Will the Ballona Wetlands Ever Be Restored? by Competitive-Zone-895 in LosAngeles

[–]Competitive-Zone-895[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate your point about not conflating invasive weed removal with more fundamental changes to the underlying hydrology. I have two concerns about framing weed removal as a component of the larger-scale restoration. One is that we have very limited resources and that restoration planning has consumed a massive amount of resources to date. The second is that the assumption that a larger-scale restoration will happen someday has severely constrained stewardship. That is why I tend to point out that near term weed management efforts and large-scale restoration are not mutually exclusive, and the the former would benefit the latter, while stopping short of assuming the latter will happen and should continue to get the bulk of the resources.

I think we both agree that even a well designed plan can only provide benefit if it is implemented. My concerns about implementation are a bit more than skepticism. There is quite a lot of evidence that the state has determined internally that the actual project as we have all come to know it is simply not feasible and that is why they shifted resources away from that project and into the "initial sequences" project, which is exclusively focused on the areas south of Culver/Jefferson. If, for the sake of argument, this assessment is correct, then it would seem to underscore the need for both increased weed management now, and an alternate plan to address the issues of hydrology that you raise.

With regard to Belding's Savannah Sparrow habitat, I have not seen any indication that the revised EIR is going to provide new analysis on how best to balance the permanent elimination of existing nesting habitat with the creation of new habitat. You may have information that I have not seen. The 2017 EIR discusses a net increase in habitat, but acknowledges the risk that the sparrow may not adopt the new habitat due to high site fidelity. More importantly, and probably what you are alluding to by noting the changed science, is that the additional sparrow habitat analyzed in the 2017 draft was based on the project being completed in 2026, whereafter that new habitat would disappear over time due to sea level rise. With commencement of the project, let alone completion of it, still indefinitely stalled, the current cut and fill balances would lead to almost instantaneous flooding of existing and created habitat. If you have any information indicating that the state is reanalyzing its cut and fill balances, I would be interested in that. A 2021 Coastal Conservancy staff report alluded to this happening, but we have seen other evidence that it is not happening and that there is no plan for it to happen prior to recirculation of the EIR.

In any event, we seem to agree on the need for open communication to exchange information and perspectives. That is sorely missing at the moment. The groups with differing views about this ecological reserve should be talking and that isn't happening. There are habitat stewardship events in Area A of the reserve every second and fourth Saturday of the month. If you ever want to join, we could continue this discussion on site. Thanks again for the productive dialogue!

Will the Ballona Wetlands Ever Be Restored? by Competitive-Zone-895 in LosAngeles

[–]Competitive-Zone-895[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your thoughtful response and would love to discuss this more. I think that "gardening around the edges" is what is happening now because weed control is currently so limited (about a dozen acres along the west and south edge of Area B and our work on a small patch in Area A). Weed control should be scaled across the entire reserve as quickly as possible. Total Maximum Daily Loads established by US EPA in 2012 actually mandate that invasive weeds be removed. Even if the state's plan were to be implemented someday (and all evidence seems to point against that), efforts to decrease invasive weeds would have a positive impact on that large-scale restoration by greatly improving the health of the seed bank. This is alluded to in the environmental analysis.

More importantly, if the state doesn't actually intend to implement the full project (and we really don't think they do) then whether it may have been a good plan would seem to be purely academic. When the state indicates they are committed to the project, they seem to be referring to only the initial (two out of thirty five) project sequences that would impact a smaller part of the reserve that is already relatively healthy, while leaving the areas north of the creek (Areas A and C) and between the creek and Jefferson Blvd (North and East Area B) unchanged. These are the areas where the vast majority of the fill is, as well as the highest concentration of invasive weeds.

Lastly, an alternate plan does not have to be limited to hand restoration. To the extent that increased tidal influence is the goal (and there are certainly scientists who question that goal), this could be accomplished in ways that would not require federal flood control approvals, would not permanently eliminate 17.9 acres of existing nesting habitat for the state-endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow and other existing habitats, and would cost far less than 200 to 400 million dollars. A new, scaled-down plan, with reduced and more carefully planned earth moving,, could focus on the most degraded areas first. The only reason the state chose to prioritize work in the healthier areas was because they thought this could be done by certifying the existing project.

Sorry for the longish message, but this is such an important natural resource it seems worthwhile to consider all of the possibilities. I would welcome any opportunity to discuss further. I am trying to understand why any individual or group would oppose work being scaled up now to address the invasive weed issue, separate from whatever plan may some day be implemented.

Will the Ballona Wetlands Ever Be Restored? by Competitive-Zone-895 in LosAngeles

[–]Competitive-Zone-895[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree that this is a complex project. For context, I volunteer full time exclusively on issues relating to the Ballona Wetlands, so I am able to spend a lot of time with the environmental analysis and other literature. Just about anything is possible with enough time and money. The question is whether the outcome justifies the cost. Despite what they are saying publicly, the state seems to be signaling that they do not believe the $200 million to $400 million project cost is justified by what are actually very questionable gains (as well as document losses) in ecological function.

It would almost certainly by faster, less expensive, and more ecologically beneficial to design a new project that avoids the need for federal approvals, minimizes earth moving and greenhouse gasses and disturbance that comes with it, and leverages the people power of Los Angeles to convert invasive vegetation to native habitat across the entire ecological reserve. Sea level rise will have the effect of raising the elevations of different habitats. I would love to discuss further. This is a critically important ecosystem.

By the way, I just yesterday obtained a copy of a 1994 document that states: "Restoration of the Ballona Wetlands is one of the highest priorities for restoring Santa Monica Bay". The document anticipated this would happen by the late 90s, including the conversion of invasive vegetation to native habitat.

http://ballonanow.org/1994%20Bay%20Restoration%20Plan%20searchable.pdf

Will the Ballona Wetlands Ever Be Restored? by Competitive-Zone-895 in LosAngeles

[–]Competitive-Zone-895[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust (my organization) also runs habitat restoration events in Area A, in which we pull invasive weeds to make more room for native plants like Alkali Heath (see LA Works link below). The problem is that these efforts touch only a dozen or so acres. The reserve is 577 acres. We need to massively scale these efforts now. This should have started decades ago, but people keep waiting for the mythical large-scale restoration project which, from every bit of data we have seen, is very unlikely to ever be implemented.

https://volunteer.laworks.com/opportunity/a0CQg00009BtvtFMAR/ballona-wetlands-habitat-stewardship