March 1995 AMIGOS HONORED BY WILDLIFE SOCIETY WESTERN SECTION The Amigos was chosen as recipients of the coveted 1995 Conservationist of the Year Award. The Wildlife Society is an international organization comprised of over 9000 professional wildlife biologists and ecologists.

Ports Announce Plan to Acquire The Bolsa Chica Wetlands
(portions of article orginally printed in The Tern Tide August 1995)
July 7th, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, along with 7 other regulatory agencies, agreed to a plan to acquire and restore the Bolsa Chica Wetlands from Koll Real Estate Group. The proposal, which has been in process for over 9 months, would use port funds to restore the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. The Ports would fund this restoration as mitigation for planned expansion that will fi ll habitat in the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors.

If a purchase and restoration is completed, the mission of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica will be accomplished - as outlined in our mission statement. The Amigos have followed the development of this proposal for many months.

The officers and Board have met with and had serious discussions with all of the major participants in this plan, including the Ports, the Department of the Interior, the regulatory agencies, and Koll Real Estate Group. The Amigos have continually stressed our support for such a plan, provided the restoration enacted provides for wetlands restoration that is appropriate and sensitive to valuable wlldlife habitat, and provides for meaningful public input. We have received assurances that this will occur. For over a decade, the Amigos have continually pointed to the mutual advantages of the Ports becoming involved in the restoration of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. This proposal appears to accomplish that.

As a member of Amigos, you can be proud of the role your support has played in making this possible. The Amigos have continued to stress the need for a restoration plan that fi ts the wonderful wildlife resource Bolsa Chica represents - not a plan driven by other needs or issues. Additionally, the Amigos have offered to back the plan with over $1 million in funds raised in 1988, if the plan addresses our concerns about public input and the best possible restoration.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Grow Larger
(originally printed in The Tern Tide March/April 1997)
On the dawn of Saturday, February 15, we celebrated the addition of 905 acres to the public lands at Bolsa Chica. Public ownership in the lowlands jumped on the preceding Friday from 309 acres to over 1200 acres. The beauty of the day was matched by the joy of those gathered to celebrate a new dawn for Bolsa Chica. The “A-Team” thanks the many friends of the Bolsa Chica who for decades have supported our dream. Thanks are extended to the many group and individuals who sent letters to the Commission urging approval of the purchase. Over 300 letters were received, a Commission record, with none opposed to the transfer. Both Democrat and Republican elected representatives sent letters of support. Cities and city council members sent letters to. Business entities and the H.B. Chamber of Commerce also encouraged approval.

Wieder Linear Park Update - Huntington Beach Gives Park Approval
(Originally printed in The Tern Tide May/June 1997)
After years of contentious discussions and planning, both the Huntington Beach Planning Commission and the Huntington Beach City Council recently voted unanimously to accept phase 1 of the Wieder Linear Park. The 51 acres along Seapoint between Garfi eld and the heliport near PCH will have the following improvements: a 5,000 square foot interpretive center (to be built in the future), 100 space parking lot, bicycle and riding/hiking trails, vista points, native habitat restoration and a 3 acre park node of playground, turf and picnic areas. Second District Supervisor Jim Silva has made it a priority to keep the approval process on an aggressive schedule. He recently allocated nearly $700,000 from the County’s Urban Parks Fund (which had been tied up in bankrupcy) to bring the total to nearly $2 million for this phase. Following this approval the plan goes back to the county and then to the Coastal Commission. If all runs smoothly, initial work will be done during the summer so that seeding and transplanting will take advantage of the winter rains in November.

The Amigos have attended every public meeting on the park, and have continually met with key planners through the years. With efforts from Vic Leipzig and Terry Dolton we have continually stressed the importance of native plantings as the park is a buffer to the wetlands below. The current plan has our approval and we continue to offer our services and we watchfully monitor the progress...as the park too, becomes a reality.


Click on a green square to learn about the events of that year which are a part of the efforts to preserve, protect and enhance the Bolsa Chica