Amigos de Bolsa Chica Supports Preparedness

The Amigos de Bolsa Chica would like to set the record straight with regards to Bruce Monroe’s letter (Nov. 13) regarding my statements in The Times on Oct. 25.

He concludes from the article that the Amigos de Bolsa Chica support some form of development at Bolsa Chica, and that the Amigos have “compromised the public’s wishes and that of many of their members” regarding issues at Bolsa Chica. This is incorrect.

Not being present at the meeting, Bruce couldn’t know that the Amigos began by stating their support of a land swap at Bolsa Chica. Obviously, a land swap would preclude development.

He asserts that my comments to the council, accurately reported by The Times, indicate the Amigos support development. Our comments were simply meant to encourage the City Council to consider examining an alternative to a biodiversity park--which at that time was the only option they had prepared on Bolsa Chica.

Since the county is working on a plan for development at Bolsa Chica, the Amigos felt it would be wise for the city to prepare a plan that dealt with that. His conclusion that this means the Amigos support development is fallacious. The Amigos believe the city needs a plan that considers development, should it occur. This doesn’t imply we are advocating development--just being prepared for it. Following my comments, the council did arrive at a plan that addresses development.

The Amigos have consistently spoken for the protection of wetlands areas at Bolsa Chica, the design, planning and implementation of the highest quality restoration for the wetlands and community involvement in the planning process that determines what happens with the rest of the Bolsa Chica area--the area not preserved by the agreement the Amigos negotiated with the landowner.

CHUCK NELSON

President, Amigos de Bolsa Chica

Huntington Beach

* In a letter (Nov. 13), Pam Julien, president of the Bolsa Chica Alliance, suggests that the tidal inlet proposed as part of the Bolsa Chica Alliance development will have a favorable impact on the erosion of the Huntington Cliffs and the adjacent beach. This suggestion is directly contradicted by the environmental impact report.

The EIR, in the section on coastal hydraulics, predicts: “Accruing sediment trapped in the full tidal area will eventually reduce habitat significantly, reduce efficiency of the tidal flow to the muted tidal areas, and possibly plug up the inlet itself. The shoreline immediately north of the tidal inlet will erode approximately 20 feet at the end of 10 years reducing usable beach area for potential recreation.” Further, “the shoreline immediately south of the tidal inlet will erode about 13 feet after five years then undergo accretion leaving about six feet of erosion at the end of Year 10.” And finally, “Shoreline erosion will occur at Huntington Cliffs.”

Local taxpayers, who will most likely pay for mitigation of these effects, need to be aware of such hidden costs in the proposals. The debate over the three proposals for development of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands should be based on accurate data and predictions. Take time to read the EIR.

JOHN W. ROBERTS

Huntington Beach