LCW Conceptual Restoration Workshop #2

Public Involvement Workshop March Public Involvement Workshop March 88thth, 2012, 2012

• Workshop Goal: 1) Review the Los Cerritos Wetlands baseline data collected

• Workshop Objectives: – Present findings from Hydrology Report, Watersheds Report,

and Habitat Assessment Report– Discuss the urban setting of Los Cerritos Wetlands and the

Opportunities and Constraints to Restoration and Public Access– Launch LCW Conceptual Restoration Plan Website– Perform activity to collect community feedback on baseline

data

• Workshop Ground Rules

Public Involvement Workshop #2 Theme: Earth

Mascot: Southern TarplantColor: Green

Public Involvement Workshop #2 Workshop Outline1.Summary of Workshop #1

-Public Involvement River Trail-Brief introduction to Los Cerritos Wetlands-General introduction to scope of Conceptual Restoration Plan

2.Conceptual Restoration Plan Progress Update-Baseline Data Collected: Hydrology, Watershed, & Habitat-Preliminary Opportunities /Constraints to Restoration and Public Access -Website

3.Next Steps-Review of workshop-Next workshop topics, time, and location

4.Public Feedback Activity-What baseline data do you have to contribute? -Workshop Activity: visit stations about current conditions of Los

Cerritos Wetlands and contribute your data

Summary of Public Involvement Workshop #1

Theme: SpiritMascot: Wandering Skipper butterfly

Color: Yellow

• Workshop Goal was: Introduce the project to the community and receive initial feedback on public interests and concerns

• Workshop Objectives were: – Discuss Los Cerritos Wetlands’ natural history– Introduce the LCWA and consulting team members – Introduced preliminary project goals and objectives– Exhibit a road-map for Public Involvement Plan – Perform activity to collect feedback on community values and

vision– Introduce stakeholder email database and project website– Inform participants of next workshop date

• Workshop Activity Results were…

Public InvolvementRoad MapRIVER Trail

Natural History of Los Cerritos Natural History of Los Cerritos WetlandsWetlands

Alamitos Bay 1928

• Historically over 2400 acres of coastal wetlands• Currently around 500 undeveloped acres remain

– Only ~50 acres of full tidal coastal salt marsh habitat– Highly degraded upland, marine, transition, brackish

& salt marsh habitats– Large invasive exotic weed infestations – Impacted by industrial, commercial & residential

land uses– Serves as refuge for migratory & special status

species special concern

Los Cerritos WetlandsExisiting Conditions

Belding’s savannah sparrow

southern tarplant

brown pelican

leastterns

mudflat tiger beetleswandering skipper

Land Owners :LCW Authority

City of Long BeachLCW Partners LLC

Hellman Properties LLC

Bryant-Dankin LLCState Lands Comm.

LA City DWPAlamitos Bay Partners

Orange CountyLoynes LLC

Lyon Communities

In February of 2006, a joint powers agreement was adopted among the:

Rivers & Mountains Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, & Cities of Long Beach & Seal Beach

=

These agencies comprise the project’s Steering Committee

Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority

Project Scope

• Develop conceptual restoration plan for Los Cerritos Wetlands

• 2 year long project• 6 public involvement workshops through Spring 2013• 6 meetings with the project’s Technical Advisory

Committee

Project Organization Chart

Consulting Team

Community Stakeholders

Public Involvement

Plan

Technical Advisory Committee

Staff from Applicable Public

Agencies

Steering Committee:RMC, Coastal Conservancy,

Cities of Seal and Long Beach

Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority:Project Manager

Any Questions?

Conceptual Restoration Plan Progress Update

– Baseline Data Collected: • Hydrologic & Hydraulic Baseline

Report• Watershed Impacts Report

• Habitat Assessment Report• Opportunities and Constraints

Report• Preliminary Public Access Baseline

Studies

– Conceptual Restoration Plan Website

Hydrology

Hydraulic Modeling

Model can simulate Model can simulate tidal elevations, flows, tidal elevations, flows,

and constituent and constituent transporttransport

Tidal Gauge Data

Ocean Tidal Range

Hellman Channel Tidal Range

Watershed Impacts Report

• ~640 sq mile watershed

• 5 major dams– Cogswell– San Gabriel– Morris– Santa Fe– Whittier Narrows

• ~10 miles of concrete channel

• Innumerable sources of pollution

Pollutant Source Assessments

• San Gabriel River Watershed– Major NPDES metal loadings– Monitored wet weather metal

loadings– Modeled load duration curves– Trash assessment

• Los Cerritos Channel Watershed– NPDES annual water quality

assessment– TMDL metal loadings from Los

Cerritos Channel fresh water– Trash assessment

San Gabriel River Regional Monitoring Program Monitoring Locations

River Water Temperatures

Habitat Assessment Report

Los Cerritos Wetlands Existing Habitat Types

Los Cerritos Wetlands Existing Habitat Types

Past and Present Habitat Acreages

Los Cerritos Wetlands Special Status Animals

Los Cerritos Wetlands Special Status Animals

Los Cerritos Wetlands Special Status Plants

Los Cerritos Wetlands Special Status Plants

Opportunities and Constraints Report

We analyzed:

•Topography / Landforms / Soils

•Tidal Exchange / Local Watersheds / Hydrology

•Ecology

•Climate Change

•Infrastructure

•Human Interaction

•Regulatory / Implementation

Current

Current

Sea Level +2 ft

Sea Level +5 ft

Existing Oil Infrastructure

Existing Utilities

Public Access Baseline Studies

Any Questions?Any Questions?

LCW Conceptual Design Websiteintoloscerritoswetlands.org

Workshop ActivityNow that you have been introduced to the baseline data we have

collected, we want to learn more from you about the existing conditions at Los Cerritos Wetlands

We invite you to visit the 5 Stations that are set up outside at the Watershed Classroom & Exhibit

1. Watershed and Hydrology Station2. Habitat Assessment Station3. Opportunities and Constraints Station4. Public Access Station5. Public Involvement Website Station

Each station offers an interactive way to provide feedback on the baseline data that has been compiled. A member of the consulting

team will be at each station to answer questions and collect feedback.

Watershed Exhibit

• Tentative Goals: 1) Introduce Refined Project Goals and Objectives2) Initiation Restoration Design Alternative Conceptualization

• Tentative Objectives: – Share project goals and objectives– Introduce conceptual design process– Perform workshop activity to initiate discussion

of possible alternatives

• May 10th, 2012, Seal Beach Senior Center

Public Involvement Workshop #3 Theme: Water

Mascot: Pacific Green Sea Turtle Color: Blue

Public Involvement: Tentative Workshop Schedule

# Date Location

1 November 10th, 2011 Seal Beach Senior Center

2 March 8th, 2012 Aquarium of the Pacific

3 May 10th, 2012 Seal Beach Senior Center

4 September 20th, 2012 Aquarium of the Pacific

5 January 31st, 2013 Seal Beach Senior Center

6 April 18th, 2013 Aquarium of the Pacific

Next Steps

• Finalize Project Goals and Objectives• Complete Initial Environmental Study to

Identify Potential Contaminant Types and Sources

• Continue Development of Public Access Plan• Initiate Process of Identifying Potential

Restoration Design Alternatives• Conduct the 3rd Public Workshop

Closing / Leave BehindFinal Questions?Final Questions?

Contact:info@tidalinfluence.co

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