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There are five Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER) Lawsuits against the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) which could go on for many years at great expense.
Many long-time Ballona Stakeholders and Non-Governmental Organizations and their members oppose the FEIR. Even Agencies are having second thoughts.
Let's learn from Owens Lake Collaborative and hire a professional, impartial facilitator to guide a fair, unbiased science driven process.
With Sea-Level Rise, Scarce Freshwater Resources, Extreme Drought, Limited Wild Lands, Mass Wildlife Extinction, Disappearing Open Space even proponents of the full tidal alternative are having second thoughts...
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Lessons Learned from Owens Applicable to Ballona - Construction of the of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) 233 Mile Aqueduct began in 1908. In 1913 the Aqueduct began bringing freshwater to Los Angeles from Owens Lake. LADWP's William Mullholland, civil engineer, provided the leadership and design. Owens Valley farms failed due to over-pumping of their freshwater. The St. Francis Dam Disaster collapsed killing over 450 people in 1928. The Owens Lake becoming a dust bowl, creating huge, life threatening dust storms. Wildlife suffered. About ten year ago, stakeholders, agencies and the LADWP agreed something drastic needed to be done to correct the Dust Bowl which was created by the Aqueduct Project.
2020 OWENS LAKE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING Applied to Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve by Dr. Margot Griswold https://youtu.be/e2F15wYL6c0 26 minutes
2008 OWENS LAKE - LA Department of Water & Power Habitat Restoration from 2002 to 2008 CALIFORNIA GOLD https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2008/08/12/owens-river-h... 56 minutes
Lessons Learned from Bolsa Chica 2021 Report - Proposed Remediation of 2006 "Full Tidal
Restoration" https://saveballona.org/lessons-applicable-ballona-wetlands-rehabilitati...LESSONS APPLICABLE TO BALLONA WETLANDS REHABILITATION: Owen's Lake Collaborative Planning, Dr. Margot Griswold / Huell Howser & Bolsa Chica 2021 Report - Proposed Remediation of 2006 "Full Tidal Restoration"
The Bolsa Chica Final Report, provides a RED FLAG warning for 'restoration' of Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. BWER is currently 100% approved by both the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and the California Coastal Conservancy for their unified approval/certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve's restoration project.
ERRORS / INCONSISTENCIES /AT BALLONA WETLANDS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
1. Within Ballona's boundaries is the Tongva Village of Saangna, part of the Sacred Native American Site registered by John Tommy Rosas, tribal leader, Tongva Ancestral Territorial Tribal Nation (TATTN). Both Rosas and Morales oppose "Big Dig" Saltwater Intrusion. and MORALES OPPOSE "BIG DIG" SALTWATER INTRUSION.Anthony Morales Standing Chief of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band Mission Indians supports John Tommy Rosas TATTN positions. https://saveballona.org/862020-ccc-anthony-morales-i-have-standing-chief-gabrieleno-tongva-san-gabriel-band-mission-indians.html BOTH ROSAS AND MORALES OPPOSE "BIG DIG" SALTWATER INTRUSION AND AGREE BALLONA IS A PREDOMINANTLY SEASONAL FRESHWATER WETLAND AND SHOULD REMAIN ONE.
2. The State Coastal Conservancy Commission (Conservancy) pursued and promoted its own preferred outcome for Ballona's restoration as 'restoring the ebb and flow of the ocean', and conversion of Ballona into a fully tidal saltwater bay. This comports with the definition of a Title 14, Section 632 Marine Preserve which was never approved by the Fish and Game Commission and which violates the purpose and goals of Ballona's acquisition. It is inconsistent with CEQA protocol and Fish and Game Code 1745.
In 2005 Fish & Game Commission approved and inducted BWER as a Title 14, Section 630 Terrestrial, Nonmarine Ecological Reserve system having Ballona specific Purpose and Goals of Ballona acquisition in 2003. BWER was approved and registered by Office of Administrative Law by the California Fish & Game Commission--the Codes, Rules and Regulations branch of California Natural Resources. BWER is not by definition a Title 14, Section 632.
The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) must be rewritten to acknowledge that Ballona is a Title 14, NonMarine Section 630 Ecological Reserve. It must have an Hydrology Analysis and a Land Management Plan, both are deemed necessary by current regulations.
3. The Conservancy (State Coastal Conservancy) should be functioning as an "advisory agency" that both informs the public and the agency (FISH & GAME COMMISSION) to which it is granting funds.
4. In 2017 the California Coastal Commission ruled that Playa Vista illegal, unpermitted drains must be sealed, after a lawsuit brought by Grassroots Coalition to close the two illegal drains in the BWER. 
Flooding in BWER Area B after late 2021 Rains, north & south of Culver Boulevard. Illegal Drains Were Capped in 2017.
5. Since the drains were sealed, freshwater rather than being sent to the Ballona Flood Control Channel as waste water, and then to the Pacific Ocean, pools in Area B of BWER (below). Pickleweed is now abundant.
6. Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER) is part of the Santa Monica Subbasin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). As such it has been designated a Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem. With this designation comes additional protection of the three Ballona Freshwater Aquifers. One monitoring well, or perhaps two need to be drilled to measure Saltwater Intrusion into the Aquifers. Due to predictions of severe drought and unpredictable storms, California Governor Newsom created SGMA.
GET THE eBOOK "WATER SECURITY IN THE AGE OF SGMA" https://info.aquaoso.com/sgma-ebook-lp?hsCtaTracking=d6be7738-5c40-4b02-80b4-9976e403c4be%7Cf670c736-35a5-4224-b39c-4bfea3dcd862
State Coastal Conservancy Commission Meeting March 24, 2022 PUBLIC COMMENTS: BWER ITEM 10 - spending $535,000. While voting yes, four commissioners expressed on-going concerns. https://youtu.be/s6OwGEyGUKM 1 hour 17 minutes
The original 2,000 acre Ballona Wetlands was divided into five basic parts:
1. 950 acres - Marina del Rey (ocean and dockside recreation, residential and commercial development)
2. 527 acres - Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve
3. 67 acres - Freshwater Marsh (Approx.)
4. 56 acres - Ballona Flood Control Channel and Bike Path ((Approx.) Outside BWER.
5. 400 acres - Playa Vista Commercial and Residential Development (Approx.)
https://saveballona.org/governor-newsom-expands-drought-emergency-statew...
https://saveballona.org/jvstop-drying-out-ballona-wetlands-ecological-re...
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