Balancing Act : The Ecology of Upper Newport Bay

Amid Newport Beach’s tangle of homes, freeways and commerce are nearly 1,000 acres of coastal wetlands set aside for wildlife. For 30 years, Upper Newport Bay, known to locals as the Back Bay, has been a publicized battleground between environmentalists who want to preserve the delicate habitat and developers who know the potential the area affords. The Back Bay will be brought to the foreground again in Tuesday’s election, when Newport Beach voters decide whether to establish an assessment district to purchase two parcels of land next to the bay, to save them from development. Here’s a look at the Back Bay and what it offers the more than 2 million people who visit it each year. *

Bluff-top Development The two large pieces at the center of Tuesday’s vote are owned by the Irvine Co. The Newporter North and Upper Castaways sites overlook the Back Bay. Irvine Co. has given Newport Conservancy an exclusive option to buy the parcels for $55.8 million to save them from development. *

What’s Doing in the Back Bay The Back Bay is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. *NO Drinking water Public phones Camping What’s to Come Self-guided hiking trail More portable toilets Expanded interpretive program, displays Literature Vistas A) Excellent overall view of lower part of reserve. B) Excellent wildlife-watching C) Excellent bird- and wildlife-watching D) Good view of upper back bay E) Excellent overall view of back bay F) Excellent sunset viewing G) Excellent sunrise viewing H) Good sunrise viewing Paved roads Foot, horse and bike trails Interpretive displays Access for disabled Guided tours Portable toilets *

Explore Galore Free, two-hour educational tours are held on the second Saturday of each month during bird-migration season. The first tour begins at 9 a.m.; last tour begins at 10:15 a.m. Tours start at the corner of Eastbluff and Backbay drives. Call Friends of Newport Bay at (714) 646-8009. Upcoming tour dates: Nov. 13 Dec. 11 Jan. 15, 1994 Feb. 12, 1994 Mar. 12, 1994 *The state Department of Fish and Game and Orange County’s harbors, beaches and parks office coordinate various activities at the Back Bay. Call (714) 640-6746. Some activities: *Canoeing: Begin at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday at Shellmaker Island. Canoe rental costs $11. Reservations and deposit required. Kayaking tours: At 10 a.m. every Sunday. For reservations, call Newport Dunes at (800) 585-0747. Nature tours: At 9 a.m. the first and third Saturdays of every month. Free wildlife tours begin at trailer on Shellmaker Island. Owl prowls: Evening rides into the interior of the reserve with a naturalist will be held two Saturdays, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. Cost is $11. Call for reservations. *

Do’s and Don’ts * Fishing: Permitted from shore or by boat. Clamming permitted if area is not closed as a public health measure. Commercial fishing not allowed. * Swimming, wading: Permitted in the bay from North Star Beach to mid-channel. * Boating, canoeing: Crafts can be launched at Newport Dunes Park or, if small enough, at Big Canyon. Speed limit is 5 m.p.h. * Walking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding: All permitted but only on established trails, paths or other designated areas. * Vistas: A dozen access points, parking areas and overlooks offer a bird’s-eye view of most of the reserve. * Bikes and vehicles: Speed limit on Backbay Drive for bicycles and motor vehicles is 15 m.p.h. Parking only on designated access roads and parking areas. * Dogs: Must be leashed. *

Sharing Backbay Drive Backbay Drive is a 20-foot-wide paved road shared by pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists. A six-foot width is designated for bicyclists, but lobbying groups want separate trails for bicyclists and pedestrians. Some want the area completely closed to automobiles. Opponents say a separate trail would cost millions of dollars to build and a large chunk of the reserve’s habitat would be lost. Bay Birding An abundance of migratory birds use the bay as a fall and winter stopover to and from northern breeding grounds. Some birds that can be seen in November: Great blue heron: A lean, blue-gray bird that can stand four feet high. It has a dagger-like bill and makes a deep, harsh croaking sound. Range: Southern Canada to Mexico; winters in southern United States. Marbled godwit: A 16- to 20-inch, mottled, buff-brown shorebird with a long, straight or slightly upturned bill. The lining of the underwing is cinnamon-colored. Range: Northern Great Plains, Gulf Coast; winters in southern United States. Black-bellied plover: A 10 1/2- to 13 1/2-inch bird with a black breast, pale speckled back, and white rump and tail. Makes a sound like a plaintive, slurred whistle. Range: Arctic; southern Eurasia to southern hemisphere; winters in coastal United States. Short-billed dowitcher: A 10 1/2- to 12-inch gray bird that feeds with a rapid up-and-down motion. Range: Southern Alaska, Canada; winters from southern United States to Brazil. *Pickleweed: Abundant plant able to survive without air passages to its roots. *

Vital Tides * Low tide: Occurs twice a day, allows birds to feed on exposed mud flats. * High tide: Occurs twice a day, allows small marine life to emerge and feed. * Unusually high tide: Occurrence depends on weather and time of year; tidal saltwater goes deep into wetlands and immerses plants. *

Keeping the Bay in Check

Saltwater flows into the Back Bay on tides via Newport Harbor; fresh water comes primarily from San Diego Creek. Together, they create a special habitat for plants, animals and marine life that is becoming increasingly rare in California. *Restoring the Flow

In 1985, nearly 3 million cubic yards of silt choked off the tidal flow to the Back Bay and had to be removed. To ensure adequate tidal flow, dredging must be done every decade. Tidal picture over the decades:

*1) Pre-1930s: Tides flowed normally, allowing organisms to flourish and the food chain to operate efficiently. 2) 1960s-80s: High levels of sediment created over the years by nature, agriculture and urban development blocked the tidal flow. 3) 1985: Three dredging operations removed silt; normal tidal flow was not only restored, but improved, with effects seen a mile up San Diego Creek. *

The Trash Trail Trash and pollutants end up in the Back Bay after being tossed or washed into street gutters, sometimes miles away. Litter comes from a 154-square-mile area encompassing six cities. How it gets into the Back Bay: *1) Trash tossed in gutter blows into storm drains. 2) During dry months, it collects in a catch basin in the storm drain. 3) Rainstorms flush debris out of catch basin through underground pipe that empties into tributaries flowing into Newport Bay. 4) Because endangered birds nest between March and October, cleanup crews are prohibited by federal law from removing much debris during this time. *Main Types of Trash Motor oil and containers Plastic foam cups Paper cups Cans Plastic bottles Household cleaning products Fertilizer runoff *Sources: Friends of Newport Bay, Los Angeles Times reports; Researched by CAROLINE LEMKE / Los Angeles Times