By Jane Velez-Mitchell and Marcia Hanscom
Activists led by Climate Reality Project leader Molly Basler, along with community members and animal welfare advocates.
Photo courtesy Nicole Charky
Those of us who live near the Ballona Wetlands see the egrets clustered in groups poking their beaks in the brook. We see the pelicans open their wings, as if in celebration of life itself… and we think: they have no idea. These innocent beings have no clue that powerful, monied interests want to destroy their home, 640 acres of wild land….the Ballona Wetlands, LA’s last remaining coastal wetlands.
This ill-conceived plan to spend $250 million dollars—public dollars—and a decade bulldozing our precious wetlands is a punch to the gut. These power brokers have the nerve to call this proposed obliteration a “restoration.” They conveniently fail to mention that this area is home to 1,700 species, from owls to skunks, from foxes to herons. They want to destroy the habitat of several endangered species, like Belding’s Savannah Sparrow! Killing is not conservation. Destruction is not restoration.
The Secret Agenda: Helping the Fossil Fuel Industry
With people distracted by the pandemic, fossil fuel operators quietly got permits to begin digging into the Ballona Wetlands to get a head start on this plan to excavate millions of cubic yards of soil and destroy crucial habitats. They were hoping nobody would notice…but we did.
Protests erupted! Critics pointed out that the so-called “restoration” would primarily benefit the fossil fuel industry, which wants to relocate and upgrade their little-known, crumbling gas storage facility under the wetlands. For that, you need bulldozers. Lots of ‘em.
Environmental activist Molly Basler tried to photograph this work from the public sidewalk. The gas company called police who converged around her. She was falsely accused of trespassing. This past week, Basler returned with community members, declaring that the public would not be intimidated by strong-arm tactics.
Danger of Floods, Leaks and Blowouts
State Sen. Ben Allen and LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn have told Gov. Newsom they’re worried about the dangers of this facility. The LA County Democratic Party and eight Westside democratic clubs have passed resolutions calling for this facility’s closure.
Still, the fossil fuel industry plows ahead. That, even though the Environmental Impact Report for this project has not received final approval. Potentially dangerous errors in the flood control planning have given the Army Corps of Engineers pause. City Councilman Mike Bonin has expressed alarm about the flood risk changes and called for shutting down the gas storage facility.
Provide Public Access to Nature Now
Supporters say Angelenos need more green space. We 100% agree! Right now, a huge gate to existing trails is locked! The gas industry holds the key. If this plan goes forward, 10-year-olds would be about 20 before they could visit. That’s madness.
Do gentle improvements and save these precious wetlands. Habitats around the world are going up in flames. Enough.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for nature-based solutions to climate change impacts and moving away from fossil fuels. He should withdraw this controversial project. Don’t bulldoze Ballona. Shut down the gas facility.
For details visit defendballonawetlands.org and tinyurl.com/ballonaphotos
Jane Velez-Mitchell, JaneUnChained.com founder, is a nationally known TV journalist and best-selling author. Winner of four Humane Society Genesis awards/commendations, Velez-Mitchell covers crimes against animals and the environment. Marcia Hanscom is an activist living in Playa del Rey who has worked for nearly 30 years to protect wetlands, coastal habitats and public access for all. She jumped into the struggle to save the Ballona Wetlands in 1995, started a coalition that grew from six to 106, and helped persuade Gov. Gray Davis to acquire more than 600 acres of land at Ballona in 2003.
Power to Speak is The Argonaut’s guest opinion column for community members to voice their views on local matters and does not represent an editorial position or endorsement by The Argonaut. The opinions, experiences, research and data analysis expressed in this article are the author’s own. Have a unique point of view on a neighborhood matter or a national issue with a local twist? Email
kkirk@timespublications.com.
This opinion reads like PETA-meets-MAGA. Distract an confuse, don’t harm anything living to improve the environment. The Ballona Wetlands is a wasteland land dominated by invasive plants and stagnant water – only the heartiest can survive here. The “evil” gas company is removing their gas wells from the wetlands, so the wetlands can be restored. This is a great project.
Don’t let them confuse the issue with scary bull dozers and climate change. Bull dozers have been used to restore thousands of acres in California for the benefit of the environment – yes, they have also been used to destroy and develop our precious native habitats. Natural gas is a fossil fuel; we should stop using it ASAP. The state should have policies for new development and even remodels to exclude their use. I recently converted our cooking to induction, and water heater to electric heat pump. This is the best way to eliminate gas storage sites – stop using gas.
According to Fish and Wildlife’s own environmental documents the flood analysis is flawed; the greenhouse gas emissions from construction alone make this project a wash at best (and that is after years of recovery); the sea level rise calculations are out of date; public access will be limited for 9+ years and then degraded by this project; the gas storage facility is failing and this project will allow the infrastructure to be upgraded; the cost of this project will be astronomical. There are invasive plants that need to be removed and that is possible without bulldozers. This project makes no sense and all you have to do is read Fish and Wildlife’s own documents to know it.
Hello Joe – describing the wetlands in their current condition as “wastelands” is simply not accurate. They are unquestionably degraded, but that is a direct result of the land owner, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, prohibiting basic stewardship in most of the reserve. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been routed to two non-profit groups over the last several years for restoration work in a very small corner of the reserve, while the remainder is largely neglected. However anyone feels about the various large-scale restoration alternatives, we are many years away, and likely a decade away, from those alternatives commencing. In the meantime, why not treat the entire ecological reserve as an ecological reserve?
Regarding SoCalGas, it’s own “fact sheet” (https://www.socalgas.com/sites/default/files/Ballona-Wetlands-Fact-Sheet.pdf) admits that they plan to drill up to six new “replacement wells” adjacent to the ecological reserve to replace the functions of the abandoned wells, and SoCalGas has admitted in filings that this modernization will decrease their operational costs. The idea that SoCalGas is motivated by what is best for the wetlands is simply naive and not supported by the facts. Heal the Bay stopped taking money from SoCalGas after acknowledging that SoCalGas was not acting in good faith with regard to climate change. Heal the Bay also acknowledged that having a gas storage facility underneath and adjacent to the ecological reserve was harmful to the ecosystem. If SoCalGas is allowed to drill new wells, then the goal of phasing out their facility will be far less likely.
Finally, you mention climate change and suggest that this is being used as a “boogey man” of sorts to scare people away from the proposed project. Again, the facts speak for themselves. According to the environmental impact analysis, the CO2e that will be emitted into the atmosphere by just the construction equipment alone (11,495 metric tons, not even counting the dump trucks that will be needed to haul soil away) is far greater than the incremental increase in potential future carbon sequestration after project completion. For those who are unworried by climate change, this may not be a compelling fact. For those like me who are worried about future of the planet, this is a legitimate reason for seeking a restoration alternative that doesn’t pump the equivalent of what almost a million passenger cars emit per day into the atmosphere.
To the extent that you or anyone else is interested in thoughtful, fact-based discussion of the project, our organization is always interested in such discussion.
Walter Lamb
Ballona Wetlands Land Trust
Thank you to both of the authors and for The Argonaut for publishing this informational article. The signs on the current So Cal Gas construction site belie the truth of the damage being done to our wetlands. Please speak up if you care about animals, plants, and other natural environmental features, and most of all, the safety of our community. It will take all of us to fight the planned insincere “Ballona Wetlands Renovation” covering an opportunity for So Cal Gas to further encroach on our wonderful wetland ecosystem and our own safety. As an educator and community member, I heartily urge the abandonment of the current disastrous plan in favor or one designed by scientists and educators as well as community members who care about access to this amazing and important asset to our community
Powerful article! SAVE BALLONA!!!
This is nonsense. Both the article and its title. Calling the restoration work bulldozing is purposely misleading. Yes, there will be bulldozers. Yes it will be ugly and messy for a while. But the ends here will for sure justify the means. These Wetlands were messed up by humans in the past and now they need to be fixed by humans. Of course it won’t be perfect. It’s too late for that. But this project will certainly help things move along in a better way.
Hello Viana – our organization agrees that the equipment used is less important than the outcome, but we disagree, based on what we already know from the environmental impact analysis, that the ends will surely justify the means in this case. Of this the various analysis we have read, the one linked to below, from a different organization, most closely reflects our views. It would be beneficial if the discussion could be less polarized and focus more on the specific pros and cons of each potential restoration alternative, including those that the state refused to analyze.
https://www.laaudubon.org/blog/2020/10/27/message-from-margot-considering-the-states-plan-for-the-ballona-wetlands
Walter Lamb
Ballona Wetlands Land Trust
Please do not destroy these wet lands.
This is devastating news that LA’s only wetlands may be destroyed! We have nothing else like this, where it’s all natural with 1700’s different species of plants and wild animals!!! All the people who love zoos, please come and help save this place because it’s the real nature that wildlife know it to be home. Come here to observe real wildlife and NOT caged and born in captivity. Please share this dire situation with everyone!
The atrocity of so cal gas endangering 1700 species in the name of restoration is typical and must be stopped!
Destroying the Ballona Wetlands will wipe out the last remaining wetlands on the Los Angeles Coast. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), The Bay Foundation, and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands support this so-called restoration plan, all while using false and inaccurate data. For example, according to the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s environmental assessment report, the flood and sea-level rise analyses are incorrect; construction will produce more greenhouse gas emissions, removing more than 2 million cubic yards of soil and removing the corroded infrastructure of SoCalGas operations will destroy habitat and wildlife. SoCalGas claims that removing their current wells and replacing them with fewer new wells will be less impactful to the area. The point is we as a city, country, and planet need to move off fossil fuel, not replace old fossil fuel infrastructure with new fossil fuel infrastructure. Supporters of this project, who bill themselves as “environmentalists,” should stop calling themselves environmentalists until they get on board and oppose this project. We are waiting.
I agree that the wetlands can be thoughtfully restored and improved without bulldozing and moving many tons of earth which will cost far too many taxpayer dollars and pollute our air with dust and gas emissions. I have been lucky enough to spend time on the wetlands over the past five years and am constantly amazed and delighted by the variety of wildlife and habitats. As the seasons change, we see different species of migrating birds and changes in vegetation. The wetlands should be open to the public right now. In the meantime, SoCalGas needs to shut down their natural gas storage field under the wetlands which, as we saw in Aliso Canyon, could potentially result in even more serious health hazards from leaks than what we are already experiencing.