RESTORATION BECOMES REALITY At the Ballona Wetlands, just west of Lincoln Boulevard, restoration of a much needed component of the wetland’s ecosystem, the freshwater marsh, has begun. We, at the Ballona Wetlands Foundation, want you to know and understand what is happening. When complete, the restored wetland system will include the freshwater marsh, a saltwater marsh, a riparian corridor, dunes, uplands and bluffs. Restoration will be done in three phases -- the freshwater marsh being the first.
				A California least tern and her baby.
	To begin the process, a talented team of restoration specialists, including water-quality experts, biologists, engineers and landscape architects, were brought together to design the elements of the freshwater marsh system and implement the restoration. Experts considered the site’s historical characteristics, as well as the role the freshwater marsh would play in the overall wetland ecosystem, before a design was put in place. Approvals and permits were then sought from the many state and federal agencies who oversee wetland restoration -- including the Army Corps of Engineers, the California Coastal Commission, California Fish & Game and the State Water Resources Control Board, to name just a few. On the site today, the restoration team is removing non-native plants from the area. This is an important first step, as this invasive vegetation can overtake the natural plant life of the freshwater marsh. Once this vegetation removal is complete, the land will be contoured to form the design of the freshwater marsh and the planting can begin. More than 700 pounds of seeds and cuttings have already been gathered from native plants on-site for use in the planting process. An irrigation system will also be put into place as a safety net in times of drought and to start the system. Once this work is complete and with a little fine-tuning from the restoration team, nature will take its course. The initial restoration process for the freshwater marsh is estimated to take from one to two years. The freshwater marsh will be monitored for five years after completion, with yearly reporting requirements to agencies overseeing the restoration. Permits require that the freshwater marsh be managed and maintained and remain viable in perpetuity. Upon completion, the public will be able to visit the freshwater marsh and enjoy the new and varied wildlife that will call it home.