Ballona Wetlands Restoration Sean Bergquist - Restoration Program Manager photo provided courtesy Jonathan Coffin

A little history…

Ballona Wetlands Project Area

Planning Progress acre project area purchased 2004 Designated State Ecological Reserve2005 Project Goals and Objectives 2006 Existing Conditions Report 2006 Alternatives Development Technical studies and reports Feasibility Report2008

Project Organization Chart

Ballona Wetlands Science Advisory Committee Includes of members of Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Science Advisory Panel Ensure coordination and implementation of regional wetland restoration goals Participation in regional monitoring and research programs

Project Goals and Objectives Goal 1: Ecosystem Restoration: Restore, enhance, and create estuarine habitat and processes in the Ballona Ecosystem to support a natural range of habitat and functions, especially as related to estuarine dependent plants and animals.  Subgoals: Habitat, Biodiversity, Physical/Chemical Processes, Sustainability Goal 2: Social and Socioeconomic Values: Create opportunities for aesthetic, cultural, recreation, research and educational use of the Ballona Ecosystem that are compatible with the environmentally sensitive resources of the area.  Subgoal: Public Access, Cultural Access and Preservation, Recreational Use, Public Safety and Security

Opportunities and Constraints

Ballona Wetlands Existing Conditions Report Table of Contents Section 1 – Introduction 2 - Regional Context 3 - Historical Ecology of the Ballona Wetlands 4 - Physical Setting 5 - Biological Resources 6 - Cultural Resources 7 - Water and Sediment Quality 8 - Land Use 9 - Public Access 10 - Transportation and Circulation 11 - Regulatory Framework 12 - References Appendices

Project Sponsored Studies and Reports Sediment and Water Quality Issues Memo – Ballona SAC Summary Results of Sediment Sampling – Weston Solutions Water Quality Data Gaps Memo – Weston Solutions Water Quality Monitoring Plan – Weston Solutions, 2007; SCCWRP, 2008 Existing Habitats Map – CA DFG Ballona Wetlands Plant and Wildlife Observation Form - public All projects funded by:

Ballona Wetlands Existing Habitats Map

Additional Studies and Reports Sediment Coring – Army Corps and Weston Solutions Ballona Historical Ecology – SCCWRP* 19 th Century T-Sheet Digitization – SFEI, SCCWRP and CSUN* Ballona Creek Watershed Water Budget – SMBRF* TMDL Monitoring – Los Angeles City and County IRWRAP and CRAM integration – SCWRP* University Research  Water Quality (Bacteria and Organics) – LMU, John Dorsey and Rachel Adams  Historical Habitats and Restoration Implications – UCLA, Rich Ambrose and Todd Bear *Project proponents and sponsors may not be accurate

Restoration Alternatives

Ballona Wetlands Feasibility Report Table of Contents 1 – Introduction 2 – Description of Alternatives 3 – Measures of Change Habitat Biodiversity Physical and chemical processes Sustainability Public access, recreation and safety 4 – Summary Appendices A. Goals and Objectives, Opportunities and Constraints B. Habitat Descriptions for Restoration Alternatives C. Hydrodynamic Modeling D. Detailed Cost Estimates and Supporting Information Prepared by the PMT and PWA consultant team with review and input from the SAC and the Resource Agencies

Restoration Alternatives

Restoration Alternatives

SAC Recommendations Recommend Alternatives 4 & 5 with further analysis needed Effect of erosive shear stress associated with high velocity storm flows Ability to manage potential adverse effects of pollutant input to the wetlands Ability to include additional upland habitat for both intrinsic value and as a buffer to the restored wetlands. Lack of control structures to aid in accommodating sea level rise. Refined analysis of potential flood elevations and associated implications for integrity of the restored wetland. Ability to implement Alternative 5 in phases

Next Steps Early Action Plan Baseline and Long-Term Monitoring CEQA Process, Design & Permits

Baseline & Long-Term Monitoring Baseline vs. Long-Term Monitoring Monitoring Program Components  Physical and Chemical Processes  Biological Monitoring  Human Activities

Early Action Plan Improve Gordon’s Parking Lot Create Public Access to Area A Improve fencing and signage Open limited trails to the public

Early Action Plan Gordon’s Market Parking Lot Fiji Way Parking Lot 66 th Ave. Overlook