NEWS FLASH!!! California Coastal Commission Denies the Coastal Development Permit for the Shea Homes Project at Bolsa Chica!!! On Thursday, October 6, 2011 , the California Coastal Commission denied the Coastal Development Permit (CDP)that would have allowed Shea Homes to put 111 houses on the Upper Bolsa Chica Wetlands. This denial means that if the Shea Company wants to build houses on this site they have to go back to the drawing boards. Thanks so much to all the Bolsa Chica Land Trust members, friends and supporters who showed up at the hearing. Your presence made a difference for our beloved Bolsa Chica!! In denying the CDP for this project, commissioners mentioned that this land was part of a larger ecosystem, something the Land Trust has argued since this project was first proposed about 10 years ago. Other commissioners mentioned the lack of enforcement regarding the unpermitted fill on the property. This is another issue the Land Trust has raised for years.This fill, the BCLT believes, covered then existing wetlands. It is a very happy day for all of us who value all of Bolsa Chica!   White-tailed Kite Photograph by Steven Eric Smith  "WINGS OVER BOLSA" – 2012 Calendars Our new 2012 calendars are here!. Don't miss the opportunity to purchase several as gifts for family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Visit our online store to purchase your calendars now! CELEBRITIES AT BOLSA CHICA In 1899, the Bolsa Chica Gun Club was formed by a group of wealthy businessmen from Los Angeles and Pasadena including Henry E. Huntington, founder of Southern California’s Pacific Electric Railway. These wealthy gentlemen built a two-story structure on a mesa overlooking the Pacific Ocean which attracted numerous celebrities to Bolsa Chica. Recently, the Land Trust came into position of photo of two such celebrities who visited Bolsa Chica back in 1925. To find out who they were, CLICK on the Education tab above, then go to History of Bolsa Chica.   BOLSA CHICA LAND TRUST RECEIVES GRANT August 2, 2011 August 2, 2011 Celebration Event at Bolsa Chica From left to right: Flossie Horgan- Executive Director, Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Assemblyman Jim Silva, Kim Sentovich-Senior Vice President Walmart, Karen Miner- Land Manager, Department of Fish and Game, Mike Chrisman-South Western Partnership Director, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Kim Kolpin-Bolsa Chica Land Trust Restoration Coordinator, Joe Shaw- Huntington Beach City Councilman, Board Member Bolsa Chica Land Trust Walmart, through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), announces a $100,000.00 grant to the Bolsa Chica Land Trust. The grant, awarded to the Land Trust, will help reduce invasive non-native grasses, increase southern tarplant and native coastal grass populations, and fund long term monitoring of the 118 acre Bolsa Chica mesa. NFWF awards grants to conservation groups and local governments across the country to conserve and protect wildlife habitats. This grant is part of Walmart’s Acres for America program, which started in 2005 with an initial $35 million commitment from Walmart to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The goal of the program is to protect one acre of land for every acre occupied by Walmart’s U.S. facilities. This Acres for America – urban settings grant is the first of its kind to be given in California. It is being awarded to the Bolsa Chica Land Trust. We appreciate the recognition of our work at Bolsa Chica. Not only is the Trust grateful for the financial support, but we are thrilled to welcome Walmart employee volunteers to participate in our Steward lead work days throughout this project and beyond. The Coastal Sage Scrub plant community in Southern California is under severe pressure from development as well as competition by non-native invasive plants. The Bolsa Chica Mesa is also home to one of California's rare plant species; Southern Tarplant (Centromadia parryi subsp. australis). This grant will help to greatly increase the numbers of this plant found on the Bolsa Chica Mesa, and to further restore the Coastal Sage Scrub plant community historically found on the Bolsa Chica Mesa. Thanks again to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Walmart's Acres for America program for selecting the Land Trust for this grant.   Kim Sentovich-Sr. Vice President Walmart, Joe Shaw-Huntington Beach City Councilman, Kim Kolpin-BCLT Restoration Coordinator   Jill Hardy-former Mayor of Huntington Beach, Kim Sentovich-Sr. Vice President-Walmart, Flossie Horgan, Executive Director-BCLT.   LAND TRUST ADVOCATES “CPR FOR THE MESA” (Community Promoted Restoration) The long awaited restoration plan for the Lower Bench of the Bolsa Chica Mesa is getting closer to becoming a reality. Entitled “CPR For The Mesa” it is an ambitious ten-year $4.3 million restoration project. Partnering with the California Department of Fish and Game who owns the Lower Bench, the Land Trust has spent the past 4 years planning the best restoration project possible. The degraded condition of the Lower Bench presents many difficult challenges, and many requirements for the wildlife that must be met. The Project includes the creation of habitat zones, the largest being a 65 acre native coastal prairie native grassland which will provide much needed foraging habitat for raptors and mammals. Additional Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub, seasonal wetlands, and enhanced native plantings around Warner Pond ESHA (Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area), and riparian/herbaceous wetland habitats will one day replace the 118 acres of non-native invasive European grasses which currently choke the land. The Department of Fish and Game issued the Mitigated Negative Declaration. The public comment period is closed. DFG will now respond to comments. To learn more about the plan visit the DFG project link at.www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/5/lower-mesa/   Miracles of the Marsh “Miracles of the Marsh”, our education program provides elementary students from around community with an opportunity to take a field trip to the Bolsa Chica. This program owes it success to our wonderful docents. These Land Trusters volunteer their time and expertise to help educate our youth about the wonders of Bolsa Chica. THANK YOU… We thank our corporate partners, Boeing Employee Fund and Southern California Edison for their support of this program. To learn more click Miracles of the Marsh       Hey Kids! The Land Trust is pleased to announce a new member of the Land Trust family. Mark Hay has been hired by the Trust to serve as the Coordinator for the Jr. Stewards program. Mark has more than 18 years experience as a teacher and naturalist. The Jr. Stewards program brings unique opportunities to children of all ages, building experiences in nature and leadership skills while having fun. We are excited to see the new and wonderful things the kids will be doing with Mark's help. For more information about the Jr. Stewards please contact Mark at Mnhay2000@yahoo.com. For all the info, click here.         "Federal recognition for ORA 83 Cogged Stone Archaeological site Eligible as a National Historic Site" READ More         Make a Difference at Bolsa Chica On the first (1st) Sunday of each month and the third (3rd) Saturday of each month, the Bolsa Chica Stewards are out on the Bolsa Chica Mesa restoring native vegetation to the landscape. They plant new plants, water old plants, pull invasive weeds, and generally have a fun time doing their part to restore the Bolsa Chica ecosystem. For more information on how you can volunteer, call Kim at 714-717-6304.