Beginning in the fall of 2008, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust with fellow Pepperdine students. Prior to this experience, I did not know about the importance of these wetlands. It was not until I spent a weekend removing foreign vegetation from the wetlands, that I began to understand the importance of them. It also gave me a new appreciation for the protection of the reserve.
Ballona Wetlands Land Trust
Ballona Wetlands Land Trust is a non-profit organization, founded in 1994 by the local community. This group is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the ecosystem surrounding these wetlands. The local community banded together to prevent the commercial development and loss of a natural ecosystem.
Ballona Wetlands is the only remaining coastal wetlands in Los Angeles County. It is a habitat for rare and endangered species in Southern California. It is a place of refuge for these animals that have no other protected habitat to go to in Los Angeles County.
While volunteering, I learned that not only do the wetlands help to sustain plant and animal life, but they also aid in human life as well. These wetlands process organic waste and reduce sediments, improving the quality of water in Santa Monica Bay. This is important to those of us who enjoy visiting and swimming in the ocean. These wetlands also store excess flood water. Once they are built upon, the new developments will struggle with flooding and erosion. If they remain a preserve, the wetlands will absorb the flooding, preventing erosion.
Take Action
As a lover of nature, I became enraged at the fact that this is the only remaining coastal wetland preserve in Los Angeles County and this organization is continuing to fight the city in the preservation of these wetlands. It seems ridiculous that many developers feel the need to destroy nature's sanctuary. Not only are the wetlands a sanctuary, but they also serve a vital role in the supporting the coastal ecosystem. I believe that there needs to be more education about these wetlands and more preventative measures to ensure the preservation of them.
If you are interested in becoming involved in the preservation of the Ballona Wetlands, please visit the website, www.ballona.org/take-action/.
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