Bolsa Chica Inlet Must Be Restored

* Your editorial “Middle Ground is Best for Bolsa Chica” (Sept. 4) certainly hit the mark with regards to some of the issues surrounding Bolsa Chica.

The housing numbers initially proposed by The Koll Co. have always been interpreted by the Amigos as a beginning point from which the true bargaining on the eventual unit count at Bolsa Chica would begin. And yes, short of a land exchange, some development at Bolsa Chica seems inevitable. However, we feel that the possibility of the restoration of the natural tidal inlet at Bolsa Chica must not be discarded due to lowering the housing numbers. Restoration with a tidal inlet must be continued to be examined and given full consideration for a number of reasons.

First, a wetlands restoration plan that includes a tidal inlet is generally recognized by wetlands experts as being biologically superior to any other plan.

Second, in order to effectuate the plan advanced by the county, the largest and most valuable feeding area in the currently existing wetlands will be destroyed. In essence, in order to restore wetlands, and make the new proposal work, a significant area of working wetlands will be dredged and lost forever.

Third, in order to build and maintain the mechanism that will irrigate the county’s proposed restoration plan, millions of dollars in significant building and maintenance costs will be incurred.

Finally, due to the potential for increased tidal flows in Huntington Harbour, the county could incur significant liability risks that do not currently exist.

None of these problems will occur if a tidal inlet is returned to the Bolsa Chica.

It is crucial that the current plan be centered around restoring the natural tidal inlet at Bolsa Chica, and that the county include this option in all plans for Bolsa Chica.

CHUCK NELSON

President, Amigos de Bolsa Chica