"History of the Bolsa Chica." Bolsachicalandtrust.org. Bolsa Chica Land Trust, ©2003. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.bolsachicalandtrust.org/history.html>.
"History of Bolsa Chica Wetlands." Amigosdebolsachica.org. Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/history.htm>.
NMFS. US Fish & Wildlife. RESTORATION OF BOLSA CHICA WETLANDS MOVES FORWARD WITH COMPLETION OF ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT. Swr.nmfs.noaa.gov. NMFS Southwest Region, 08 Oct. 2002. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/ERApressrelease10-8.htm>.
"Pacific Southwest, Region 9 | US EPA." www.epa.gov. US Environmental Protection Agency, 09 June 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/wetlands/bolsa-chica/>.
Peter, Frances M. Restoring Diversity in Salt Marshes: Can We Do It? Biodiversity, Part 3. By Edward O. Wilson. Vol. 3. (U.S) 1988: National Academy of Sciences. 316-22. Google Scholar, Smithsonian Institution. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://books.google.com/books?id=bI3cc2IMq9MC&lpg=PA317&ots=o6kee2JFsb&dq=human%20impact%20of%20wetlands%20in%20bolsa%20chica&lr&pg=PA320#v=onepage&q&f=false>.
"Programs." Bolsachica.org. Bolsa Chica Conservancy, © 2000. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://bolsachica.org/About/programs.html>.
Current Day Bolsa Chica Wetlands
Source: http://tonysanchezphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/bolsa_chica_wetlands_1743.jpg
The Future?
Likely Future Prospects
After analyzing the risk assessments that were published in 2002, it was predicted that there was existence of contaminants from the oil drilling and urban runoff that resulted in risks for the bird and fish wildlife that lived in the wetlands. It seems that since the sampling of contaminated areas occurred, there was an increase in the restoration efforts made on the wetlands (NMFS, 2002). With the way trends are viewed, the flora and fauna are slowly rising back, in a 2010 restoration update, it was viewed that 89% of a particular cord grass had expanded with new plantings, and also endangered bird populations are gradually rising back to more tolerable levels. With that said, it is safe to say that the likely prospects are slowly but surely good, and with time, and the natural course of animal adaptation and plant evolution, it is possible to restore the biodiversity that was once damaged by oil industrialization. An example of this is how the number of fish species prevalent expanded from 19 to 46 different species from a span of 3 years under the establishment of the ecological reserve. With time, it is likely that the ecosystem will flourish, so long as destructive actions are mitigated (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
Balance Maintenance
Awareness starts at the grassroots level, with the development of non-profit organizations that advocate preservation and restoration of the wetlands, statistics have shown improvement. The table below represents a summarization of the statistics provided by Amigos de Bolsa Chica as a means of showing a flourishment and restoration of the biodiversity in the wetlands (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
(Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
To maintain this, the public can show support for natural habitat preservation, by support such organizations, but also demonstrate restoration efforts by doing things that would not damage the natural habitats, by not littering or contributing through helping wetland cleanups. There are many programs available that concern cleanups or volunteer services that allow the public to help participate in balance efforts. For example, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy provides volunteer and educational services, as well as tours to bring awareness and promote conservation of the land. Active participation from the community can help bring a balance between the people and the wetlands, and mitigate any damage towards the biodiversity there (Bolsa Chica Conservancy, ©2000).
After analyzing the risk assessments that were published in 2002, it was predicted that there was existence of contaminants from the oil drilling and urban runoff that resulted in risks for the bird and fish wildlife that lived in the wetlands. It seems that since the sampling of contaminated areas occurred, there was an increase in the restoration efforts made on the wetlands (NMFS, 2002). With the way trends are viewed, the flora and fauna are slowly rising back, in a 2010 restoration update, it was viewed that 89% of a particular cord grass had expanded with new plantings, and also endangered bird populations are gradually rising back to more tolerable levels. With that said, it is safe to say that the likely prospects are slowly but surely good, and with time, and the natural course of animal adaptation and plant evolution, it is possible to restore the biodiversity that was once damaged by oil industrialization. An example of this is how the number of fish species prevalent expanded from 19 to 46 different species from a span of 3 years under the establishment of the ecological reserve. With time, it is likely that the ecosystem will flourish, so long as destructive actions are mitigated (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
 |
| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/bolsa_chica_restoration/bolsa_chica_inlet_opening.htm |
Balance Maintenance
Awareness starts at the grassroots level, with the development of non-profit organizations that advocate preservation and restoration of the wetlands, statistics have shown improvement. The table below represents a summarization of the statistics provided by Amigos de Bolsa Chica as a means of showing a flourishment and restoration of the biodiversity in the wetlands (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
Biodiversity type | Before restoration | After/During restoration |
Fish Species | 19 species | 42 species (2nd yr) 46 species (3rd yr) |
Eel Grass | 0.9 acres (2007) | 2 acres (2008) 32 acres (2009) |
Cord Grass | Increased 89% | |
Bird counts | *hard to determine but … | Endangered species are now nesting more often. |
To maintain this, the public can show support for natural habitat preservation, by support such organizations, but also demonstrate restoration efforts by doing things that would not damage the natural habitats, by not littering or contributing through helping wetland cleanups. There are many programs available that concern cleanups or volunteer services that allow the public to help participate in balance efforts. For example, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy provides volunteer and educational services, as well as tours to bring awareness and promote conservation of the land. Active participation from the community can help bring a balance between the people and the wetlands, and mitigate any damage towards the biodiversity there (Bolsa Chica Conservancy, ©2000).
Impact
Current Human Impacts
Over the course of time, the wetlands have been used for many different purposes of the people of Southern California. From its origins as a place of worship and hunting for fish and game, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands have undergone many changes in barriers and also usage. A portion of the wetlands (about 1,200 acres) were officially sectioned off to be an ecological reserve, as a means of maintaining and cultivating the biodiversity that exists there. Through a long struggle of public sanctions of such preservation organizations such as the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, plans of constructing a commercial marina were soon demolished, and the territory up for preservation expanded--to a point where the wetlands being preserved became one of the biggest coastal protection projects ever in Southern California.
Impacts in the past have included the sectioning of land there in the era of Spanish rule, as a means of ranching to the constructions of dams in 1899 as a means of commercializing the land, and the oil strike of 1920 in the area, causing much destruction the wetlands and areas surrounding it. Signal Oil Company acquired the land for drilling, leading to the development of Amigos de Bolsa Chica in 1976 as a means of protecting the land from exhaustion.
By the 1980s, the wetlands of California were lost, to a minimal 10% left. As the community entered the early 21th century, public acquisition of the wetlands allowed for the progressive planning for restoration, and by 2006, ocean tidal waters finally entered the wetlands--the first time in 100 years (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
All the human impact has subsequently resulted in a negative aftereffect, as levels of biodiversity decline, and continue to do so. For example, about 75% of the coastal wetland acres have been depleted (Peter, 1988).
Benefits
Much of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands has been used as agricultural land for grazing, to the plethora of biodiversity that is involved in feeding the people that live around there. Nowadays it serves as a location for the supply of weapons and artillery for coastal military, as well as oil drilling and production (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
The chart below explains how the saltwater wetlands of Bolsa Chica are, affect in primary production of energy, compared to other ecosystems.
Protected Areas
Through Amigos de Bolsa Chica, efforts of public preservation have been increased, and now with the ecological reserve still striving, efforts to restoration the biodiversity have bettered, as well as the awareness of preservation. They are the managers of the $110 million project, funded by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as a means to mitigate their commercializing and destruction to biodiversity (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010). The current status on the protected areas is thriving and good, as problems with climate change and other industrialization factors are becoming more evident to the public, as well as a rise in interest of community and cultural preservation. Though a long process, the restoration plans have gone into effect with controversy, but the effects are slowly rising (Peter, 1988). There are many other organizations that have advocated protection, preservation and cultivation of the biodiversity of the natural areas, thus adding to the betterment of it (Bolsa Chica Conservancy, ©2000). As studies recently showed in 2010, it was quoted that: "It is clear that the goal of the restoration to provide a haven for resident and migratory birds as well as fish and other aquatic species has been successfully fulfilled." (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
Over the course of time, the wetlands have been used for many different purposes of the people of Southern California. From its origins as a place of worship and hunting for fish and game, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands have undergone many changes in barriers and also usage. A portion of the wetlands (about 1,200 acres) were officially sectioned off to be an ecological reserve, as a means of maintaining and cultivating the biodiversity that exists there. Through a long struggle of public sanctions of such preservation organizations such as the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, plans of constructing a commercial marina were soon demolished, and the territory up for preservation expanded--to a point where the wetlands being preserved became one of the biggest coastal protection projects ever in Southern California.
 |
| source: http://www.ghostshobbiephotos.zoomshare.com/files/Seagull_setting_on_the_sign.png |
 |
| source: http://www.oceanlight.com/stock-photo/oil-well-huntington-beach-picture-19917-706175.jpg |
All the human impact has subsequently resulted in a negative aftereffect, as levels of biodiversity decline, and continue to do so. For example, about 75% of the coastal wetland acres have been depleted (Peter, 1988).
Benefits
Much of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands has been used as agricultural land for grazing, to the plethora of biodiversity that is involved in feeding the people that live around there. Nowadays it serves as a location for the supply of weapons and artillery for coastal military, as well as oil drilling and production (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
The chart below explains how the saltwater wetlands of Bolsa Chica are, affect in primary production of energy, compared to other ecosystems.
 |
| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/images/productivity_chart_large.gif |
Protected Areas
Through Amigos de Bolsa Chica, efforts of public preservation have been increased, and now with the ecological reserve still striving, efforts to restoration the biodiversity have bettered, as well as the awareness of preservation. They are the managers of the $110 million project, funded by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as a means to mitigate their commercializing and destruction to biodiversity (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010). The current status on the protected areas is thriving and good, as problems with climate change and other industrialization factors are becoming more evident to the public, as well as a rise in interest of community and cultural preservation. Though a long process, the restoration plans have gone into effect with controversy, but the effects are slowly rising (Peter, 1988). There are many other organizations that have advocated protection, preservation and cultivation of the biodiversity of the natural areas, thus adding to the betterment of it (Bolsa Chica Conservancy, ©2000). As studies recently showed in 2010, it was quoted that: "It is clear that the goal of the restoration to provide a haven for resident and migratory birds as well as fish and other aquatic species has been successfully fulfilled." (Amigos De Bolsa Chica, ©2010).
 | |||
| source: http://books.google.com/books?id=bI3cc2IMq9MC&lpg=PA317&ots=o6kee2JFsb&dq=human%20impact%20of%20wetlands%20in%20bolsa%20chica&lr&pg=PA320#v=onepage&q&f=false |
History
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| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/images/historical_map.gif |
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| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/images/creek_channel.jpg |
food and nourishment for the Native Americans--all the organisms that existed within the wetland ecosystem. By the 1900s, with the emergence of duck hunting in the Orange County area, the pathway leading the wetland deposits from the ocean was closed, causing destruction to the natural tide flow of ocean to wetland.
By examining wetland deposits and rock/mineral samples, some parts of the wetlands there are more than 8,000 years old, and prehistorically viewed to have many cogged stones found on
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| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/images/bay_dunes.jpg |
General
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| source: http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/geo_info/so_cal/bolsa_chica_map_recent.html |
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands falls under the wetland ecosystem, and on a spatial scale is considered to be a more localized scale, because it focuses more on the wetlands that span over a particular plot of land. Officially, there is a conservancy that protects about 1,247 acres of it, making it the largest protected wetland in Southern California's history.
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| source: http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/images/zone_cross-sec.gif |
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| source: http://bolsachica.org/About/hours.html |
(US Environmental Protection Agency, 2011)
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