Courtney McLaughlan
3-12-05
ENGL 134
ÒLittle PocketÓ
Early
in the morning is always the best time to experience the Bolsa Chica
wetlands. With my running shoes
tied tight and my stereo strapped to my bicep, I jet out my front door and feel
the cool morning air hit my face.
Eight minutes later, I reach the backside of the wetlands, rocks
crunching under my feet as I run along a path. Others are also out enjoying the sunshine, and as I pass by
I say Ògood morning.Ó In every
direction that I look, the land seems peaceful. The brush moves with the breeze, birds rummage the mudflats
for worms, and the sun provides warmth.
It is here where I can gather my thoughts, enjoy myself, and not worry
about what the day will bring. It
is here at the Bolsa Chica wetlands that I can be one with nature.
Meaning
ÒLittle PocketÓ in Spanish, Bolsa Chica is the largest remaining wetlands
complex in Southern California and a key stopover for migrating birds. With two main mesas, upper and lower,
and 300 acres of salt marshes, mudflats, pools, and oil fields, the wetlands
are a dominant feature within northern Huntington Beach (1). Beginning at the intersection of Warner
Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the wetlands run south, parallel with
PCH, and end at Seapoint Avenue.
Stretching about three miles in length, the wetlands overlook the coast
with the Highway as their division. Believed to be a popular hunting ground to
Native American tribes at one time, they were transformed in the early 1900Õs
into the Bolsa Hunting Club, a prestigious duck and fowl-hunting club with
steep membership fees (4). In
addition, a Los Angeles Red Car train system included a stop here, and in World
War II, a portion of the wetlands was used by troops to watch for enemy attacks
(4). Now, the wetlands are a
protected area where local residents spend their spare time.
On
the weekends, residents and tourists flock to the beautiful wetlands. Since there are parking lots located
off both PCH and Warner Avenue, parking is hassle-free and takes just minutes.
From the PCH parking lot, a wooden bridge crosses over a tidal inlet and leads
to a one and a half mile loop trail that provides wildlife viewing. Two of the wetlandÕs sand islands house
the California Least Terns and Snowy Plovers. In addition, 163 pairs of endangered BeldingÕs Savannah
Sparrows live, breed, and nest at Bolsa Chica (3). On any day, the Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, White and
Brown Pelicans, Avocets, and Black-necked Stilts are visible, and every once in
awhile, the rare Light-footed Clapper Rails appear (3). In the fall and winter seasons, Lesser
Scaups, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, and Common Loons come to visit
(3). Besides birds, other animals
such as rodents, reptiles, coyotes, and insects inhabit the grasslands, brush,
and Eucalyptus trees. People also
come to the wetlands to exercise.
Walking and running occur all throughout the day, but bicycling is
restricted. From the Warner lot,
another trail begins and ends about three-fourths of a mile later at a
viewpoint. In front lies the
Pacific Ocean and behind lie the encroaching homes. Also at the Warner lot, an Interpretive Center is found for
those seeking more information about the history of the wetlands and ways in
which they can help with preservation.
For
the past three decades, environmentalists have battled to preserve the Bolsa
Chica wetlands within Huntington Beach.
In the 1970s, developers proposed building a marina, hotel, and as many
as 5,700 homes in the area, which had been a working oil field since World War
II. This plan was rejected by
preservationists and gradually fell apart due to several legal challenges. The wetlands almost became part of a
major residential development and marina off Huntington Beach, but the state
stepped in four years ago and bought 880 acres for 25 million dollars. If the state hadnÕt purchased the land,
3,300 homes would have been built, destroying all forms of wildlife (1). Also, just last year, the owner of a
102-acre parcel next to the marshlands agreed to sell the land to California
for 65 million dollars instead of building homes. The upper mesa of Bolsa Chica, overlooking PCH, will be
added to the 1,200 acres of publicly owned wetlands that California is
restoring (2). ÒWe have the
wetlands and a major portion of the mesa,Ó said Shirley Dettloff, a former
Huntington Beach mayor and board member of Amigos de Bolsa Chica, a long time
advocate for restoration (2).
Dettloff explains that the environmental community will be proud of this
accomplishment. With the land
belonging to the state, restoration work could be started.
The
restoration plan for the Bolsa Chica wetlands involves reopening the wetlands
to the ocean by cutting a 360-foot wide inlet through Bolsa Chica State
Beach. The resulting infusion of
seawater and tidal circulation would restore rich wildlife habitat and help
several species of endangered birds and fish (1). Even though a plan was set, Caltrans, also known as the
California Department of Transportation, was keeping the state from getting
started on the restoration project. Caltrans wanted to turn PCH, now four
lanes, into a six-lane bridge, but the California Coastal Commission
recommended against this idea.
Larry Simone, a planner in the Coastal CommissionÕs San Francisco
office, said that the highway should stay at four lanes because a wider bridge,
which would take land away from the state beach, is inconsistent with the
stateÕs Coastal Act (1). After
hearing what Simone had to say, the California Department of Transportation
agreed to the four-lane bridge.
The 100-million dollar restoration project could now proceed. The restoration work, the most
expensive wetlands recovery effort in state history, started just last year,
mid 2004, and is expected to take three years to complete. Three decades of struggle have finally
paid off.
The
majority of environmentalists agree with the restoration work, but there are
some who oppose the plan. These
small groups of people believe that opening up the wetlands could pollute the
ocean off Bolsa Chica State Beach.
They justify their claim with a University of California, Irvine study
released last year showing that bacteria that sits in wetlands can harm coastal
water quality (1). Executive
director of the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation, Chris Evans, states,
ÒitÕs a mistake. That particular
stretch of beach happens to be one of the better spots of water quality.Ó In addition, state park officials worry
about the impact on ocean water quality at the state beach, which is visited by
more than two million people each year (1). The commission staff has presented studies that show that
forming this tidal inlet wonÕt affect the water quality at all.
After
reading both sides, I agree with the plan of restoration. First of all, the arguments for the
restoration project are more logical than the arguments against the
project. Cutting an inlet through
the State Beach will gradually restore the wetlands. Cleanup and earthmoving of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands will
consist of the removal of sixty one oil wells and associated machinery and the
digging of thirteen miles of ditches in search of additional buried pipe and
other hazardous debris from over 50 years of oil operations (3). Due to oil operations, the wetlands
have been contaminated and are in dire need of restoration in order to help
endangered fish and birds. The
only way is to let the wetlands experience a natural infusion of seawater and
tidal circulation by opening them up to the ocean. The arguments for the restoration project are also more
credible in that they were approved by statewide agencies such as the
California Coastal Commission and the California Department of
Transportation. On the other hand,
the opposing sideÕs arguments were backed up by just one study from the
University of California, Irvine.
The arguments for the plan may be more convincing, but thatÕs not the
only reason why I agree with them.
I feel so strong about restoring the wetlands because they are so close
to my home.
Works
Cited
(1)
Mehta, Seema. ÒWay Cleared for Wetlands Plan.Ó Los Angeles Times. http://www.Calcoast.org/news/wetlands110701.htm
(2)
Yi, Daniel. ÒDeal Would Enhance Bolsa Chica.Ó Los Angeles Times.
http://www.calcoast.org/news/wetlands0040701.htm
(3)
ÒBolsa Chica Wetlands.Ó http://www.stockteam.com/wetlands.html
(4) http://www.huntingtonbeachevents.com/conserv.htm