LETTER OF THE WEEK

A Sept. 7 article (“Environmentalists criticize restoration plan”)

highlights varying positions of community organizations with regard to

the undertaking of several federal and state agencies (collectively

referred to as the Bolsa Chica Steering Committee) to restore the Bolsa

Chica wetlands, one of the last remaining significant wetland areas in

Southern California.

Amigos de Bolsa Chica and other environmental organizations are

monitoring the restoration planning process and have expressed a number

of important environmental and social concerns that must yet be addressed

in the planning process.

A tidal inlet is a key element of all but one of the alternative

restoration plans and is necessary to allow the use of mitigation funds

from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Scientific data indicates

that a tidal inlet is essential to allow flushing of the wetlands

sufficient to establish viable marine and wildlife habitat areas. Amigos

de Bolsa Chica has always supported a tidal inlet to allow sufficient

saltwater to support the wetland habitat.

However, we also recognize and support the importance of protecting

existing beach and ocean recreation areas and minimizing the potential

for coastal pollution from the wetlands and urban runoff. The currently

proposed plans call for tidal inlets that would result in the loss of at

least 420 feet of linear beach area and substantial recreational open

space.

The planning agencies need to reexamine the inlet design concept with

a view toward reducing the size of the inlet to minimize environmental

impacts and recreational losses. Amigos de Bolsa Chica believes that by

expanding its vision, addressing all of the environmental and social

impacts, and seeking the involvement and financial participation of state

and county agencies, a more environmentally sensitive project could

result.

Many necessary state, county and city agencies have not yet been

invited to participate in the restoration planning process. Indications

are that California transportation highway projects and county flood

control projects could be coordinated with the wetlands restoration in a

manner that would allow more money to go to restoration and a superior

project to result.

We urge the Bolsa Chica Steering Committee to sharpen its pencils and

open the doors of creativity to create a financially and environmentally

sensitive restoration project that maximizes both wildlife habitat and

usable beach area, and minimizes potential pollution and impacts on

recreation. Only a project meeting those criteria will win public

acceptance and ultimately become a reality.

LINDA SAPIRO MOON

President

Amigos de Bolsa Chica