Conservation Efforts and Restoration Plans for Ballona Wetlands
The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is undergoing long-term restoration planning to restore tidal circulation, provide diverse wetland habitats, and create new habitat areas for native species. Various initiatives and projects, such as the Dutch Slough Carbon Sequestration and the EIR Project Goals, aim to enhance estuarine habitats while protecting cultural resources and increasing outdoor access. Public access plans and the EIR timeline reflect a dedicated effort towards environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Ballona region.
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Presentation Transcript
Dutch Slough Carbon Sequestration
Acquiring the Ballona Wetlands Summary of Long-Term Restoration Planning for Ballona Wetlands (WCB meeting minutes, September 2003) The natural resource goals for the long-term restoration planning for the Ballona Wetlands are: -restore tidal circulation to the extent feasible; -provide the range of freshwater, brackish and saltwater wetland habitat that is typically associated with a coastal estuary; and -provide significant new habitat area for a variety of native species of plants and animals, including migratory birds. Funds allocated to acquire the property and complete the planning processes [for] long-term restoration
EIR Project Goals Restore, enhance, and create estuarine and associated habitats; 2. Protect and respect cultural and sacred resources; 3. Establish natural processes and functions; 4. Develop and enhance wildlife dependent uses and compatible public access; 5. Protect and avoid impacts to existing infrastructure by maintaining or improving flood protection. 1.
Ballona and State Initiatives Executive Order N-82-20 (30x30) aims to; Protect and restore biodiversity; Build climate resiliency Expand equitable outdoor access Implement actions to increase the pace and scale of environmental restoration Pathway to 30x30 Prioritize coastal habitats and degraded seascapes for restoration through science-based assessment. Ballona listed as part of the State s Regional Strategy for imperiled wetlands throughout the south coast
Grossinger & Others (2011)
EIR TIMELINE 2005-2009 Public process to develop conceptual alternatives. Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) convened 2009-2012 Feasibility assessment, baseline data collection, refined project alternatives 2012-2017 EIR/EIS development Sept 2017 Public Draft EIR/EIS released Feb 2018 Public comment period ended Over 7,500 pieces of correspondence and nearly 3,000 discrete comments Feb 2018-20 Response to comments and Final EIR
Public Input There have been thousands of participants throughout the process. 2006: Saturday all day design charrette 2004-2009: 20 public stakeholder meeting 2007 2012: Quarterly Ballona Creek Watershed Task Force meetings 2012: 1 half-day public scoping meeting hundreds of public scoping comments directly addressed into DEIR/S 2006-2012: 7 science advisory committee meetings all open to the public 2006-Present: Over 70 presentations to groups and public Over 100 stakeholder meetings with many organizations, where the project was discussed or mentioned 2010 2013: Four public on-site open house meetings Multiple restoration events per month on site for years 2010 2018: Annual Symposium/Conference presenting information/scientific data on Ballona 2019: Responded to over 2,500 comments from over 7,000 pieces of individual correspondence. 2022: Initiated new rounds of tribal and community outreach, ongoing
Tribal Engagement/Input Ongoing Tribal Communication Recent project-related meetings with Tribal representatives since April 2022 o Regularly since September 2022 Received a Letter of Support signed by nearly all the leaders of the various Tongva Bands Received input on: o Plant palette o Tribal access o Culturally important species and food sources
Area C Area C Area A Area B
Next Steps Await Final Judgement per Court Order Continue to Engage Tribes, Regulatory Agencies, Neighbors, and Other Stakeholders Continue Studies to Build on Existing Biological Baseline
Questions ? R.C. Brody Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist), Ballona Ecological Reserve Manager California Department of Fish and Wildlife
