Way Cleared for Wetlands Plan

In a surprise move, Caltrans on Tuesday removed the main obstacle to a $100-million restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, paving the way for the project’s approval next week.

The agency’s previous insistence on turning a four-lane section of Pacific Coast Highway into a six-lane bridge was the primary reason the California Coastal Commission staff had recommended against the project Friday. But Tuesday, the California Department of Transportation agreed to a four-lane bridge.

“Caltrans has agreed to support the four-lane bridge alternative in the best interest of keeping the project on schedule,” said Caltrans spokeswoman Rose Melgoza.

Larry Simone, a planner in the Coastal Commission’s San Francisco office, said, “The news on Caltrans is a tremendous breakthrough.”

The commission now is expected to approve the project at its hearing Tuesday in Los Angeles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a host of state and federal agencies have worked for five years on the restoration plan, which would return the polluted 1,200-acre coastal expanse of salt marshes, mudflats, pools and oil fields to its natural state.

The restoration work, the most expensive wetlands recovery effort in state history, is expected to take about three years and could start as early as 2002. After the expected Coastal Commission approval--the major hurdle--the project goes before five other state and federal agencies.

Once a flourishing coastal marsh, the wetlands were cut off from the ocean a century ago by duck hunters and later contaminated by oil fields. Still, Bolsa Chica--meaning “Little Pocket” in Spanish--is the largest remaining wetlands complex in Southern California and a key stopover for migrating birds.

The wetlands have been the source of local controversy for three decades. They almost became part of a major residential development and marina off Huntington Beach until the state stepped in four years ago and bought 880 acres for $25 million. Potential development of the mesa that overlooks the wetlands is still a cause of contention, but wholly separate from the wetlands restoration issue.

The preferred restoration plan involves reopening the wetlands to the ocean by cutting a 360-foot-wide inlet through Bolsa Chica State Beach. The resulting infusion of seawater and tidal circulation would restore rich wildlife habitat and help several species of imperiled birds and fish.

Though the commission and its staff supported the goals of the restoration project, the staff Friday had recommended denial because of two concerns. First was the bridge, which the staff said should not be wider than four lanes. The other issue, which remains a concern, is lack of information from federal wildlife officials about three aspects of the plan involving monitoring and testing. Simone said that procedural obstacle can be worked out at Tuesday’s hearing.

“The [wildlife] service has worked diligently to provide that information, but they fell a little short in those three areas,” Simone said.

He has said that he is doubtful the state agency will have the information before the hearing Tuesday, but believes the commission could work out a compromise with the federal wildlife service by issuing an approval contingent upon receiving the information at a future date.

A portion of Pacific Coast Highway would have to be removed to build the tidal inlet. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs an easement from Caltrans to build a bridge over the inlet. The transportation agency previously said the bridge would have to be wide enough to accommodate six lanes.

Orange County planning documents eventually envision Pacific Coast Highway, now four lanes, expanding to six, so Caltrans officials had said any construction had to fit with these future plans.

Simone said the commission never objected to building a bridge but believes it should be four lanes wide, in keeping with the existing highway. A wider bridge, which would take land away from the state beach, is inconsistent with the state’s Coastal Act, he said.

“Caltrans stepping up and making that change--that’s real significant. That’s good news,” Simone said.

“There should be no reason the project can’t go forward,” said Linda Moon, president of Amigos de Bolsa Chica, an environmental group that has sought to preserve the wetlands since the 1970s. “We’re looking forward to the commencement of the restoration soon.”

But some environmentalists oppose the plan, contending that opening up the wetlands could foul the ocean off Bolsa Chica State Beach. They point to a UC Irvine study released this year showing that bacteria that stews in wetlands can harm coastal water quality.

“It’s a mistake. That particular stretch of beach happens to be one of the better spots for water quality,” said Chris Evans, executive director of the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation.

State parks officials also worry about the impact on ocean water quality at Bolsa Chica State Beach, which is visited by more than 2 million people annually.

“Moms and pops call me up and ask me where can they take the kids and not worry about it,” said Mike Tope, superintendent of the state Department of Parks and Recreation’s Orange Coast district. “That’s where we send them.”

The commission staff said studies show that cutting the tidal inlet will not affect water quality.

Said Moon: “I was 25 when we started this fight, and I’m 53 now,” she said. “It’s been a long time.”