COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

We wish to thank Lou Murray and Vic Leipzig for writing the recent article about the Bolsa Chica Land Trust’s ambitious restoration plans for the Bolsa Chica Mesa (“Land Trust’s plan for the mesa revealed,” Natural Perspectives, May 28). We feel privileged to be leading the way in its protection and preservation. We openly welcome any and all public input that will enhance the vision, strengthen our community involvement and allow us to continue to work productively in our partnership with the Department of Fish and Game and their efforts to restore the Bolsa Chica Mesa.

Unfortunately, however, the article contains significant inaccuracies that need to be corrected.

Admittedly, the mesa restoration is a complex process. It was challenging to fit a description of the complete restoration plan into a 20-minute general overview at our recent community town hall meeting. It should be noted that the authors of the article were in attendance at the meeting and might have used the opportunity to express their concerns or ask questions, but they did not.

One inaccuracy in the article involves the interior trails. All of the trails developed for this project will be maintenance trails only; none are intended for public use.

They are intentionally designed to reduce impact on the wildlife, and do not cross any of the habitats.

Once the mesa restoration project is complete, all of the trails will be decommissioned, unless otherwise retained by the Department of Fish and Game, the actual owners of the Lower Bench of the Mesa.

Another inaccuracy concerns the terra native plant nursery sites.

These are specifically designed for the challenges of the mesa.

The Land Trust absolutely believes that the mesa is the ideal place for state-of-the-art environmental science.

As for herbicides, the Land Trust believes that any use of chemicals in a sensitive ecological system should be avoided and only done in conjunction with Department of Fish and Game guidelines.

Specific plant pallets and grass species were not discussed at the town hall meeting, so it is unclear where that misconception came from.

Finally, the article appears to question the qualifications of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust to take on a project of this size and importance. Saving the Bolsa Chica has always been about the art of the impossible.

The Land Trust carries on a tradition that started more than 30 years ago when the League of Woman Voters thought that saving the Bolsa Chica was a good idea.

That tradition carried on through the efforts of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust.

Today, the Land Trust has a strong balance sheet, an army of talent and thousands of members, has secured millions of dollars for acquisition, saved wetlands and mesa habitat, and done it all because of an unwavering vision, dogged determination and strong community collaboration.

Saving Bolsa Chica has always been about democracy in action and citizen involvement in the community.

Working in partnership with the Department of Fish and Game, the community that saved Bolsa Chica Mesa, will be the community that restores Bolsa Chica Mesa.

When the Bolsa Chica Land Trust was formed in 1992 for the sole purpose of saving the Bolsa Chica from major development, many thought paving over the mesa and wetlands was a done deal.

Luckily, there were people in this community who agreed with our vision.

With tremendous broad-based support and incredible hard work by Land Trust members, in 1999 the Bolsa Chica Land Trust Decision became precedent-setting law.

This decision not only saved the Bolsa Chica, but it has helped to save wetlands up and down the coast, and is a great source of pride for our city and the Land Trust itself. And now the Bolsa Chica Stewards, the restoration team of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, embrace the much-needed mesa restoration opportunity with the same determination and community backing.

Every community member is invited to participate in this ambitious Community Promoted Restoration project.

They can get involved by joining us on our regularly scheduled monthly work days and by checking www.bolsachicalandtrust.org.

The site includes descriptions of all the Land Trust efforts, and will include timely updates on the Mesa Restoration project.

Visitors can also sign up for e-mail communication and our Music of the Mesa newsletter.

As the mesa restoration project moves forward, we sincerely want to continue to hear the ideas, concerns, science, hopes and dreams of interested parties in the community.

Accurate information and honest discussion will be a critical part in ensuring that the project proceeds and succeeds in its ambitious vision.

PAUL ARMS is the president of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust.