City is worthy of bay stewardship

Newport Beach officials say, confidently, they can do a better job of managing the Back Bay than the county and the state. They want a chance to prove it.

And there seems no good reason for them not to get that opportunity.

For two years now, Newport Beach leaders have been working with state and county officials who now oversee the Back Bay. Their duties include maintaining the ecological reserve’s trails, keeping restrooms clean, picking up trash and controlling the wildlife areas. City leaders are hoping to get a lead role by establishing a conservancy with the state and county that would put the management of the bay with the city.

City officials do acknowledge that they would have to look beyond City Hall to find the right people to do the job. A possible candidate to run things is the Irvine Ranch Land Trust, a nonprofit established earlier this year by Irvine Co. chairman Donald Bren to oversee 50,000 acres of open space in the county.

Even under such a scenario, the city would provide the guiding hand and something even more important: the money.

Newport leaders say they could put more money toward the Back Bay.

“It stems from money. You see the problems the state has with its budget,” Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff told the Pilot. “Department of Fish and Game is close to the bottom of the funding totem pole.”

The idea is popular with the Upper Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends -- a good sign. Its volunteers say the city taking over could improve education and restoration efforts.

One concern being raised is that the city would focus attention on the needs of its residents who use the Back Bay at the expense of visitors from other cities. That concern seems unfounded given that Newport Beach already handles thousands and thousands of visitors to its beaches, harbor and other attractions. The Back Bay would not be an ill fit in that way.

Newport Beach should keep pushing to get the opportunity to manage this land that crosses through so much of the city.