The California Coastal Commission recently told the developer of Playa Vista to remove drains in the Ballona Wetlands. The drains were not permitted the commission said and they remove fresh water, necessary for species and habitat survival.
According to Doug Fay, Jonathan Coffin, member of Grassroots Coalition, discovered the drains that were draining fresh water from the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve at Culver and Lincoln. He photographed them and gave them to the Grassroots Coalition.
“I believe Patricia McPherson, Grassroots Coalition did all the research,” wrote Doug Fay. “My roll was only support and agreeing that this is a “taking.” Andrew Willis, California Coastal Commission Enforcement Officer made the right call.
“They are doing something similar at the Oxford Basin by not allowing fresh water that was historically provided. The wildlife can’t survive and thrive without water.
“The Oxford Basin is a man-made tragedy and we have five County Supervisors that are responsible for these actions.”
In another note, Fay has been trying to get the basin cleaned. “The County hasn’t agreed to allow us access to remove trash from the Basin on May 10, International Migratory Bird Day yet,” he concluded.
Some of Jonathon Coffin’s photos of birds at the Oxford Basin appeared in Update recently. He and a few other conservationists toured the Oxford Retention Basin with Douglas Fay.
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