At its August 26th meeting the Democratic Club of Westchester-Play del Rey wisely tabled a resolution proposed by the Ballona Institute to "do nothing" for the Ballona Wetlands State Ecological Reserve. Democratic Club President Sheila Mickelson noted it was premature to consider the resolution. The resolution was also supported by the Grassroots Coalition and other individuals. Similar do-nothing resolutions advocated by these two groups were soundly rejected in 2012 and this year by both Venice and Del Rey Neighborhood Councils, respectively.
The proposed resolution essentially called for (1) undoing of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Memorandum of Understanding with the Annenberg Foundation to consider an interpretive center that would include animal adoption and care facilities on state property adjacent to the Marina freeway, (2) re-open the now 15-year old public scoping process for a Ballona restoration, and (3) oppose federal funding for any mechanized excavation and grading on the ecological reserve property.
Conspicuously absent from the slate of presenters was the State of California, which through various entities will be proposing a comprehensive Ballona Restoration via the required Environmental Impact Report, expected to be released for public comment later this year. The EIR will analyze alternative restoration plans for the entire 600-acre Ballona Wetlands State Ecological Reserve. The CDFW-Annenberg MOU relates to about 16 acres sandwiched between the 90 freeway, Culver Boulevard and Ballona Creek.
Friends of Ballona Wetlands, which represents about 1,000 members in the area, supports a comprehensive restoration, but will wait until after the EIR is released to recommend a preferred alternative. The Friends' early "conceptual" restoration plan includes excavating infilled areas north of Ballona creek and creating tidal marsh there, while only enhancing tidal flows to areas south of the creek (see diagram). The Friends attended the Dem Club meeting, but did not present.
As I've noted elsewhere and in this blog, large scale mechanized excavation and grading successfully restored scores of infilled wetland areas along the state's coast, pursuant to our voter-approved Coastal Act. The area north of Ballona Creek contains over 3 million cubic yards of fill dirt dumped from Marina, 90 freeway and other construction projects in the area. The area was historically tidal saltmarsh, but is now buried under 15 feet of fill. Let's unfill it.
Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!
