Ballona Wetlands: State Provides an Update on the Restoration Project

California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently posted an update on the Ballona Wetlands Restoration to the project’s website. See the full update at this Overview link.

In development for more than a decade and presently delayed by litigation, the Restoration will create, enhance and restore hundreds of acres of wetlands on historically abused tidelands south of Marina Del Rey.

Once covering over 2000 acres, the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is now confined to around 600 acres. The CDFW aims to excavate nearly 3 million yards of fill dirt dumped from Marina and freeway construction in the 1950-60s and use the dirt to build modern, vegetated flood control levees. The levees will be crowned with ten miles of new bike- and footpaths.

Above: Among other enhancements, the state proposes to dig out the fill dirt from this 200-acre expanse and create tidal wetlands habitat in its place.

The new levees will replace about 1500 feet of obsolete, concrete channel bank confining Ballona Creek, allowing flood- and tidewaters to spread broadly throughout the newly created and existing wetland areas.

CDFW anticipates starting construction in 2025, assuming the court approves of updates made to the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and all required permits are obtained. The updated EIR is presently being prepared and will be recirculated for public comment next year.

CDFW’s update includes numerous FAQs, answering common questions about the restoration and correcting misinformation spread by the litigation plaintiffs (see “When the Winners are Really the Losers”).

Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!

Author’s note on affiliations

Dr. David W. Kay served on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands from 2007 until 2015, and served as Board President in 2012-13. He presently serves on the Board of Ballona Discovery Park in Playa Vista. Dr. Kay is a staunch advocate for the state of California's plans to restore the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

From 1984 until 2022, Dr. Kay was employed by Southern California Edison Company, exclusively in the company's environmental services organizations. His many responsibilities included restoration of the 440-acre San Dieguito Wetlands near Del Mar. He retired in 2022 as Senior Manager for Major Project Environmental Management at the company, after 38 years of service.

Dr. Kay earned bachelor and masters degrees in biology and a doctorate in environmental science.

See Dr. Kay’s Patch Community Contributor profile here.