1. Ballona Wetlands Restoration Sean Bergquist - Restoration Program Manager sberquist@santamonicabay.org photo provided courtesy Jonathan Coffin

2. A little history… www.ballonarestoration.org

3. Ballona Wetlands Project Area

4. Planning Progress www.ballonarestoration.org 600-acre project area purchased 2004 Designated State Ecological Reserve2005 Project Goals and Objectives 2006 Existing Conditions Report 2006 Alternatives Development2006-2008 Technical studies and reports2006-2008 Feasibility Report2008

5. Project Organization Chart www.ballonarestoration.org

6. Ballona Wetlands Science Advisory Committee Includes of members of Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Science Advisory Panel Ensure coordination and implementation of regional wetland restoration goals Participation in regional monitoring and research programs www.ballonarestoration.org

7. Project Goals and Objectives Goal 1: Ecosystem Restoration: Restore, enhance, and create estuarine habitat and processes in the Ballona Ecosystem to support a natural range of habitat and functions, especially as related to estuarine dependent plants and animals.  Subgoals: Habitat, Biodiversity, Physical/Chemical Processes, Sustainability Goal 2: Social and Socioeconomic Values: Create opportunities for aesthetic, cultural, recreation, research and educational use of the Ballona Ecosystem that are compatible with the environmentally sensitive resources of the area.  Subgoal: Public Access, Cultural Access and Preservation, Recreational Use, Public Safety and Security www.ballonarestoration.org

8. Opportunities and Constraints www.ballonarestoration.org

9. Ballona Wetlands Existing Conditions Report Table of Contents Section 1 – Introduction 2 - Regional Context 3 - Historical Ecology of the Ballona Wetlands 4 - Physical Setting 5 - Biological Resources 6 - Cultural Resources 7 - Water and Sediment Quality 8 - Land Use 9 - Public Access 10 - Transportation and Circulation 11 - Regulatory Framework 12 - References Appendices www.ballonarestoration.org

10. Project Sponsored Studies and Reports Sediment and Water Quality Issues Memo – Ballona SAC Summary Results of Sediment Sampling – Weston Solutions Water Quality Data Gaps Memo – Weston Solutions Water Quality Monitoring Plan – Weston Solutions, 2007; SCCWRP, 2008 Existing Habitats Map – CA DFG Ballona Wetlands Plant and Wildlife Observation Form - public All projects funded by: www.ballonarestoration.org

11. Ballona Wetlands Existing Habitats Map

12. Additional Studies and Reports Sediment Coring – Army Corps and Weston Solutions Ballona Historical Ecology – SCCWRP* 19 th Century T-Sheet Digitization – SFEI, SCCWRP and CSUN* Ballona Creek Watershed Water Budget – SMBRF* TMDL Monitoring – Los Angeles City and County IRWRAP and CRAM integration – SCWRP* University Research  Water Quality (Bacteria and Organics) – LMU, John Dorsey and Rachel Adams  Historical Habitats and Restoration Implications – UCLA, Rich Ambrose and Todd Bear www.ballonarestoration.org *Project proponents and sponsors may not be accurate

13. Restoration Alternatives www.ballonarestoration.org

14. Ballona Wetlands Feasibility Report Table of Contents 1 – Introduction 2 – Description of Alternatives 3 – Measures of Change Habitat Biodiversity Physical and chemical processes Sustainability Public access, recreation and safety 4 – Summary Appendices A. Goals and Objectives, Opportunities and Constraints B. Habitat Descriptions for Restoration Alternatives C. Hydrodynamic Modeling D. Detailed Cost Estimates and Supporting Information Prepared by the PMT and PWA consultant team with review and input from the SAC and the Resource Agencies www.ballonarestoration.org

15. Restoration Alternatives www.ballonarestoration.org

16. Restoration Alternatives www.ballonarestoration.org

17. SAC Recommendations Recommend Alternatives 4 & 5 with further analysis needed Effect of erosive shear stress associated with high velocity storm flows Ability to manage potential adverse effects of pollutant input to the wetlands Ability to include additional upland habitat for both intrinsic value and as a buffer to the restored wetlands. Lack of control structures to aid in accommodating sea level rise. Refined analysis of potential flood elevations and associated implications for integrity of the restored wetland. Ability to implement Alternative 5 in phases www.ballonarestoration.org

18. Next Steps www.ballonarestoration.org Early Action Plan2008-2009 Baseline and Long-Term Monitoring2008-2010 CEQA Process, Design & Permits2009-2011

19. Baseline & Long-Term Monitoring www.ballonarestoration.org Baseline vs. Long-Term Monitoring Monitoring Program Components  Physical and Chemical Processes  Biological Monitoring  Human Activities

20. Early Action Plan www.ballonarestoration.org Improve Gordon’s Parking Lot Create Public Access to Area A Improve fencing and signage Open limited trails to the public

21. Early Action Plan www.ballonarestoration.org Gordon’s Market Parking Lot Fiji Way Parking Lot 66 th Ave. Overlook