12:00pm | Following last week’s disturbing announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will cut some $10 million in water pollution testing, the concept and action of environmental preservation is becoming paramount.
It is something that most of the City Council even supports, after it shot down the controversial Second+PCH project that would have created a multi-million dollar shopping and entertainment complex along Long Beach’s waterfront — and more importantly for those who argued against the project, adjacent to an already-troubled and vulnerable wetlands span. That argument was headed largely by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, a group which felt the project was simply too dense to be near such an unstable yet essential piece of environmental space.
Their road to restore the wetlands could easily be defined as a battle. The wetlands are within land limits owned by private parties and the LCWLT has continually sought to purchase the land in order to protect it and restore it. In February of 2006, the Los Cerritos Wetland Authority (LCWA) was formed to help expedite this process; it is a joint effort between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach, along with the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the California Coastal Conservancy. Shortly after, they secured 66 acres of the wetlands.
The LCWA is holding its second pubic workshop on March 8th, where an update of the Conceptual Restoration Plan’s progress will be presented; it will include a brief presentation of baseline data collected thus far on Los Cerritos Wetland’s existing habitats, watershed, public access, hydrology, and opportunities and constraints to restoration. The evening will conclude with a workshop activity designed to incorporate the public’s feedback on the restoration site’s baseline conditions.
The event will be held at the Aquarium of the Pacific from 6:30pm to 8pm, located at 100 Aquarium Way. Parking in the nearby parking structure will be validated free of charge.