Latest Development on Bolsa Chica

Re “State Delays Wetlands Vote Amid Clean-Up Talks,” Dec. 20:

Hooray for the state. We are all thrilled with the prospect of saving 880 acres of wetlands, but not at taxpayers’ expense.

So now they have a month to try to get the culprits who made the mess to pay for cleaning it up. Let’s see that they clean it up before we give them $87 million. They need the $87 million to build 2,400 houses on the Bolsa Chica mesa which shouldn’t be built on. If they clean up the mess they won’t have the money to build and Bolsa Chica can be saved as open space for generations to come.

EILEEN MURPHY

Huntington Beach

* In the Dec. 15 article about the purchase of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, you refer to “several” environmentalists who criticize this wetland deal for not going far enough because it will not protect the mesa from the development of 2,400 housing units.

In this case “several” includes the 3,400 members of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, the more than 10,000 members of the Surfrider Foundation and the 50,000 members of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, who all support the preservation of the entire Bolsa Chica ecosystem.

The purchase and preservation of the 880 acres of wetlands is a wonderful first step in the protection of Bolsa Chica, but to ensure the viability of these wetlands the Bolsa Chica mesa must be preserved as well.

It makes no sense to spend millions to purchase and restore the wetlands and then build houses and condos so 10,000 people can live virtually on top of them. The mesa and the wetlands are linked; what happens to and on the mesa will affect the wetlands. Even Gov. Pete Wilson’s report on wetlands recognizes this link by stating that one way to degrade a wetland is through development of adjacent upland habitat.

The mesa is also important in its own right. There are unique archeological and historical sites on the mesa. The upland habitat on the mesa provides for important foraging and roosting area for birds of prey, and habitat for many of the pollinators of wetland plants. One reason there is a diversity of wildlife at Bolsa Chica is because of the diversity of habitats.

So while the preservation of any land at Bolsa Chica is a good thing, until the entire area is preserved, the Land Trust and the groups who support us will continue to work to preserve the entire 1,700 acres.

CONNIE BOARDMAN

Huntington Beach

The writer is past president of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust.

* I am very glad that the Bolsa Chica wetlands appear to be saved from the Koll development. A big “thank you” needs to go to such organizations as Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club and Huntington Beach Tomorrow. Without their efforts we would be seeing the Amigos de Bolsa Chica-supported Koll plan of 900 homes on the wetlands and a fictitious restoration plan in place.

CHARLES STEEL

Huntington Beach

* We may receive one of the most treasured Christmas gifts imaginable, the purchase of 880 acres of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands from the Koll Real Estate Group.

It is not a gift in the true sense of the word, because thousands of people have donated countless hours and finances toward this goal, but it is a gift in the sense of a lost treasure, these historic tidelands, being returned to their rightful owner, the public.

Lest we rejoice too soon and move our attentions elsewhere, let us not forget that the 880-acre purchase is only part of the total ecosystem that must be saved. The 200-acre Bolsa Chica mesa is still scheduled for the development of up to 2,400 housing units.

Upon completion of the government purchase and restoration of the wetlands, do we want to continue with a housing development on the Bolsa Chica mesa that will cause destruction to the costly wetland restoration through chemical drainage, air pollution, noise pollution, flooding, etc?

A housing development on the mesa will also destroy much-needed habitat for bird and animal foraging and safety from flooding. It is also needed as open space for people to enjoy the wildlife and solitude without treading too close to sensitive habitat.

Let’s all help to demonstrate to our elected officials the folly of being “penny wise and pound foolish”! Let’s work to discover the way to save the mesa.

NANCY HARRIS

Huntington Beach

* Koll Real Estate Group isn’t doing any favors by extending the time limit to get money from other groups to clean up Bolsa Chica.

There are 440 oil wells on those wetlands and the oil companies or Koll should be paying to clean it up. This has to be the only contaminated oil well site in California that the oil companies aren’t paying to clean up.

When Koll asked the Board of Supervisors to let them build on the Bolsa Chica, the company said it would clean up the wetlands. Supervisors Roger R. Stanton, William G. Steiner and Jim Silva all approved the “sellout” of the wetlands and now it seems that Koll has no intention of paying for anything. And the new board is asking for more autonomy and power. Baloney!

BILL HALPIN

Huntington Beach