ORANGE COUNTY VOICES : Bolsa Chica Plan Approval Still a Work in Progress

Re “More Work Needed on Bolsa Chica Plan,” Jan. 21:

In this editorial you ask the question, “Where would the money come from to buy the property . . . ?” The Bolsa Chica Land Trust has been working with the federal government to acquire 1,100 acres of the property using mitigation credit escrow accounts from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. As for the remaining acreage on the mesa, another financial deal is being worked on that would involve a land swap of surplus federal land from base closures. It is proposed that enough acres be swapped so that Koll realizes a fair profit on its land speculation.

With the entire ecosystem in the public’s hands, we share the vision of the Land Trust for an ecotourism biodiversity refuge. Tourism is the largest sustainable financial activity in Orange County and the Bolsa Chica ecosystem is a “Wetland of International Importance” under international treaty. As such, millions of dollars can be generated annually if marketed appropriately.

When was the last time a busload of Pacific Rim birders toured a residential neighborhood?

BRUCE MONROE

Sierra Club

Preserve Bolsa Chica Task Force

Seal Beach

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* We take issue with The Times’ Jan. 21 editorial which asserts that, after 30 years of planning, public input and study, the Bolsa Chica plan still needs work and that it falls short of “giving something back to the community.” It is because of the plan’s numerous public benefits to the community that approvals have been given by unanimous decision of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and now also by a solid majority of the California Coastal Commission.

Most significant among these public benefits is that with the approved plan, more than 770 acres of private property will become public open space for restored wetlands, public parks and trails at no cost to taxpayers. In fact, a full 75% of the Bolsa Chica project is planned as public open space. The restoration plan will also result in an increase of the total number of wetlands on site compared to present conditions, which will help counter historic wetlands losses throughout the state.

Furthermore, Koll has continued to report that its door remains open to discussions with the federal government despite the government’s failure to meet its own timeline for the proposed purchase of the lowland.

Finally, we thank The Times for its previous endorsements of the Bolsa Chica Coalition Plan in its past editorials dating back to 1991.

LUCY DUNN

Senior Vice President

Koll Real Estate Group

Huntington Beach

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* When talking about the Coastal Commission’s vote to allow building on the wetlands, your Jan. 21 editorial stated “. . . many environmentalists took the stance that the best plan for Bolsa Chica was no development. That is true, but unrealistic. Where would the money come from to buy the property . . . ?”

The money is there. To obtain grants and seek foundations to help back the purchase of this jewel, Bolsa Chica, all we need is a willing seller. Koll Real Estate Group knows this and has repeatedly said “nothing is for sale.” The Land Trust has tried many times to get Koll to sit down with them and get a price and willingness to sell. A willing seller is the stumbling block, folks, and the ball is in Koll’s court.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

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* I am one of many who applaud the California Coastal Commission for their foresight and strength in voting to support the county plan for Bolsa Chica. I attended the marathon hearing and spoke in support of the project on behalf of Business for Bolsa Chica, an organization comprising more than 70 Huntington Beach business people.

One significant part of the California Coastal Commission hearing that has not been presented well in your newspaper is that there were far more supporters of the project there than opponents. The support was so apparent that the commission allowed opponents three minutes to speak and supporters only two minutes.

This overwhelming support has actually been misrepresented by opponents sending letters to the editor claiming that all of the people speaking at the hearing were opponents of the project. Please be assured there are thousands of us who wholeheartedly support the plans for Bolsa Chica and look forward to seeing the entire plan come to fruition.

BRAD HILLS

President

Business For Bolsa Chica

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* I attended the California Coastal Commission meeting on the Bolsa Chica wetlands development project. I was disappointed to witness the total neglect by eight of 12 coastal commissioners who ignored counsel’s legal advice on Coastal Protection Act regulations and approved the Koll Co. development and wetland restoration plan. I believe the plan is faulty. Within the plan is the construction of a 250-foot-wide tidal inlet that will allow ocean waters to freely flow in and out of the wetland’s tidal basin. This tidal inlet will create a situation that has great possibility of damaging the wetlands permanently. If the wetland restoration plan is completed according to the plan, nitrate-rich nonpoint source runoff from the over-fertilized lawns and farmlands upstream will flow down the re-engineered Wintersburg flood control channel into the wetland tidal basin. Algae blooms, or “red tide,” will enter the wetland tidal basin through the newly constructed tidal inlet. The overabundance of nitrates in the tidal basin will promote and accelerate the growth of oxygen-dependent algae blooms. During this cycle, the algae will deplete the oxygen in the water, thus suffocating the fish and other oxygen-dependent aquatic life in the water.

Secondly, during the digestion cycle, all algae produce a toxin. Biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have linked toxic algae to over-nutriented waters fed with fertilizer runoff. Over 35,000 eared grebes have died in the Salton Sea area area because of toxic algae.

The wetlands will become a “dead sea” and the decay of dead organisms will produce a pungent odor that will be noticed throughout the expensive housing developments. Hypothetically speaking, these homeowners will then pressure the Coastal Commission to approve a “dead sea” development of concrete, steel and glass to restore the wetlands. Can you spell marina?

DENNIS SATO

Westminster

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* As a longtime resident and former mayor of Huntington Beach, I have been involved in the planning of the Bolsa Chica area for several years. I was very pleased, in my role as 2nd District supervisor, to introduce the county’s plan to the Coastal Commission at its recent meeting. I reiterated the objectives that will be met by implementing the county plan. They include: environmental enhancements, coastal resource protection, augmentation of public benefits and protection of property owners’ rights. While the plan does not fulfill the wishes or expectations of everyone (and no plan could), it does, on balance, benefit all concerned to the greatest extent possible.

The comprehensive nature of the Local Coast Program is, in my experience, unparalleled. In processing this project, the county looked at every conceivable concern--transportation, flood control, water quality, public access issues, resource management needs, public recreation opportunities, habitat and biological concerns, tidal flows and open space preservation.

The role of the county of Orange will now be to monitor the project and assure that the developers meet all the conditions and stipulations to which they agreed.

Whatever personal opinions are held about the appropriateness of the county plan, it is my hope that the Coastal Commission’s decision will be respected and that everyone who cares about Bolsa Chica’s future will come together in support of the restoration project.

JAMES W. SILVA

Supervisor

Second District

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* Agreed, “More Work Needed on Bolsa Chica Plan.” Is it “unrealistic” to take a stand on no development? When “California has lost more of its wetlands than any other state, more than 90%,” what is truly unrealistic is construction of more homes and the destruction of one iota more of what little remains.

Realistically, we can save all of Bolsa Chica. We must.

MARGE ALLEN

Huntington Beach

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* Our California Coastal Commission has become the California Construction Commission.

Against the strong advice of their own staff, they carved out an exception to the Coastal Act by allowing homes to be built on the Bolsa Chica wetlands. “A half a loaf is better than none,” one mental giant of a commissioner stated.

Never mind over 3,000 homes will cover and engulf the rare remaining wetlands. And never mind there are no guarantees in the deal that the remaining wetlands will ever be restored.

Just more empty developer promises. And more beholden politicians to accept them. Orange County is now monetarily and morally bankrupt. At the Coastal Commission level, the fox is guarding the henhouse.

Save your money for the Bolsa Chica Legal Defense Fund. Despite this setback, it’s not over until the bulldozer rolls.

WENDI ROTHMAN

Seal Beach

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* California’s ever-shrinking coastal wetlands will continue to shrink, thanks to the Republican appointees to the California Coastal Commission. That this commission would allow building 900 houses on 185 acres of degraded wetlands that could be easily restored shows what a complete farce this commission has become. Supposedly dedicated to protecting our coastline and improving the quality of life along the coast, the Coastal Commission has now become the tool of the (over)developers of our coastal land. Pretty disgusting!

JAMES R. GALLAGHER

Huntington Beach