Friends of Colorado Lagoon

FOCL POINTS

Friends of Colorado Lagoon’s FOCL Points Newsletter No. 21 March 2014

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Friends of Colorado Lagoon is a coalition of concerned citizens working to preserve and restore Colorado Lagoon

Colorado Lagoon’s Colorful History

by Dr. Christine Whitcraft, FOCL President

Environmental history deals with the role and

place of nature in human life. It is a fascinating

way to approach understanding the places we

live, the ecosystems we interact with, and the

restoration projects that we undertake. For some

people, they have lived a place’s history; for

others, exploring the history of a place is an

important precursor to feeling like a resident there.

Here at Colorado Lagoon,

Friends of Colorado Lagoon has incorporated

history into the process of restoration planning. We

have a chance to present this information at the

Long Beach Community Studies Conference in

April 2014, but will take this opportunity to share

with you the lagoon’s recent history.

Continued on page 3

New Signage Aims to Inspire and Educate

Education remains one of the

Friends of Colorado Lagoons

primary missions and we are

excited to showcase new

signs like the one shown to the

left. Six new panels can be

viewed along the Champions

trail around the lagoon’s

shoreline, illustrating various

features including native plant

ecosystems, wildlife, marine

organisms, historic photos,

and restoration successes. We

hope that visitors and students

will appreciate informative

messages and feel inspired to

take pride in this special

place.

Until the 1930s, a meandering tidal creek

connected the lagoon to Alamitos Bay.

Until the 1930s, a meandering tidal creek

connected the lagoon to Alamitos Bay.

March 2014

2007

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Bird Walk For Adults Takes Flight

There is no shortage of scenic wildlife and surprising moments at the

Colorado Lagoon. Birders, photographers, and nature lovers are touring

the lagoon’s shore on the last Sunday of every month to search for birds

and other critters. Spearheaded by FOCL board member, Harriet Bennish,

any adult is welcome to bring binoculars, cameras or their eagle-eye to

explore the lagoon’s wildlife. Photographers who capture wildlife in

action, scenic landscapes, or other creative moments are invited to

share these photos with FOCL for outreach efforts.

See the Upcoming Events section for event dates. All walks begin at the

Wetland and Marine Science Education Center, or WAMSEC, on Appian

Way north of Colorado Street, at 8:30am. RSVP and share these photos

by emailing friends@coloradolagoon.org

Spotlight: Favorite Fauna

Striped Shore Crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes)

This rocky shore crab lives in the upper tidal zone

but spends plenty of time on land where it

primarily feeds on algae using its pincers. These

crabs molt their hard shells which come in a

variety of colors from purple to red with green

stripes.

Black bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

These shorebirds breed in the Arctic and migrate

south to coastal areas in winter. They can travel

non-stop over thousands of miles to suitable tidal

flats in order to feast on mollusks, worms and

crustaceans.

(Photos by Kim Moore)

Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 12th

8 am - 12 noon

This special event marks our last large planting of the season. Help place the final touches in our

growing habitat. The event will kick off at the Wetland and Marine Science Education Center near

the corner of Appian Way and Colorado Street. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and

bring plenty of water. Service learning credits are available.

March 2014

2007

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Native Plants Combat Drought Conditions

Anyone local to Southern California can tell you that

we are in a drought. Yes, we recently received

about 5 inches of rain locally, but this is still only half

of the rainfall we should have received. About 10

inches is the annual average for coastal region, so

water conservation is still a priority issue at the

Colorado Lagoon with the particularly dry weather.

Native plants are a key to conserving water while

providing habitat value and landscape

beautification. Several thousand native shrubs, trees,

wildflowers and wetland species were planted over

the past couple of years with tremendous support

from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which

require little water to thrive. These plants are well

adapted to such dry conditions and support

important critters like bees and butterflies, which are

integral components of a healthy environment.

Continued from Colorful History page 1

Colorado Lagoon is a dynamic, central feature of the Alamitos Heights and Belmont Heights neighborhoods

in Long Beach, CA and has been for many (years/generations). Once the upper portion of a large coastal

wetland ecosystem, it is now an 18-acre tidal water body connected to Alamitos Bay via a 1,000-foot box

culvert. As indicated by this transition, Colorado Lagoon has a rich and diverse history, embedded with

stories of exploitation, athletic achievements, community bonding, and memory building. Since the 1920’s,

the Lagoon has been managed by the City of Long Beach as a park and marine recreational area. In 1923,

the naturally occurring tidal wetlands of Alamitos Bay were

dredged to form the Lagoon and Marine Stadium. The Lagoon

then became the site for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic U.S. Diving

Trials and was separated from Marine Stadium (the site for rowing

competitions) by tide gates designed to maintain an adequate

water depth for diving events. In the late 1960’s, the north end of

Marine Stadium was filled in preparation for a never-executed,

cross-town freeway. Instead, this filled area became part of Marina

Vista Park.

All of these alterations and activities left the Colorado Lagoon in a

degraded condition as the 3rd worst water-body for water quality

in California – no longer able to support the myriad activities and

wildlife that once made it such a special place. In partnership with

the City of Long Beach and numerous funding agencies, Friends of

Colorado Lagoon has worked to ensure that Colorado Lagoon is

restored to the gem of its neighborhoods, both in terms of

environmental health and community life. The story of the

advocacy, restoration and eventual planned rejuvenation of the

Colorado Lagoon is a tribute to the hard work of dedicated

communities, the strength of local partnerships, and the resiliency

of the Colorado Lagoon ecosystem itself.

The lagoon has been a community

resource for generations

The lagoon has served as a community center for generations

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Long Beach, CA

Permit #25

(Photo by Diane Paull)

March 2014

2007

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Friends of Colorado Lagoon 6475 East PCH #252

Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 261-9058

www.coloradolagoon.org

Estuary Exploration Every second Saturday from 8am-10am

March 8 – April 12 – May 10 Tour and explore the wonders of Colorado

Lagoon with trained FOCL naturalists.

Weekend Habitat Restoration Every second Saturday from 10am-12am

March 8 – April 12 – May 10 Help FOCL naturalists restore the lagoon’s salt

marsh and keep the ecosystem healthy.

Salt Marsh Mondays Every Monday from 10am-12pm

There’s no better way to start your week than

helping to restore this community jewel.

Upcoming Activities

Bird Walk for Adults Sunday from 8:30am-10:30am

April 25 Join us on a bird walk to spot feathered friends around

the Lagoon. Contact education@coloradolagoon.org

for more information.

Special thanks to our partners in restoration!

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Long Beach, CA

Permit #25