The kelp forests of Santa Monica Bay once teemed with seven species of abalone—red, pink, green, white, black, pinto, and flat. Through overharvesting in the past century, loss of kelp habitat, and disease, all seven species found in southern California have been nearly wiped out. As the primary sea urchin competitor, these large underwater snails… Continue reading Abalone Restoration Program
Topic: Wildlife
Community Restoration at the Ballona Reserve: 5-Year Update (Aug 2020 – July 2021)
This presentation captures project goals and 5-year statistics for the community restoration efforts at the Ballona Reserve.
Ebb & Flow: The Rainforest of the Sea [Video]
Interview with Tom Ford of the Bay Foundation about the magic of kelp forests, their importance in mitigating climate change, and how restoration efforts are helping to restore this ‘rainforest of the sea’ off the coast of Los Angeles.
Can Reviving Beach Dunes Help California with Sea Level Rise
Along a postcard stretch of Southern California, beneath the geologic grandeur of Point Dume, Sara Cuadra cradled a rake and prodded what seemed like just a patch of white sand. To the untrained eye, this was just another pretty spot in Malibu — a popular site for film shoots and Instagrams, body surfing and long… Continue reading Can Reviving Beach Dunes Help California with Sea Level Rise
Ballona Wetlands Restoration: Community Iceplant Removal Project, Year 5 Annual Report
The Bay Foundation (TBF), in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW), and community volunteers, are conducting a project to remove invasive vegetation while broadening public involvement and stewardship at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve). This report serves as the fifth annual report of the “Ballona Wetlands… Continue reading Ballona Wetlands Restoration: Community Iceplant Removal Project, Year 5 Annual Report
CNN Special Report: Saving California’s Kelp Forests from ‘Zombie’ Urchins [Video]
California’s underwater kelp forests have suffered a devastating decline. Now, the race is on to save them before it’s too late. Watch CNN’s Special Report on how an army of purple urchins has decimated these ecosystems, threatening the marine life that depends on them and the ocean’s ability to help fight climate change.
Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project: Restoration and Monitoring Plan
The Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project aims to restore approximately three acres of sandy coastal habitats located adjacent to Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach by utilizing existing sediments to transform a portion of the current beach into a sustainable coastal strand and foredune habitat complex with resilience to SLR. This report details the project’s restoration… Continue reading Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project: Restoration and Monitoring Plan
Los Angeles Living Shoreline Project Restoration and Monitoring Plan for Beach and Bluff Habitat
An update on the Los Angeles Living Shoreline Project (LA-LSP), the purpose of which is to create an innovative multi-habitat living shoreline at Dockweiler State Beach. The project aims to restore approximately four acres of sandy beach and coastal bluff habitat and implement a pilot restoration to establish adjacent offshore eelgrass within a 1-acre footprint.
Meet the Company Creating Sushi that Heals the Ocean
When the 2011 tsunami struck Japan, the topside damage was easy to see: more than 400,000 homes were destroyed, and over 23,000 people died or went missing. Its underwater devastation took longer to spot. Just as the wave battered human neighborhoods, it blasted apart marine communities. Larger species moved out like refugees and, with few… Continue reading Meet the Company Creating Sushi that Heals the Ocean
California Estuarine Wetland Monitoring Manual (Level 3)
This manual updates a previous framework to guide the development of coastal, perennial estuarine wetland monitoring programs throughout California by providing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and recommended protocols. As a living document that continues to be developed, this version has new and modified protocols, and it is anticipated that further changes to these will be… Continue reading California Estuarine Wetland Monitoring Manual (Level 3)