Acquire And Protect Bluff And Upland Habitat By The Ballona Wetlands

WHEREAS the Ballona Wetlands are the largest coastal wetlands ecosystem in the endless sprawl of Los Angeles County, and are essential not only for migratory and resident birds, as well as for other species inhabiting the area, but are a necessity for the health and vitality of Santa Monica Bay which is important biologically, recreationally, and economically to the region; and

WHEREAS bluff and upland areas adjacent to wetlands are essential to have a functioning ecosystem so that large birds can catch rodents on the coastal prairie, creatures can seek refuge up the hill when the wetlands flood, and insects can have a place to live so that they can pollinate the wetland plants below, while the California Democratic Council State Convention in 2004 supported a resolution to acquire and protect the 44-acre Ballona Westbluff and upland coastal prairie, though this area has now been bulldozed and developed; and

WHEREAS the State of California acquired more than 620 acres of the wetland and creek area at Ballona from Playa Capital for $139 million shortly before the gubernatorial recall election in 2003, yet the Ballona ecosystem has experienced a frenzy of massive development in the past decade which has resulted in declines in wildlife in the area;