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Residents Set To Help Restore Lagoon Shore
By Kelly Garrison
Features Editor
Community members will contribute to a massive revitalization effort at Colorado Lagoon this week as they help remove plant species detrimental to the area.
Three upcoming “Wetland Habitat Restoration Parties” will give those wishing to get involved the opportunity to excavate ice plants from banks of the lagoon’s north arm. Organizers from the Friends of Colorado Lagoon (FOCL) said they want to open doors to citizen involvement in the city project.
“We’re trying to let the community do what it can to save the city some money and help expedite the process of restoration,” said FOCL Education Director Taylor Parker. “We want to allow them to get a sense of ownership.”
Ice plants, which Parker said largely originate in Australia and Africa, grow mostly on the eastern shore of the lagoon’s north arm. The plant, he said, often appears harmless but can do considerable damage to native plants by soaking up nutrients that would sustain other plant life.
“That tends to be the case with all nonnative invasive plants,” he said. “They physically take over and smother the habitats of native plants. They steal resources, such as sunlight, water and nutrients.”
Starting today and over the weekend, volunteers will dig up the plants using hand tools. Parker said FOCL was able to purchase the items and contract with naturalists for the project with the help of funding from the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project. By asking the community to help with manual labor, he said, the project is both saving money and allowing residents to “get their hands dirty” and contribute to a greater cause.
“It’s kind of revolutionary,” he said. “Having the community start the restoration is a way of, rather than going around the red tape, using it.”
Taylor said he expects students to make up the majority of volunteers, since the program is based on an educational curriculum and aims to teach students about the environment. Those who participate will be eligible to receive academic credit for their efforts.
“They can expect to get educated on salt marshes, nature and everything involved,” he said.
The $15 million Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project aims to revitalize the 36-acre East Long Beach estuarine habitat by cleaning out the underground culvert that connects Alamitos Bay to the Pacific Ocean through Marine Stadium, and eventually constructing an open channel to improve circulation. In addition, it will repair the tidal and draining system, remove contaminated sediment from the lagoon and add native vegetation to feed and shelter wildlife.
The plan includes a walking trail that would wind around part of the lagoon and alongside the open channel and, among other features, would include signage with educational displays about surroundings. Construction may start in May of 2009, pending design and development permitting.
The lagoon, along East Colorado Street, is the lowest point in its surrounding watershed in the southeastern portion of Long Beach. Project planners say pollutants have entered its storm drains for decades and caused it to deteriorate in water and sediment quality.
How the ice plant became a part of the lagoon’s ecosystem remains a mystery, according to Taylor, but he has a few speculations.
“Stories say that wealthy European widows took cruises around the world and dumped the plants off in California,” he said. “I don’t really believe that one, but most invasive plants do end up here from people who bring them over.”
Wetland Habitat Restoration Parties will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Thursday; from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6; and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. Volunteers will meet at the Colorado Lagoon Wetlands And Marine Science Education Center, near the corner of Appian Way and Colorado Street. Volunteers are advised to bring water and wear closed-toed shoes, hats and sunscreen.
To get involved, call 879-9756 or e-mail cris@coloradolagoon.org.
For more information, visit www.coloradolagoon.org.
Three upcoming “Wetland Habitat Restoration Parties” will give those wishing to get involved the opportunity to excavate ice plants from banks of the lagoon’s north arm. Organizers from the Friends of Colorado Lagoon (FOCL) said they want to open doors to citizen involvement in the city project.
“We’re trying to let the community do what it can to save the city some money and help expedite the process of restoration,” said FOCL Education Director Taylor Parker. “We want to allow them to get a sense of ownership.”
Ice plants, which Parker said largely originate in Australia and Africa, grow mostly on the eastern shore of the lagoon’s north arm. The plant, he said, often appears harmless but can do considerable damage to native plants by soaking up nutrients that would sustain other plant life.
“That tends to be the case with all nonnative invasive plants,” he said. “They physically take over and smother the habitats of native plants. They steal resources, such as sunlight, water and nutrients.”
Starting today and over the weekend, volunteers will dig up the plants using hand tools. Parker said FOCL was able to purchase the items and contract with naturalists for the project with the help of funding from the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project. By asking the community to help with manual labor, he said, the project is both saving money and allowing residents to “get their hands dirty” and contribute to a greater cause.
“It’s kind of revolutionary,” he said. “Having the community start the restoration is a way of, rather than going around the red tape, using it.”
Taylor said he expects students to make up the majority of volunteers, since the program is based on an educational curriculum and aims to teach students about the environment. Those who participate will be eligible to receive academic credit for their efforts.
“They can expect to get educated on salt marshes, nature and everything involved,” he said.
The $15 million Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project aims to revitalize the 36-acre East Long Beach estuarine habitat by cleaning out the underground culvert that connects Alamitos Bay to the Pacific Ocean through Marine Stadium, and eventually constructing an open channel to improve circulation. In addition, it will repair the tidal and draining system, remove contaminated sediment from the lagoon and add native vegetation to feed and shelter wildlife.
The plan includes a walking trail that would wind around part of the lagoon and alongside the open channel and, among other features, would include signage with educational displays about surroundings. Construction may start in May of 2009, pending design and development permitting.
The lagoon, along East Colorado Street, is the lowest point in its surrounding watershed in the southeastern portion of Long Beach. Project planners say pollutants have entered its storm drains for decades and caused it to deteriorate in water and sediment quality.
How the ice plant became a part of the lagoon’s ecosystem remains a mystery, according to Taylor, but he has a few speculations.
“Stories say that wealthy European widows took cruises around the world and dumped the plants off in California,” he said. “I don’t really believe that one, but most invasive plants do end up here from people who bring them over.”
Wetland Habitat Restoration Parties will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Thursday; from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6; and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. Volunteers will meet at the Colorado Lagoon Wetlands And Marine Science Education Center, near the corner of Appian Way and Colorado Street. Volunteers are advised to bring water and wear closed-toed shoes, hats and sunscreen.
To get involved, call 879-9756 or e-mail cris@coloradolagoon.org.
For more information, visit www.coloradolagoon.org.
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