are proposed dangerously close to fragile wetlands. They would be located in the circled red area above. We are requesting a full environmental review of the project (and still are!).
Thanks to all who submitted letters, spoke at the December 8th Seal Beach City Council meeting about the proposed solar panel project, or watched the meeting online.


We had a strong turnout; almost all seats were filled! Everyone who attended the meeting opposed the solar panel project for several reasons, including the proposed project location. The panels would be adjacent to some of the Los Cerritos Wetlands’ most biologically sensitive areas, likely affecting the fragile and threatened species that rely on the wetlands to survive.


The project would include three separate solar arrays totaling 56 solar tables and 3,100 solar panels. The energy produced would be used to power oil drilling and other private operations.


There were lots of interesting and compelling speakers. I spoke about our concern that the project directly conflicts with our vision of a restored and protected Los Cerritos Wetlands.


Joining me in testifying was Douglas Carstens, Managing Partner at Carstens, Black & Minteer. He is an expert in California environmental law and spoke about the City’s obligation to prepare a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Not only would all potential impacts of the project be thoroughly analyzed, but an EIR also requires analysis of project alternatives.


Other speakers spoke about concerns for the fragile species that would be impacted by this project as well as the negative effects of potential glint and glare from the panels. There was compelling testimony from residents of the nearby neighborhood who are concerned about how the project might affect the visual enjoyment of the wetlands and were frustrated by the lack of notice to them and their neighbors. And the irony of building solar power to support oil drilling and gas operations was not lost on those in attendance.


The Council members were clearly struggling to balance the issues and concerns raised by the public and ultimately voted to postpone a vote until the upcoming February 9th Council meeting. They raised the possibility of a smaller project, located further from the Heron Pointe neighborhood.


I urge you to watch the City Council meeting on their YouTube channel. The portion of the meeting devoted to the Solar Panel Project begins about midway.


As I learn more details about the project and/or the upcoming City Council meeting, I will share them with you.


With appreciation,


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
HEARING MONDAY, DEC. 8, AT 7:00 PM:Seal Beach City Council meeting regarding proposed wetlands-adjacent solar farm. Help us ask for a full environmental review.

HEARING MONDAY, DEC. 8, AT 7:00 PM:Seal Beach City Council meeting regarding proposed wetlands-adjacent solar farm. Help us ask for a full environmental review.

Location of proposed solar panel projects. Zedler Marsh is on the left above the cooling channel and the Southern Area (currently being restored) is along the bottom.

Solar panels are proposed for adjacent to some of the Los Cerritos Wetlands’ most biologically sensitive areas. These panels would very likely impact the fragile and threatened species that rely on Los Cerritos Wetlands to survive. The proposed project would include three separate solar arrays totaling 56 solar tables and 3,100 solar panels.


We think the full environmental impacts must be considered before deciding where (or if) to place intrusive infrastructure. In this case, the harm could outweigh the benefits. The placement of these solar panels (with all their disruptive noise, lights, glint, and glare) adjacent to sensitive, soon-to-be-restored wetlands concerns us.


The proposal was heard before the City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality and Planning Commission(s), and, with a narrow margin, the project was approved. However, there is limited information about the project’s impacts available for review and feedback. As a result, we sent a letter to the City of Seal Beach requesting a comprehensive review of the project through an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). We have appealed the project to the City of Seal Beach, thereby scheduling a hearing for Monday, December 8th. We hope the Seal Beach City Council hears us and votes for a full environmental review of the project before it moves to the next step, a review by the Coastal Commission.


I urge you to…..


#1) Write to project manager, Shaun Temple, to tell the Seal Beach City Council that the proposed solar project needs a thorough review because it is proposed next to a sensitive ecological area. Click here to write your message (and then please send me a copy!). If you are a resident of Seal Beach, please be sure to include that information in your message. If you aren’t a resident of Seal Beach, please send an email. The wetlands, after all, are important to the entire region, not just to those who live in Seal Beach.


#2) Attend the Monday, December 8th, Seal Beach City Council meeting and share your thoughts. It is a fact that the vast majority of Southern California’s wetlands have been lost forever to development and infrastructure. It is essential that we not only protect but also improve our remaining wetlands. Requiring a full EIR so we can understand the project’s impacts is the least the City Council can do, don’t you agree?


The Seal Beach City Council meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Monday, December 8th, at:


Seal Beach City Hall
211 Eighth Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740


Thank you for supporting our local wetlands.


Elizabeth Lambe
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
Holiday get-together: fun, food, and interesting speakers. Event is Saturday, Dec. 13

Holiday get-together: fun, food, and interesting speakers. Event is Saturday, Dec. 13

Jingle, Mingle & Ring in Wetlands Restoration
’Tis the Season to Protect Our Wetlands
We invite you to celebrate with us at our end-of-year Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust holiday get-together. We will be gathering at a private home in nearby Belmont Heights, and we would love for you to join us.


What: End-of-the-Year Holiday Gathering
When: Saturday, December 13th, from 3 PM-5 PM
Where: Private home in Belmont Heights, email for the address
Why: To celebrate what we have accomplished and learn from our speakers what lies ahead for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands and more!


Special Guest Speakers:
James Holmquist, Wetlands Ecologist, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
James studies how wetlands change over time and help combat climate change by storing carbon.


Heather Altman, Public Engagement Coordinator, Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority.
Heather leads outreach for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, which will expand trails, restore habitat, and create new opportunities to connect people with nature.


Enjoy some holiday cheer, connect with fellow supporters, and hear what’s in store for the Los Cerritos Wetlands in 2026 and beyond!


In addition to guest speakers, Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust members will vote on board nominations — but all are welcome to attend.


To RSVP or ask questions, email Elizabeth


Hope to see you at our fun event!
Our next nature walk will be on March 7. It should be lush and green at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Hope you can join us.

Salt Marsh Stroll is Saturday, December 6th. Hope you can join us!

On December 6th, check out the flourishing native plant growing area at Zedler Marsh.
Every plant that goes into the ground brings our wetlands closer to being restored.
Learn about restoration ecology at Zedler Marsh, a restoration site within Los Cerritos Wetlands. Explore the different types of plant communities (coastal salt marsh, mulefat scrub, coastal sage scrub) being cultivated for the current and future restoration of the wetlands.


Our walk will begin with a brief orientation about Los Cerritos Wetlands. Tour leaders will discuss some interesting challenges in restoring the Zedler Marsh wetlands area, the restoration techniques they rely on, and the important role of California native plants. There will be opportunities for birding and other wildlife sightings at Zedler Marsh.


What: Salt Marsh Stroll nature walk at Los Cerritos Wetlands.


When: Saturday, December 6th, 2025, 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. Do NOT use a map program like Google Maps to guide you; you will end up in the wrong location.


Close-toed shoes are required to attend the walk, and adults must accompany kids under 16. Reserve your spot here. Please email any questions you may have.


P.S. Zedler Marsh looks fabulous right now, thanks to recent rains. It’s a highlight of the nature walk! Check out the image below!