Urban Coast Volume 4, Issue 1 – Dec 2013

The Urban Coast multidisciplinary scientific journal is a peer-reviewed product of the Coastal Research Institute, a partnership of Loyola Marymount University’s Seaver College of Science and Engineering and The Bay Foundation.  Urban Coast provides a forum for researchers, agencies, advocacy groups, and other science and policy leaders to engage in constructive discussion and information exchange on issues that are pertinent to our… Continue reading Urban Coast Volume 4, Issue 1 – Dec 2013

The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2009-2010 Final Report

In September 2010, the SMBRC completed the first year of surveys at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The comprehensive surveys were developed in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game and the California State Coastal Conservancy to assess the condition of the BWER and inform the state’s wetlands restoration planning. This document… Continue reading The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2009-2010 Final Report

Climate Change Implications for Ballona Wetlands Restoration

The purpose of the Ballona Wetlands Climate Change study was to investigate the implications of potential changes in precipitation and sea level to the BWER. The study includes the application and integration of multiple models under various climate change scenarios to two proposed wetland restoration alternatives.

Ballona Creek Greenway Plan

The Ballona Creek Greenway Plan describes opportunities to reconnect residents with their creek, create a green corridor of trails and points of access, enhance habitat, mitigate stormwater runoff, redevelop land to improve watershed functions, re-establish riparian areas, and increase the health and sustainability of the region. The Reach Plans summarize design opportunities in general terms,… Continue reading Ballona Creek Greenway Plan

Technical Memorandum: Condition Assessment of the Wetland Habitats in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Over 96% and 98% of the vegetated and unvegetated estuarine wetlands, respectively, have been lost over the past century and a half in the Los Angeles region. This loss is mainly attributed to conversion of wetland habitat to uplands through fill deposition or development (Stein et al. 2014). The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve) located… Continue reading Technical Memorandum: Condition Assessment of the Wetland Habitats in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Technical Memorandum: Patterns of Vehicle-Based Vertebrate Mortality in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Over the past decade, concerned stakeholders anecdotally noticed a high frequency of animal kills along the major roadways adjacent to the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (“BWER” or “Reserve”) (L. Fimiani, personal communication, 2011). This memorandum was developed to quantify the vertebrate mortality along Reserve-adjacent roadways. Additionally, it will provide information and data to the ongoing… Continue reading Technical Memorandum: Patterns of Vehicle-Based Vertebrate Mortality in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Technical Memorandum: Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Vegetation Alliance and Habitat Crosswalk

This document serves as a reference for a vegetation alliance and association to habitat crosswalk at an impacted and degraded salt marsh system in Los Angeles County. Surveys were conducted at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER) by The Bay Foundation (I. Medel and team) from May – October 2013 in accordance with methods created… Continue reading Technical Memorandum: Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Vegetation Alliance and Habitat Crosswalk

The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2010-2011 Final Report

In September 2011, the SMBRC completed the second year of baseline assessment surveys at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The comprehensive surveys were developed in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game and the California State Coastal Conservancy to assess the condition of the BWER and inform the state’s wetlands restoration planning.… Continue reading The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2010-2011 Final Report

Ballona Community Iceplant Removal Project

The Bay Foundation (TBF), in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW), and community volunteers, is conducting a project to remove invasive vegetation while broadening public involvement and stewardship at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve). The project focuses on the removal of iceplant and other non-native species… Continue reading Ballona Community Iceplant Removal Project

Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

A significant portion of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve)—once home to abundant fish and waterfowl—was filled in to build Ballona Creek in the 1930s and Marina del Rey in the 1950s and 60s.  Invasive plants, such as iceplant and other non-native vegetation not native to Southern California, have taken over much of the Reserve,… Continue reading Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve