EDITORIAL

An artificial tide pool at Big Corona -- it’s an idea that hasn’t won a

whole lot of support, but it’s one we think is worth consideration.

Careful consideration.

The reason: The natural tide pools at Little Corona are suffering. Too

many children visit the site every year and stomp through the sensitive

habitat. Some of the marine life has died, the rest are small and sickly.

One way to protect the precious ecosystem is simply to limit the number

of visitors to the Little Corona tide pools. Another is to divert them to

a protected, artificial habitat.

The idea surfaced earlier this month, after city, state and OCC officials

began considering the merits of building a marine center at the site.

Officials talked of including a visitors center, educational exhibits and

possibly a small aquarium.

We’re not saying it’s the best solution. Or even a good solution.

Obviously, the city would have to determine what impacts such an

attraction would have on the community, and whether it would really save

the tide pools at Little Corona or just become one more lure to schools

looking for a fun field trip.

A “major tourist attraction,” as former Mayor Phil Sansone said, may not

be the best thing for the community. Indeed, the city needs to make sure

that in the interest of protecting the fragile tide pools, it doesn’t

unwittingly created a mini Sea World. The residents of Corona del

Mar deserve better than that

Still, the area has long served as an unofficial outdoor classroom for

local schools. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with keeping that

tradition alive.

In the meantime, we have nothing to lose by studying the proposal,

especially since the center would be built with money from the American

Trader oil spill settlement.

We urge the city, and state and OCC officials to continue researching the

project but to remember that they need to strike a delicate balance

between the curious and eager minds of school kids and the residents here

who would have to put up with the flood of buses that bring those school

kids in.