Defend Ballona Wetlands

08/21/2024

https://www.einnews.com/amp/pr_news/736742426/lawsuit-filed-challenging-the-california-coastal-commission-for-approving-project-staff-admits-would-destroy-wetlands

Activists say a less damaging alternative could have been approved and claim the Commission has allowed illegal “piecemealing” of a larger project.

08/20/2024

"We’ve had enough of standing by and watching two agencies charged with protecting these delicate lands giving the green light to a project deemed to have an unlawful Environmental Impact Report.”— Marcia Hanscom, Defend Ballona Wetlands

Activists say a less damaging alternative could have been approved and claim the Commission has allowed illegal “piecemealing” of a larger project.

05/11/2024

Sign this letter NOW to protect LA's Ballona Wetlands, home to 1,700 species with nowhere else to go! They want to destroy it to help the fossil fuel industry! Takes 2 seconds! Please click NOW:
https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/latest-news/stop-permits-destroying-ballona-wetlands/

11/10/2023

It’s been 20 years since the State of California acquired more than 600 acres of fragile coastal lands on the Los Angelesles coast: now the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. Maybe you’ll want to watch an award-winning film to celebrate.

With all the grim news in the world these days, and I’m not even including pathological prevaricator George Santos still being a member of Congress, I’m pleased to write about a cause that is uplifting. The Ethos Film Festival runs from November 10 through November 17 at different venues in Sant...

11/06/2023

This is a VERY important alert. Please sign the letter at this link and also please show up for a scoping hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6 pm.

Info is in this "take action" alert! ALL VOICES NEEDED for the voiceless at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=725655356258416&set=a.481780443979243

*California Residents*
Despite a court victory for 1,700 species of plants and animals at Ballona Wetlands, the government won't give up its attempt to bulldoze this precious habitat and is now requesting nearly $3 million for its 10-year phony “restoration” project. We must implore the Wildlife Conservation Board to defer or deny approving this request!

Take action: https://bit.ly/46XIClQ

Please share this post to maximize your impact, and consider making a donation to support our work on this issue https://bit.ly/3MpedEz
Thank you.

10/22/2023

We are at P-22 Wildlife Festival at Griffith Park. Children and families are writing postcards to California Governor Newsom, Supervisor Janice Hahn and Rep. Ted Lieu. The message is clear: no bulldozing Ballona Wetlands!

05/30/2023

Of importance to our community:

excerpt:

“We welcome the ruling,” said Marcia Hanscom, a community organizer for Defend Ballona Wetlands. “It gives the mosaic of habitats at the ecological reserve a reprieve from facing utter destruction and upheaval by state officials who — shockingly — favor sending bulldozers and other heavy equipment into these fragile wetlands.”

She fears that dozens of struggling species, and much of their habitat, would be sacrificed by restoration-related excavation, and the addition of 10 miles of bike paths.

A judge ordered the state to suspend any project activity and prepare a 'legally adequate' environmental impact report 'if it chooses to proceed.'

05/20/2023

Attorney Hall noted, “One of the things that disturbs me most is that it was not going to be realistically possible for them (the state) to achieve what they said that they were going to do—i.e. relocate or trap animals to ensure that they didn’t perish—while they’re bulldozing and grading this land, in order to create artificial habitats.”

In the Los Angeles Daily News, the CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife pushes back against what the Court ruled. Judge Chalfant will surely set them straight on what his ruling actually said when attorneys go back to Court for the judgment next month.

It's hard to believe that they didn't understand the ruling - which concludes that the environmental review was flawed- with incorrect flood risk standards being used andinsufficient assurances that wildlife populations would not be harmed. Plus, the ruling includes an injunction that does not allow any alteration of the land unless a NEW and LEGAL environmental review is completed.

Note: The project that CDFW has apparently dug its heels into sticking with and the design that they put forth would have placed much of Playa del Rey, Del Rey, Marina del Rey and possibly Venice - and the surrounding roadways - at increased risk of flooding.

With sea level rising, this plan to bring more ocean water in not only would decimate wildlife populations that do not do survive in saltwater (like our beloved Chorus Frogs!) - but it is insane to lower soil elevations that place the local communities at greater risk to flooding.

Environmental activists win case against proposed restoration plan that would bulldoze areas of the wetlands and relocate over 2 million cubic yards of soil

05/18/2023

Court Victory on the State-sponsored plan that has been masquerading as a "restoration." This is a huge milestone toward making sure the Ballona Wetlands and the wildlife relying on it continues to thrive. Much more work ahead - but this is SIGNIFICANT!

Thank you to all who have contributed toward this result and who continue to hold the space for PROTECTION and a GENTLE restoration - no bulldozers, excavators or other heavy equipment for such a mosaic of habitats.

LOS ANGELES - A judge Wednesday ruled in favor of an environmental group whose members alleged the state's approval of a state restoration project for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve