VIC LEIPZIG and LOU MURRAY -- The Natural Perspective

The Bolsa Chica wetlands have been a source of contention in this town

for more than 100 years. At least the ownership question was settled in

1997; the Bolsa Chica wetlands belong to the public.

But the battle to save the Bolsa Chica was only a prelude to the next

fight -- one that will pit friend against friend. Now we have to decide

upon a restoration plan for the wetlands. Although that sounds simple --

bring in seawater and let nature take its course -- it isn’t. Soon former

allies in saving the wetlands will be at each other’s throats over which

plan constitutes the most desirable restoration.

A consortium of governmental agencies has prepared a series of plans

for restoration. The proposed project calls for an ocean opening at the

south end of the lowlands, beyond the present ecological reserve. With

this plan, at least some of the restored wetlands would receive full

tidal flushing, which is essential for a successful restoration.

There would be no connection with the Wintersburg Flood Channel. No

urban runoff would enter the wetlands or the ocean. In our minds, this is

a good compromise plan because it allows for a high-quality wetlands

restoration while minimizing the effect on ocean recreation.

In addition to the proposed project, there are six alternatives, two

sub-alternatives and even the option of no project at all. Naturally,

there are merits and drawbacks to these various plans.

First, let’s agree that “no project” is unacceptable. We’ve fought too

long and too hard to allow the opportunity for a high-quality restoration

to slip by. The money for restoration is available from the ports of Los

Angeles and Long Beach, so let’s not lose it by doing nothing. From a

strictly biological point of view, the best thing for the wildlife is to

reestablish an opening to the ocean, let fresh water flush in from one

side and let the ocean ebb and flow from the other.

The problem with this ideal solution is that there is no longer any

good fresh water to bring into the wetlands. What we have now is urban

runoff. The fresh water that would flow into the Bolsa Chica is water

that has sloshed over our streets and pavements, water that brings in

noxious road oil, polluting plastic debris and a huge burden of bacteria.

We’d be out of our minds to allow that water to be used for the

restoration. Note that the proposed project does not allow urban runoff

to enter the restored wetlands or Bolsa Chica State Beach. However, two

alternatives would.

The county plan, which is Alternative No. 1, would allow all water

from the Wintersburg Channel to flow into the newly restored wetlands,

bringing with it urban runoff. The water would flow into the wetlands and

out to the ocean, without enough dwell time for the wetlands to cleanse

the water before it rushes to meet surfers and swimmers.

This plan is unacceptable to us and to anyone concerned about

pollution of our beaches, but it would probably be favored by those

concerned with decreasing runoff into Huntington Harbour.

The alternative known as Alternative No. 6 would also allow urban

runoff to enter the wetlands, but only at times of peak flow. The first

highly contaminated runoff from rains would go where it goes now -- into

Huntington Harbour. While this plan would bring some fresh water to the

wetlands, and thus be better for the restoration project than either

Alternative No. 1 or the proposed project, we don’t think the surfers

will line up in its favor.

The worst alternative is No. 5, which calls for no ocean opening and

only occasional muted tidal flushing of the back Bolsa, using water from

the Wintersburg Channel. Gates would be opened and water allowed into the

back Bolsa only once every other week. In between this limited inflow,

the water would sit and stagnate. Oxygen would be rapidly depleted, and

the fish and invertebrates trapped in those areas would die a slow and

certain death. Lured in by the in-flowing water, they would find

themselves trapped with no water circulation, no oxygen and no hope of

escape.

Instead of creating a nursery for marine life, which is one of the

goals of salt marsh restoration, Alternative No. 5 would be a deathtrap.

There simply is not a large enough tidal prism in the Bolsa Chica as

it is currently configured to restore another square foot of wetlands.

Whoever proposed Alternative No. 5 apparently knew nothing of either

hydrology or biology. For a meaningful restoration, we need a new ocean

opening. The proposed project is a good compromise between the needs of

the wildlife and the need to keep our beaches free from pollution. With

the proposed project, we can have an ocean opening without adding the

woes of urban runoff to either the wetlands or our beaches.* VIC LEIPZIG

and LOU MURRAY are Huntington Beach residents and environmentalists. They

can be reached at o7 [email protected] .