Rescue Plan Studied for Imperiled Marsh

Members of the California Coastal Conservancy toured the imperiled San Joaquin marsh Thursday to consider financing an environmental study of the scenic preserve, one of the last remnants of wetlands that once covered much of Orange County’s coastal area.

The conservancy board is scheduled to meet in Irvine today to decide whether to spend $50,000 on studies that would lead to a long-range plan to preserve the 588-acre site, which ecologists fear is threatened by encroaching development and inadequate upkeep.

If approved, the grant would be matched by another $50,000 from the city of Irvine, and $25,000 from UC Irvine, which owns 202 acres of the marshland.

State and local officials and conservationists have long expressed concern that the marsh has suffered from the conflicting interests of the private and public landowners who control it.

The marsh is bounded by Michelson Drive, MacArthur Boulevard, Carlson Avenue and the San Diego Creek Channel.

A northeastern portion owned by the Irvine Co. is expected to be deeded to the city of Irvine sometime in the future and the area is included in the city’s conservation and open space program. The UC Irvine land is part of a statewide network of wildlife areas managed by the Univesity of California.

A small portion of the marsh houses a sewage treatment plant run by the Irvine Ranch Water District. The county’s vector control agency has some jurisdiction over the marsh because it is a mosquito habitat.

And both the California Department of Fish and Game and U.S Fish and Wildlife Agency have interests in the area because it is home to several species of endangered animals.

Heretofore, there had been little coordination among the various agencies over issues such as maintenance and long-term preservation.

“We are very concerned,” said conservancy project manager, Lisa Ames, “because this is a very valuable piece of wetlands and it is also really rare to have such a huge resource in the middle of an urban area.”

The conservancy is a 16-member state commission engaged in coastal restoration, development of urban waterfronts and agricultural preservation.

Heightened concern about the fate of the marshland was precipitated, oddly, by a recent decision to ban duck hunters from the area.

Both UC Irvine and the Irvine Co. had for years leased sections of the wetlands to hunting clubs, which in turn spent thousands of dollars each year to maintain the marshland and flood its ponds, allowing vegetation and wildlife to thrive.

But, under pressure from animal welfare activists and residents concerned about the close proximity of hunting, the city of Irvine decided not to renew the hunting permits it issued.

UC Irvine officials chose to follow suit.

“It left the university in the position of feeling that it would be in the community’s interest that we eliminate hunting on our land as well,” said William Bretz, manager of UC Irvine’s reserve land.

The city voted to cover the water bill for two years or until a long-term solution could be found. But UC officials have been unable to foot their entire portion of the water replacement costs, estimated at about $15,000.

Bretz said the marsh has suffered this year as a result, with fewer acres of nesting and feeding habitat.

Besides functioning as a vital stretch of wetlands, the reserve is also one of the few remaining fresh-water marshes along the Pacific Flyway of Southern California’s coast, a stopping place for many migratory birds.

The marsh is home to at least 206 species of wildlife, including the light footed clapper rail and the least tern, both on the endangered species list. Bobcat, coyote and deer also roam the marshlands, Bretz said.

“One of the things we hope will come out of this is a review by all of the parties involved of what our goals should be, what species do we want to keep there,” Bretz said. “Do we want to keep coyotes and migratory waterfowl? If so, those goals require a coordinated effort.”

Officials also hope to bring the reserve under single management, Ames said.

Ultimately, the coordination and cooperation of the agencies involved may act as a statewide model in planning the preservation of other wetlands habitats, officials said.