Lower Bayview needs to be protected

Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg claims that the wetlands on the

Bayview Landing site, adjacent to the Newport Ecological Reserve are

“man-made depressions.” Actually, what is “man-made” about anything

on this site is the dumping of fill dirt and gravel on top of former

estuary mud and the illegal carving up of the natural bluffs (a few

years back without a required Coastal Commission permit.) The high

water table and the proximity to Newport Back Bay are why wetland

plants continue to grow on the lower site, despite the “man-made”

degradation of the land, and why water ponds there during the rainy

season.

On the bluff top dozens of beautiful, colorful native wildflowers

were visible in early spring, replacing the formerly paved gas

station site, as the land reverts to its natural state. The bluff

sides have even more interesting plants, with rare Boxthorn and

native Dudleyas gracing the crevices.

The birds and the plants, who have lived for many thousands of

years longer than the humans in Newport Beach, understand this

geography of place, as does Robert C. Speed, of UC Irvine’s

Department of Earth System Science, who, in his letter to the

California Coastal Commission stated quite succinctly: “The Lower

Bayview Landing site may be the last unprotected open space on the

Upper Bay estuarine margin. It properly belongs to the estuarine

system, not to a housing project.”

Speed stated that the Newport Upper Bay estuary is the finest and

most complete representation of an estuarine wetland in Southern

California. While we realize the mayor and other city officials must

find locations for senior housing, after scientific scrutiny, it has

become clear that Newport Bay Southwest (Bayview Landing) was never

the right place, in our opinion. Several local environmental leaders

worked hard to find a way for this site to work, but with clear

opposition for the minimal needs of wetland ecosystem species, and

upon closer inspection, it has become clear that this is not the best

location. There are simply too many environmental constraints on this

land. Surely, there are other locations -- perhaps a commercial site

that has already been paved, but only needs a zoning change, not a

displacement of the life with whom we share this Earth.

On several visits to the site, we have observed Great Blue Herons

foraging on the land proposed for senior housing. We have heard

Pacific Tree Frogs, as well as songs of the Yellowthroat. The herons,

frogs and songbirds too need space to live. And, we’ve crowded them

out. In California alone, more than 91% of our wetlands have been

destroyed -- drained, diked and paved over -- all for good projects

for humans. We do not live alone on this planet, and we can not

pretend that we do.

MARCIA HANSCOM

Executive Director

Wetlands Action Network

Las Flores Station

ROBERT ROY VAN DE HOEK

Wetlands scientist and

executive committee member

Sierra Club California

Malibu