News

CDFW Releases Final Environmental Impact Report for Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

December 19, 2019

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER).

CDFW, in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy and The Bay Foundation, has spent years working with the public and envisioning a plan for the revitalization of BWER. The report, found at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/5/Ballona-EIR, is the culmination of countless hours of staff work to determine a course of action for the Ballona Wetlands which were once an approximate 2,000-acre expanse of marshes, mud flats, salt pans and sand dunes that stretched from Playa del Rey to Venice and inland to the Baldwin Hills. Today, BWER is less than 600 acres of open space, all that remains of the former wetlands, now owned by the people of California and managed by CDFW.

Following the release of this FEIR, CDFW will select a final restoration project and assist Los Angeles County Flood Control District in applying for a permit from the U.S Army Corps of Engineers as well as seeking approval from other agencies including the Coastal Commission and Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The Final EIR, appendices, and all documents referenced in the Final EIR are available for public review during normal working hours at the following locations:

    • California State Coastal Conservancy, 1515 Clay St., 10th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
    • Los Angeles Public Library, Playa Vista Branch, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90094
    • County of Los Angeles Public Library, Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey, 4533 Admiralty Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292
    • Los Angeles Public Library, Westchester-Loyola Village Branch, 7114 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Extension of Comment Period on the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR)

The public comment period for this DEI/DEIR has closed.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy and The Bay Foundation, has spent years working with the public and envisioning a plan for the revitalization of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The Ballona Wetlands were once an approximate 2,000-acre expanse of marshes, mud flats, salt pans and sand dunes that stretched from Playa del Rey to Venice and inland to the Baldwin Hills. Today, BWER is less than 600 acres of open space, all that remains of the former wetlands, now owned by the people of California and managed by CDFW. See the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project [http://ballonarestoration.org/] for more information.

CDFW, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, is coordinating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project. CDFW is soliciting comments on the Draft EIR.

The public review period for the Draft EIS/EIR began on September 25, 2017 and, in response to requests from interested parties, has been extended. The extended comment period concludes on February 5, 2018. Written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR will be accepted via regular mail or e-mail at any time before the end of the comment period on February 5, 2018, including in person at the public meeting described below. Written comments may be directed to:

Richard Brody, CDFW
c/o ESA (jas)
550 Kearny Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94108
Email: BWERcomments@wildlife.ca.gov

PUBLIC MEETING DATE AND LOCATION:

A public meeting will be held to provide an overview of the findings of the Draft EIS/EIR and to receive comments on the Draft EIS/EIR. No decisions about the project will be made at the public meeting. The date, time, and place of the public meeting is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, November 8, 2017
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Burton Chase Park – Community Center
13650 Mindanao Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292 [Map:  http://bit.ly/2xv3bWb]


Draft EIR/EIS released for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve – September 25, 2017

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy and The Bay Foundation, has spent years working with the public and envisioning a plan for the revitalization of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The Ballona Wetlands were once an approximate 2,000-acre expanse of marshes, mud flats, salt pans and sand dunes that stretched from Playa del Rey to Venice and inland to the Baldwin Hills. Today, BWER is less than 600 acres of open space, all that remains of the former wetlands, now owned by the people of California and managed by CDFW. See Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project for more information.

CDFW, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, is coordinating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project. CDFW is soliciting comments on the Draft EIR.

DEIR/DEIS – CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: http://bit.ly/2haB5ua


Delay in Ballona EIR – October 2016

Draft EIR / EIS for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve Delayed – AGAIN!

Release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS) will be delayed due to the identification, discussion and resolution of various questions and concerns from the project agencies involved… read more at these links:

CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: http://bit.ly/2haB5ua

Heal the Bay Blog: http://bit.ly/2dLl1vF

Argonaut News Online: http://bit.ly/2ggXw12


Ballona BioBlitz – May 2016

May 18, 2016 — Last Saturday’s Ballona Wetlands BioBlitz was a biodiversity bonanza! Citizen Science Coordinator Catherine Hoffman masterminded the successful “wildlife scavenger hunt”… read more at these links:

Heal the Bay Blog: http://bit.ly/2havaFL

Heal the Bay Photos: http://bit.ly/2hpKIl8

Friends of Ballona “Ballona Bulletin” (pdf): http://bit.ly/2gGFphm


Ice plant removal project – March 2016

Mar. 23, 2016 — The Coastal Commission made the right decision to support removal of invasive iceplant in the always contentious Ballona Wetlands… read more at these links:

Heal the Bay Blog: http://bit.ly/2h8iZGn

Argonaut News Online: http://bit.ly/2hbwGou


Announcement of Wetlands Restoration Principles Coalition – April 2015

SANTA MONICA, CA (Monday, April 27, 2015) – A consortium of 13 influential environmental organizations aims to inspire fresh, innovative thinking about Southern California’s rapidly dwindling wetlands with Thursday’s release of a nine-point manifesto for their protection… read more at this link:

Heal the Bay Blog: http://bit.ly/2gpniyU