Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project – Year 1 Report

This report summarizes activities for the Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project from the time period December 2015 through August 2017. During this time period, the restoration was implemented in two phases over the course of two weeks including the installation of fencing and seeding of native coastal strand vegetation species. The first eight months… Continue reading Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project – Year 1 Report

Technical Memorandum: Condition Assessment of the Wetland Habitats in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Over 96% and 98% of the vegetated and unvegetated estuarine wetlands, respectively, have been lost over the past century and a half in the Los Angeles region. This loss is mainly attributed to conversion of wetland habitat to uplands through fill deposition or development (Stein et al. 2014). The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve) located… Continue reading Technical Memorandum: Condition Assessment of the Wetland Habitats in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

Halibut Sexing Research Final Report – February 2014

The primary goals of this project were to test a non-lethal method of determining the sex of California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) and to obtain samples in a way that avoids causing additional mortality to a significantly depleted resource. Secondary goals are to also build capacity for collaborative research with California Department of Fish and Wildlife… Continue reading Halibut Sexing Research Final Report – February 2014

The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2010-2011 Final Report

In September 2011, the SMBRC completed the second year of baseline assessment surveys at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The comprehensive surveys were developed in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game and the California State Coastal Conservancy to assess the condition of the BWER and inform the state’s wetlands restoration planning.… Continue reading The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Baseline Assessment Program 2010-2011 Final Report

Ballona Community Iceplant Removal Project

The Bay Foundation (TBF), in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW), and community volunteers, is conducting a project to remove invasive vegetation while broadening public involvement and stewardship at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve). The project focuses on the removal of iceplant and other non-native species… Continue reading Ballona Community Iceplant Removal Project

Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

A significant portion of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve)—once home to abundant fish and waterfowl—was filled in to build Ballona Creek in the 1930s and Marina del Rey in the 1950s and 60s.  Invasive plants, such as iceplant and other non-native vegetation not native to Southern California, have taken over much of the Reserve,… Continue reading Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve