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By
SEEMA MEHTA,
TIMES STAFF WRITER
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."
Copyright
2001 Los Angeles Times
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