Connect - Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
The Los Cerritos Wetlands is such a special place because it's where so many parts of the natural world meet and connect. While coastal wetlands are among the world's most unique natural environments, they must be connected with other ecosystems to survive and flourish. In fact, estuaries act as a meeting place for a wide variety of different habitats.
A restored Los Cerritos Wetlands will provide multiple links: between land, air and water; between the alluvial watershed of the San Gabriel River and the Catalina Channel; between El Dorado Park and the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge.
Flocks of migratory birds, after flying all day and night from as far as Alaska, Canada and Mexico, cross the unbroken concrete of the LA Basin to find sanctuary at the wetlands. They arrive dead tired, hungry and in need of shelter. If this last critical habitat is developed with more urban sprawl, the detrimental effects this will cause these beautiful creatures will be far reaching.
The wetlands provide links for migrating birds and spawning fish, as well as an essential link between nature and human beings.
At each link, something wonderful will happen:
- Birds, fish and other wildlife will find nursery habitat.
- Food sources will be abundant allowing for the protection and nourishment of the native area gene pool.
- Storm waters will be filtered and cleansed, a natural wonder of wetlands.
- Alluvial sediment from the San Gabriel River will renew the sand on our beaches and enhance the productivity of our ocean.
- And… we and our children will learn, find beauty and reclaim our own connection with nature.
Restoring the wetlands isn't just for the birds, but for the people who watch them, too. In fact, birding has become an exceedingly popular hobby, partly because of how easy it is to get started. A modest pair of binoculars, nice weather and the possibility of spotting a few rare species result in hours of fun. Bird watching has become so popular that a rehabilitated Wetlands is sure to have a positive effect on Long Beach tourism and provide yet more value and return on investment.
Sport fishing presents another valuable opportunity for the community. At one time, the coastal waters off the Los Cerritos Wetlands were a prime fishing spot, coveted for their abundance and diversity of fish. As the estuaries disappeared, so did the fish. Once restored, the Wetlands can give rise to a renewed sport fishing industry, attracting tourism from all across the country.
And of course, the fast-growing ecotourism industry will provide abundant labor opportunities for residents of Long Beach and nearby communities, as visitors come to study, admire and enjoy the scenery, animals, birds and plants.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. - Chief Seattle, 1855
