SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S ENVIRONMENT At the Crossroads : The Story by the Numbers : Facts and Figures in the Environmental Equation

AN ECOLOGICAL PANORAMA

A look at major elements in the diverse geographical makeup of Southern California

-- 2 major deserts

-- 4 national forests

-- 5 key rivers

-- 6 major lakes

-- 5 major mountain ranges.

-- 343 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. (county by county breakdown below.)

WASTE

WHERE CALIFORNIA’S WASTE COMES FROM

A percentage breakdown of the sources of solid waste in California.

Southern California generated 67.1% of the state’s waste in 1988, according to a state survey.

Area Tons per year Percentage 1. Southern 25,594,093 67.1% 2. Bay Area 6,806,575 17.8% 3. Central 4,875,595 12.8% 4. Sierra 231,099 .6%

SOURCE: California Waste Management Board

NOTE: Regional boundaries in this study drawn by waste board.

GROUND WATER

PORTRAIT OF A WATER USER

What’s the daily water usage in a typical Southland metropolitan-area home? Each resident uses an average of 111 gallons a day, broken down as follows:

INDOORS: 78 gallons of the 111-gallon average are used indoors.

-- Toilets: 23 gallons per person are flushed each day (5 more gallons leak.)

-- Showers and baths: 22 gallons a day.

-- Drinking, cooking, personal hygiene: 11 gallons a day.

-- Washing dishes: 10 gallons a day.

-- Miscellaneous other uses: 7 gallons a day.

OUTDOORS: 33 gallons of the 111-gallon average are used outdoors, most of it related to watering lawns and outdoor plants and gardens.

SOURCE: L.A. Department of Water and Power

WILDLIFE

HOMES TO THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS

Major wildlife refuges in Southern California and some of the wildlife in each:

* Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in San Bernardino County. Up to 270 species of birds have been spotted in this desert canyon, among them black-throated blue warblers and vermilion flycatchers. Desert bighorn sheep and black-tailed mule deer also have been seen.

* Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Los Angeles County. Covers 1,700 acres with the largest stand of California poppies in the state. Owl clover, filaree, fiddleneck and pigmy lupine also grow here.

* Coachella Valley Preserve in Riverside County. Home of the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard. Four other rare species dwell here as do numerous other plants and animals.

* Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in Orange County. The black rail, California brown pelican, California least tern, light-footed clapper rail and Belding’s savannah sparrow dwell here.

* Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego County. Torrey pine trees exist in only one other place in the world--on Santa Rosa Island, southwest of Santa Barbara.

* Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County. This refuge was created to save the California condor from extinction.

* Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in the Channel Islands. This is a habitat for the brown pelican, whales and dolphins.

SOURCE: Nature Conservancy, State Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Department of the Interior.

RECOURCES

FINDING OPEN SPACES

City park open spaces in selected Southern California cities, measured in acres of park space per 1,000 population

ACRES PER 1,000 POPULATION:

Anaheim: 2

Arcadia: 3

Buena park: 1.5

Glendale: 2

Los Angeles: 3

Oceanside: 3.1

Riverside: 4.1

San Bernardino: 4.25

Santa Ana: 2.8

Santa Barbara: 2.5

A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: How do we compare with. . .

New York City: 3.3

National Guidelines: 10

SOURCE: Various city agencies

AIR

WHO PAYS TO CLEAN UP THE AIR?

Most of the funding for cleanup of air pollution generated by motor vehicles comes from the California Air Resources Board, while funds for cleanup of stationary sources of pollution come from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD:

* 83% of funding comes from vehicle registration, automobile manufacturers’ fees and gasolines taxes.

* 17% of funding comes from the general fund of the California state budget.

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT:

* 43% of funding comes from permits to establish and operate plants.

* 39% of funding comes from fees based on tons of emissions by those stationary sources that give off 6 tons or more a year. Examples of sources: manufacturers, electric utilities, oil refineries, dry cleaners, pulp and paper mills.

* 15% comes from other sources, including contracts for district services and government grants.

* 3% of funding from penalties for violations of pollution regulations.

SOURCES: California Air Resources Board; South Coast Air Quality Management District

OCEAN

WAYS WE USE THE SEA

From recreation to commerce, Southern Californians make many uses of the sea. A sampling:

-- Beach-goers* (1986-87): 36,444,160

-- Fishing licenses** (1988): 516,646

-- Boat registrations (1988): 257,644

* Latest figures available for state, county and city beaches where attendance is counted or estimated.

** Sportfishing licenses only. Commercial licenses not included.

NOTE: All figures above are totals for the five Southern California counties.

There are three major surfing spots:

-- Malibu Point

-- Trestles at the border of Orange County and San Diego County.

-- Rincon Point at the border of Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

17 major harbors

162 public and private marinas where boats may be berthed.

3 aquariums--Scripps Aquarium-Museum, Cabrillo Marine Museum and Sea World.

SOURCES: California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Motor Vehicles.

COASTLINE

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Southern California’s coastline takes a daily beating from debris. During a one-day cleanup program in 1988, workers picked up the following:

* 1,714 Cups and spoons

* 1,646 Caps and lids

* 764 Bottles

* 716 Pieces of debris from six-pack beverages

* 552 Bags of various kinds

* 215 Fish lines

* 168 Milk jugs

* 142 Lighters

* 123 Diapers

* 62 Toys

* 22 Buckets

* 5 Hard hats

* 1,931 Miscellaneous items**

NOTE: According to the Center for Marine Conservation, these numbers represent only one-fourth of the total debris deposited along the coastline in the cleanup period.

** Data presented does not reflect all types of debris gathered.

SOURCE: Totals from 1988 coastal cleanup program sponsored by the California Coastal Commission.

COASTLINE MILAGE

Southern California has 343 miles of coastline spread over five counties.

MILES:

Santa Barbara: 110

Ventura: 43

Los Angeles: 74

Orange: 40

San Diego

SOURCE: California Coastal Commission