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At famous Bolsa Chica, nature center dream takes shape
March 18th, 2009, 12:00 pm · 13 Comments · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor
The construction of an 8,000-square-foot, permanent nature center at the Bolsa Chica wetlands moved closer to reality this week when the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an option to lease five acres for the purpose. 
The center, complete with exhibit halls, classrooms, laboratories, wildlife viewing decks and native plant gardens, would be built in Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park, just east of the newly restored wetlands, under the agreement approved Tuesday.
Still to be decided: how the project, with an estimated cost of $4 million to $5 million, would be funded.
Right now, the closest thing to a nature center for wetland visitors is a trailer near the northern end of Bolsa Chica. A permanent building would greatly expand educational opportunities for the public, said Grace Adams, executive director of the Bolsa Chica Conservancy.
Some 10,000 students from kindergarten to college take part in programs out of the 1,400-square-foot trailer, but large groups must be staggered to accomodate everyone, she said.
“I think this is going to be a definite improvement on what we have,” Adams said. “Bolsa Chica is the largest remaining salt water marsh between the Tijuana River estuary and Monterey Bay. There are plenty of opportunties for discovery and learning.”
Under the agreement, the Conservancy would have three years to make plans and find funding for the center, with possible extensions of time if needed. If all goes well, the group would lease 5.3 acres at Wieder park to build the center, along with a parking lot and outdoor educational areas. (Register rendering of proposed center based on map provided by Conservancy.)
While Bolsa Chica could be viewed from platforms, no direct access to the newly restored wetlands would be possible; state Fish and Game and the state Lands Commission are still working on a public access plan, Adams said.
Instead, visitors to the center could be bused or shuttled to access points to the south and north of the wetlands. The restored area is primarily for wildlife, but can be viewed from the adjacent Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
(Register file photo of snowy egret by Wayne Mah.)
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I hope it is built better than the tital flood basin is… where was the EIR and Coastal Commission when that poorly designed body of water was put right next to homes without any levee to prevent flooding?
5.3 acres of open park space lost. State Lands and Dept. of Fish and Game will use ? number of acres to provide access. Lost. How much air polution will be created by people being bused or shuttled to access points? How green is this?
This is great news and I’m very happy to hear that the Bolsa Chica Conservancy will be managing the new center. They are the best of all the Bolsa Chica organizations, in my opinion, and have never used Bolsa Chica for political gain. I applaud the county for placing the future of Bolsa Chica in the most capable of hands.
The Amigos de Bolsa Chica and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust have been working with the State for months to use an existing building at the Bolsa Chica State beach right across from the wetlands as an interpretive center.
This would not require any new parking lots or buildings to be built at Bolsa Chica, and I think is a much better idea. There is plenty of parking at the State Beach.
The State has funding right now to develop the exhibits and this is moving forward.
I have to disagree with Kevin. I remember very well a Coastal Commission hearing during which the past executive director of the conservancy testified that building over 3,000 houses on the Bolsa Chica Mesa would actually benefit the wetlands… Go figure…
The state better not be thinking about throwing taxpayer dollars at something like a second Nature Center. Taxpayers in this state will not tolerate it.
Dear Kevin, Have you been out of the country for the last 30 plus years? You are totally misinformed about which organizations have and continue to be responsible for all aquisition, restoration, and preservation at the Bolsa Chica. Where do you suppose Orange County gets funding from, if not taxes. Perhaps O.C. residents will be more outraged at the loss of park space and paying taxes for a duplication of an interpretive/ visitor center.
There is only one organization that has successfully run an interpretive center at Bolsa Chica for more than a decade, and that is the Bolsa Chica Conservancy.
There is only one organization that maintains a board of directors that represents all the factions necessary to building and managing a permanent interpretive center – business, scientists, government, (who all fall under the “environmentalist” banner), and that is the Bolsa Chica Conservancy.
There is only one organization that has stayed out of the political fray and divisiveness that has characterized Bolsa Chica for over 30 years, and brings no agenda other than creating an environment that is beneficial to both birds and people, and that is the Bolsa Chica Conservancy.
I doubt anyone will be “outraged” over the loss of “park” space at Seapoint, as much as surfers and others will be “outraged” at the loss of camping and parking space, should a second rate “Nature Center” be located at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
The county made the right decision. Whatever the taxpayer dollars involved, I’m certain the Bolsa Chica Conservancy has the reputation, ability and influence to raise plenty of money on their own.
As for Mr. McMahan’s claim of which organizations “have and continue to be responsible for all aquisition, restoration and preservation at the Bolsa Chica,” well, he isn’t the first one to attempt to re-write history, and I’m sure he won’t be the last.
Thanks Cindy, Perhaps you will honor us with a written history of all the accomplishments of your organization.
Mr. McMahan, I assume you are referring to the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, on whose board I once sat, but have not been on in a while – so, it’s not “my” organization and I don’t speak for them.
As for a list of accomplishments of that organization, there isn’t enough time or space to list them all here, nor am I qualified to speak to the scientific or educational strides made by the Conservancy. The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that this organization – and specifically its current board of directors – is uniquely qualified to give the public what it has dreamed of for a very long time; a first-rate Interpretive Center.
Cindy, I speak only for myself and would respectfully request that you take time and space to list one or two accomplishments of the BCC beyond their scientific contributions and visitor center trailer. Thanks
P.S. Would you care to comment on the 3000 homes that did not get built on the mesa and how diligently the BCC worked (while you served on thier Board of Directors) to stop this construction project?
Well, I didn’t intend for this to turn into a blog-fest, but when I heard you had another post, directly to me, I felt it was only polite to answer. I may have to let you have the last word after this one, though. I’ve got lots of other stuff to do! (Not as much fun as this, but blogging doesn’t pay the bills!)
Just off the top of my head, I’m going to say that educating over 400,000 school children – and not just taking them out on a tour, or to pick up trash – has been the keystone of the Conservancy. Their curriculum is entirely in-line with county and state criteria, and the classes (both at the Interpretive Center and at school campuses) is first-rate.
I would say their being chosen as the exclusive Bolsa Chica organization to be allowed access to restore historical dune habitats on Rabbit Island to allow rare and endangered coastal wooly heads to re-establish naturally, is a big nod to their competency, reliability and expertise.
As for commenting on the homes that did not get built, I’m afraid your information is incorrect. I did not serve on the board during this process. However, if I had, I would say my involvement would’ve been nil, as the Conservancy is not now, nor has it ever been, a politically driven organization. The other Bolsa Chica organizations did what they believed necessary, and no one is trying to take that away from them.
But, that is the past and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, in my opinion, is the future.
Thanks for the fun “chats!”
Oh, man! “… and the classes (both at the Interpretive Center and at school campuses) is first-rate.”
Reads like I missed a grammar class or two!
Lesson to all: Never blog on two hours’ sleep!