Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLos Cerritos Wetlands Outreach PrezLos Cerritos Wetlands: Current Planning Efforts and Programs Presented by: Eric Zahn Restoration Ecologist & Elizabeth Lambe Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust 1 1 Salt marshes up and down the coast Alamitos Bay Anaheim Bay Bolsa Bay Newport Bay Santa Ana River Estuary Wilmington Lagoon Presentation Overview Natural History Conceptual Restoration Plan Stewardship Program 2 Salt marshes up and down the coast Alamitos Bay 2400 acres Anaheim Bay 2300 acres Bolsa Bay 2300 acres Newport Bay 2350 acres Santa Ana River Estuary 2950 acres Wilmington Lagoon 3450 acres Historical Estuaries of San Pedro Bay circa 1870-80 900 acres 1300 acres 168 acres 956 acres 129 acres 234 acres 12,063 Acres of Total Wetlands Loss 1880-2015 3 Historical Habitats of Alamitos Bay circa 1873 Historically 2400 acres of Coastal Wetlands caltsheets.org 4 Belmont Shore Seal Beach Naples San Gabriel River Long Beach Coast – September 1921 5 Seal Beach & Long Beach Coast – December 1921 Belmont Shore Seal Beach Naples San Gabriel River Anaheim Bay CSULB 6 Alamitos Bay - 1921 Belmont Shore Seal Beach Naples 7 7 As you know, 95% of Southern California wetlands have been eliminated through development We now know that wetlands serve to clean the waters flowing into the oceans 2/3 of oceans fish spend the first year of their lives in wetland nurseries Alamitos Bay 1928 8 8 Denigration and deterioration of water quality and habitat Early 1920’s the Colorado Lagoon hand an open waterway connection with Alamitos Bay and the Ocean Marine Stadium and Colorado Lagoon were dredged for the 1932 Olympic crewing and pre-Olympic swimming and diving trials History/Background on Lagoon Originally part of Alamitos Bay Wetlands Dredged to form its current shape Alamitos Bay – 1960s Marine Stadium Los Cerritos Wetlands Naples Colorado Lagoon 9 9 Land Ownership of Entire LCW Complex Studebaker LLC Synergy Oil & Gas 10 In February of 2006, a joint powers agreement was adopted among the: Rivers & Mountains Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, & Cities of Long Beach & Seal Beach = Establishing the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA) Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority In June 2006, the LCWA acquired 66 acres of land, the first purchase of land within the complex for the purpose of wetlands restoration. 11 11 The Authority’s purpose is to provide a comprehensive program of acquisition, protection, conservation, restoration, maintenance, & environmental enhancement of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Complex. In June 2006, the LCWA acquired 66 acres of land, the first purchase of land within the complex for the purpose of wetlands restoration. LCWA LCWA 12 Conceptual Restoration Plan Approved by the LCWA board on August 12, 2015 4-year long consensus driven planning process 6 public workshops and 8 Technical Advisory Committee meetings 3 Restoration Alternatives conceptualized for the entire complex Provided framework for wetlands restoration in LCW Next planning phase starting in January 2018 13 13 14 Long Beach Sea Turtle Population Glamour Shots! 15 YOUTH PROGRAMS: Be S.A.F.E., Rosie the Riveter High, & Jane Addams Elem. 16 Public Programs: Kayak Tours, Land Tours, Restoration Events 17 Zedler Marsh Trails Grand Opening September 30th 2017 18 19 State Lands Parcel Current 20 State Lands Parcel Vision 21 22 Hellman Bluff Current 23 Hellman Bluff Vision 24 Contact Information ELIZABETH LAMBE – ejlambe@gmail.com ERIC ZAHN – info@tidalinfluence.com 25 Alt 1 No/Minor changes to existing oil infrastructure Utilize/improve existing tidal connections Minor grading Transitional & upland habitat along perimeters Visitor centers to be on OTD and/or State lands parcels 26 Alt 2 Consolidation oil infrastructure New tidal connections to SGR and Haynes Steam Shovel Slough expansion Moderate grading Transitional & upland habitat along perimeters Visitor centers to be on OTD and/or State lands parcels 27 Alt 3 Consolidation oil infrastructure New tidal connections to SGR, Haynes, & Los Cerritos Channel Fill & Grading of OC Retention Basin Significant grading to remove fill material and create contiguous tidal channels Maximizes tidal salt marsh habitat Visitor centers on OTD parcel 28