The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is approximately 640 acres of a mosaic of habitats - and it is under threat to be bulldozed and have more than 2 million cubic yards of life-filled soils excavated, moved around and re-sculpted, as if one can play "Frankenstein" with Nature.

Wetlands, Grasslands, Coastal Scrub, Salt Panne and Sand Dunes are among the habitats that are planned to be destroyed for a plan the State of California was persuaded to bring bulldozers into, even though dozens of rare and imperiled species rely on this land for shelter and food.

This land was saved so the wildlife could be preserved, and so that sensitive public access trails could be opened.  Instead, the plan is for an amusement-type park that would eliminate habitat for many of the rare species that rely on Ballona today.  Wild animals would be killed outright, chased away or caged.  This is not a good use of public money that was meant for protection of wetlands, grasslands and other fragile habitats.   

Who benefits most?  SoCalGas; their gas storage field beneath the Ballona Wetlands would be allowed to stay for decades, when it should be shut down if we are serious about converting to renewable energy!

photo: Jonathan Coffin