Ballona Wetlands

I visited the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey on Saturday for a guided tour of the Freshwater Marsh.  It is a wonderful example of a constructed wetland that not only provides stormwater management for surrounding development but also helps reconstruct lost habitat in an urban context. 

The project was the result of a compromise between developers and environmentally-minded community activists.  They successfully negotiated a reduced development footprint for the nearby Playa Vista development, as well as the creation of a constructed wetland to manage stormwater and replace lost coastal habitats. (A number of other habitats were preserved or restored as well, including a saltwater marsh and dune habitat).  In addition, HOA fees from Playa Vista help support ongoing maintenance of the wetland along with the active efforts of the non-profit Friends of the Ballona Wetlands.

Since it was completed, monitoring of the project has identified over 200 species of birds utilizing the marsh, including 5 indicator species.  Although still a work in process, it is an ecological asset for wildlife and nearby residents who can see a wide diversity of California flora and fauna right next door.  During my visit, I saw white egrets, green-winged teals, red-tailed hawks, bushtits, a kestrel, red-wing blackbirds, and coots among many others.   Check out more about the project's history here.  

Environmental Hope - "A Cleaner Bill of Health for Santa Monica Bay"

Guess what - sometimes there is good news about the environment!  Especially when we take measures to stop pollution sources (I know, a very radical concept).  The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC) released their 2010 State of the Bay report, and it had some good news and hope for the future health of the bay.  As the LA Times reported, the assessment noted:

. . . the revival of bottom-dwelling marine life in the wake of treatment upgrades at the two big wastewater plants that empty into the bay several miles from shore. 

Diver surveys have documented sea animals and plants on the sea floor "where really it was barren before," said Shelley Luce, executive director of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, which issues the report every five years. "I think this is one of the more remarkable recoveries we've seen," she added.

"It's right up there with the return of the bald eagle and brown pelican."

Maybe not as visually dramatic: We're talking about snails and worms and other invertebrates crawling back into areas that for decades lacked the oxygen to support all but the most pollution-tolerant sea life.

While they might not be cuddly, charismastic megafauna, they are key elements of rebuilding an ocean ecology and hopefully signs of the bay's recovery.  Much work still remains to be done (note the historical contamination from DDT and PCBs persisting in sediment, and the ever present issue of urban runoff), but at least we can enjoy the return of invertebrates this time around.