Friends of Colorado Lagoon
FOCL POINTS Friends of Colorado Lagoon is a coalition of concerned citizens working to preserve and restore Colorado Lagoon
Friends of Colorado Lagoon’s FOCL Points Newsletter No. 21
March 2014
Colorado Lagoon’s Colorful History by Dr. Christine Whitcraft, FOCL President
Environmental history deals with the role and place of nature in human life. It is a fascinating way to approach understanding the places we live, the ecosystems we interact with, and the restoration projects that we undertake. For some people, they have lived a place’s history; for others, exploring the history of a place is an important precursor to feeling like a resident there. Here at Colorado Lagoon, Friends of Colorado Lagoon has incorporated history into the process of restoration planning. We have a chance to present this information at the Long Beach Community Studies Conference in April 2014, but will take this opportunity to share with you the lagoon’s recent history.
Until the 1930s, a meandering tidal creek connected the lagoon to Alamitos Bay.
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New Signage Aims to Inspire and Educate Education remains one of the Friends of Colorado Lagoons primary missions and we are excited to showcase new signs like the one shown to the left. Six new panels can be viewed along the Champions trail around the lagoon’s shoreline, illustrating various features including native plant ecosystems, wildlife, marine organisms, historic photos, and restoration successes. We hope that visitors and students will appreciate informative messages and feel inspired to take pride in this special place.
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March 2014
Bird Walk For Adults Takes Flight
2007
There is no shortage of scenic wildlife and surprising moments at the Colorado Lagoon. Birders, photographers, and nature lovers are touring the lagoon’s shore on the last Sunday of every month to search for birds and other critters. Spearheaded by FOCL board member, Harriet Bennish, any adult is welcome to bring binoculars, cameras or their eagle-eye to explore the lagoon’s wildlife. Photographers who capture wildlife in action, scenic landscapes, or other creative moments are invited to share these photos with FOCL for outreach efforts. See the Upcoming Events section for event dates. All walks begin at the Wetland and Marine Science Education Center, or WAMSEC, on Appian Way north of Colorado Street, at 8:30am. RSVP and share these photos by emailing friends@coloradolagoon.org
Spotlight: Favorite Fauna Striped Shore Crab
Black bellied plover
(Pachygrapsus crassipes)
(Pluvialis squatarola)
This rocky shore crab lives in the upper tidal zone but spends plenty of time on land where it primarily feeds on algae using its pincers. These crabs molt their hard shells which come in a variety of colors from purple to red with green stripes.
These shorebirds breed in the Arctic and migrate south to coastal areas in winter. They can travel non-stop over thousands of miles to suitable tidal flats in order to feast on mollusks, worms and crustaceans.
(Photos by Kim Moore)
Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 12th 8 am - 12 noon This special event marks our last large planting of the season. Help place the final touches in our growing habitat. The event will kick off at the Wetland and Marine Science Education Center near the corner of Appian Way and Colorado Street. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of water. Service learning credits are available. Page 2
March 2014
Native Plants Combat Drought Conditions Anyone local to Southern California can tell you that we are in a drought. Yes, we recently received about 5 inches of rain locally, but this is still only half of the rainfall we should have received. About 10 inches is the annual average for coastal region, so water conservation is still a priority issue at the Colorado Lagoon with the particularly dry weather. Native plants are a key to conserving water while providing habitat value and landscape beautification. Several thousand native shrubs, trees, wildflowers and wetland species were planted over the past couple of years with tremendous support from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which require little water to thrive. These plants are well adapted to such dry conditions and support important critters like bees and butterflies, which are integral components of a healthy environment.
2007
(Photo by Diane Paull)
Continued from Colorful History page 1 Colorado Lagoon is a dynamic, central feature of the Alamitos Heights and Belmont Heights neighborhoods in Long Beach, CA and has been for many (years/generations). Once the upper portion of a large coastal wetland ecosystem, it is now an 18-acre tidal water body connected to Alamitos Bay via a 1,000-foot box culvert. As indicated by this transition, Colorado Lagoon has a rich and diverse history, embedded with stories of exploitation, athletic achievements, community bonding, and memory building. Since the 1920’s, the Lagoon has been managed by the City of Long Beach as a park and marine recreational area. In 1923, the naturally occurring tidal wetlands of Alamitos Bay were dredged to form the Lagoon and Marine Stadium. The Lagoon then became the site for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic U.S. Diving Trials and was separated from Marine Stadium (the site for rowing competitions) by tide gates designed to maintain an adequate water depth for diving events. In the late 1960’s, the north end of Marine Stadium was filled in preparation for a never-executed, cross-town freeway. Instead, this filled area became part of Marina Vista Park.
The lagoon has served as a community center for generations
All of these alterations and activities left the Colorado Lagoon in a degraded condition as the 3rd worst water-body for water quality in California – no longer able to support the myriad activities and wildlife that once made it such a special place. In partnership with the City of Long Beach and numerous funding agencies, Friends of Colorado Lagoon has worked to ensure that Colorado Lagoon is restored to the gem of its neighborhoods, both in terms of environmental health and community life. The story of the advocacy, restoration and eventual planned rejuvenation of the Colorado Lagoon is a tribute to the hard work of dedicated communities, the strength of local partnerships, and the resiliency of the Colorado Lagoon ecosystem itself. Page 3
March 2014
2007
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
Friends of Colorado Lagoon 6475 East PCH #252 Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 261-9058 www.coloradolagoon.org
PAID Long Beach, CA Permit #25
Upcoming Activities Estuary Exploration
Bird Walk for Adults
Every second Saturday from 8am-10am March 8 – April 12 – May 10
Sunday from 8:30am-10:30am April 25
Tour and explore the wonders of Colorado Lagoon with trained FOCL naturalists.
Join us on a bird walk to spot feathered friends around the Lagoon. Contact education@coloradolagoon.org for more information.
Weekend Habitat Restoration Every second Saturday from 10am-12am March 8 – April 12 – May 10
Special thanks to our partners in restoration!
Help FOCL naturalists restore the lagoon’s salt marsh and keep the ecosystem healthy.
Salt Marsh Mondays Every Monday from 10am-12pm There’s no better way to start your week than helping to restore this community jewel.
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