BREAKING NEWS:

Tidal pools at the Bolsa Chica wetlands Thursday morning shimmered under the shadow of dark clouds bunched together, having waited more than a century to reconnect to the Pacific Ocean.

For people waiting since 4 a.m. to see the Pacific Ocean moving gingerly into the tidal inlet, the moment was the zenith of 30-year efforts to save and restore a big chunk of the 1,200 acres of wetlands.

“This is the real thing,” said Jim Trout, project coordinator of the California State Lands Commission, which owns the wetlands. Trout traveled from Sacramento to witness the event. Many other state officials also were present.

Ocean water was supposed to trickle into the tidal inlet but the dribble soon turned into a torrent.

Former Huntington Beach mayor Shirley Dettloff couldn’t sleep much Wednesday night. She was one of the pioneer members of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, a group of people who joined forces in 1976 to save the wetlands.

“It’s so significant for so many of us,” she said with a big smile. “All the work we did for 30 years, we have finally achieved what we set out to do.”

Resident Therese Simon was on hand to watch the sand barrier give way to the ocean water. She and other residents had been waiting eagerly for the inlet to be opened.

“We think it’s so great that they are rehydrating the wetlands,” Simon said. “The water was stagnant and stinking in the wetlands.”

Fresh ocean water entering into the wetland pools will provide different types of habitats for a variety of birds and marine species.

“You can get about 30 species in the first year and about 60 in the next five to 10 years,” said Bob Hoffman, biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“This is so great, even if it cost $147 million to do it,” said David Ennen, Huntington Beach resident. “Hope they keep it as it is and never ever think of building on it.”

A set of muted tidal pools, which are shallow pools of water, and the full-tidal pool are expected to provide habitats for several endangered species, such as California least terns, Belding’s Savannah Sparrow as well as migratory birds and fishes.