The document outlines the objectives and progress of a series of public involvement workshops focused on the conceptual restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Key information includes workshop goals, participant feedback, and the collaborative process aiming to develop restoration alternatives. It also highlights the constraints and opportunities affecting the wetlands' restoration efforts, along with a tentative workshop schedule.

1. P u b lic In v o lv e m e n t W o r k s h o p
M a y 10 t h , 2 0 12

2. Public Involvement Workshop #3
Theme: Water
Mascot: Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Color: Blue
• Workshop Goal:
Initiate development of Conceptual Restoration Alternative
Designs
• Workshop Objectives:
– Update on Conceptual Restoration Plan’s progress
– Introduce Conceptual Restoration Alternative design
process
– Perform workshop activity to initiate discussion of
potential restoration alternatives
• Workshop Groundrules

3. Public Involvement Workshop #3
Workshop Outline
• Summary of Previous Workshops
• Conceptual Restoration Plan Progress Update
- Overview of Conceptual Restoration Plan scope and progress
– Review of opportunities and constraints
– Discussion of alternative design conceptualization process
3. Public Feedback Activity
• Participants develop restoration “bubble diagrams” indicating
areas needing:
– Lots of restoration attention
– Less restoration attention
– Little restoration attention
4. Next Steps
-Review of workshop
-Next workshop topics, time, and location

4. Public Involvement RIVER Trail
Road Map

5. Summary of Public Involvement Workshop #1
Theme: Spirit
Mascot: Wandering Skipper butterfly
Color: Yellow
• Workshop Goal was: Introduce the project to the community
and receive initial feedback on public interests and concerns
• Workshop Objectives were:
– Discuss Los Cerritos Wetlands’ natural history
– Introduce the LCWA and consulting team members
– Introduced preliminary project goals and objectives
– Exhibit a road-map for Public Involvement Plan
– Perform activity to collect feedback on community values and vision
– Introduce stakeholder email database and project website
– Inform participants of next workshop date
• Workshop Activity Results were…

6. Workshop Activity Results
• 40/75 attendees completed the workshop
questionnaire
• 38% of participants live less than 1 mile away
• 51% live 1-5 miles away
• 61% had visited LCW through the LCWA’s stewardship
program
• 51% enjoy hiking or walking around the wetlands
• 52% value the natural and open space of the wetlands
• 35% would like to see increased tidal influence to the site
• 88% have visited Bolsa Chica Wetlands

9. Summary of Public Involvement Workshop #2
Theme: Earth
Mascot: Southern Tarplant
Color: Green
• Workshop Goal was:
1) Review the Los Cerritos Wetlands baseline data collected
• Workshop Objectives were:
– Present findings from Hydrology Report, Watersheds Report, and
Habitat Assessment Report
– Discuss the urban setting of Los Cerritos Wetlands and the
Opportunities and Constraints to Restoration and Public Access
– Launch LCW Conceptual Restoration Plan Website
– Perform activity to collect community feedback on baseline data
• Workshop Feedback Activity results were…

11. Workshop Activity Results
Overall Responses to Feedback Activity for Workshop #2
General Ranking Raw Numbers Raw numbers/Total
Wow! This station’s information is
comprehensive and it is exciting to see this
data finally compiled. My comments reflect 70 82%
what I liked most about this station.
Interesting! This station’s information is
excellent, but there are a couple
shortcomings that could be investigated 13 15%
further. My comments express the data gaps
that I observed.
Unimpressed! The information displayed at
this station is not complete and there remain
noticeable opportunities for growth. In my 2 2%
comments I have described the areas that
could be improved upon.
Any Questions?

12. Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority
In February of 2006, a joint powers agreement was
adopted among the:
Rivers & Mountains Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy,
& Cities of Long Beach & Seal Beach
=
These agencies comprise the project’s Steering Committee

13. Natural History of Los Cerritos Wetlands

14. Los Cerritos Wetlands
Exisiting Conditions
• Historically over 2400 acres of coastal wetlands
• Currently around 500 undeveloped acres remain
– Only ~50 acres of full tidal coastal salt marsh habitat
– Highly degraded upland, marine, transition, brackish & salt
marsh habitats
– Large invasive exotic weed infestations
– Impacted by industrial, commercial & residential land
uses
– Serves as refuge for migratory & special status species
specialsouthern brown pelican
concern
tarplant
least
terns
Belding’s
mudflat tiger beetles wandering skipper
savannah sparrow

15. Project Site

16. Project Scope
• Develop conceptual restoration plan for Los Cerritos Wetlands
• 2 year long project
• 6 public involvement workshops through Spring 2013
• 6 meetings with the project’s Technical Advisory Committee

17. Project Organization Chart
Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority:
Project Manager
Steering Committee:
RMC, Coastal Conservancy,
Cities of Seal and Long Beach
Community Technical Advisory
Stakeholders Committee
Public Staff from
Involvement Applicable Public
Plan Agencies
Consulting Team
Any Questions?

18. Conceptual Restoration Alterative Design Process
• Collect data on existing conditions
• Compile and analyze opportunities and constraints to
restoration
• Meet with the Public to brainstorm potential restoration
alternatives
• Determine preliminary restoration alternatives
• Meet with Technical Advisory Committee and Public to
identify final alternatives
• Analyze each of the final restoration alternatives
• Work with all stakeholders to determine the preferred
restoration alternative

19. Opportunities
• Topography / Landforms / Soils
– Existing ground elevations suitable for coastal wetlands
– Existing landforms can be used to control water
– Existing roads can provide high tide refugia
– Soils suitable for wetlands and uplands habitat cover
– Site location provides opportunities for soil disposal
– Site size provides opportunities for onsite remediation
– Presence of earthquake fault may be deterrent to other development
• Tidal Exchange / Local Watersheds / Hydrology
– Site Location Provides Tidal Exchange Enhancement Opportunities
– Site Location Provides Freshwater Enhancement Opportunities
– Altered Geomorphology Minimizes Sedimentation-Related Maintenance
– Watershed Activities will Provide Improved Water Quality

20. Opportunities (cont.)
• Ecology
– Already Existing Ecologically-Valuable Areas
– Habitat Potential for Degraded Land Areas
– Already Existing Special Status Species
– Adjacency to Wildlife Corridors and Connectedness
– Potential for Freshwater Habitat
– Conversion of Upland Areas to Wetlands Habitat Area
• Climate Change
– Utilization of Sea Level Rise (SLR) for Tidal Influence
– Existing Hellman Topography Provides for Habitat Adjustment
– Potential to Restore Natural Sedimentation
– Potential to Accommodate Upslope Transgression of Habitats
– Potential to Increase Flood Protection

21. Opportunities (cont.)
• Infrastructure
– Lease Agreements Include Reconfiguration of Oil Infrastructure
– LCWA-Owned Property Includes the San Gabriel River Levees
• Human Interaction
– Public Access to Large Open Space Area
– Synergy with LCW Stewardship Program
– Active Local Stakeholders
– Cooperative Efforts with Local University
– Adjacent Existing Public Use Areas
– Limited Visibility from Housing Developments
– Already Existing Infrastructure for Public Interpretation
• Regulatory / Implementation
– Potential for Additional Land Acquisition
– Potential Funding Opportunities
– Potential for Agency Coordination

22. Constraints
• Topography / Landforms / Soils
– Historical Land Uses have Altered Natural Topography
– Landform Changes Limit Natural Processes
– Existing Soil Quality Limits Restoration Success
– Earthquake Fault may Constrain Oil Infrastructure Reconfiguration
and/or Cause Damage to the Wetlands
• Tidal Exchange / Local Watersheds / Hydrology
– Human Disturbance has Altered Tidal Exchange
– Human Disturbance has Altered Freshwater Hydrologic Functioning
– Human Disturbance has Altered Geomorphology
– Poor Water Quality can Impair Restoration Success

23. Constraints (cont.)
• Ecology
– Protection of Existing Sensitive Habitat Resources
– Simplified Food Webs
• Climate Change
– SLR will Modify Habitat Proportions
– Steep Perimeters will Only Support Narrow Habitat Bands
– Natural Sediment Supply is Limited
– Limited Areas for Upslope Transgression of Habitats
– SLR and Flooding Risk
• Infrastructure
– Incorporation of Existing and Future-Remaining Oil Infrastructure
– Fragmentation and Encroachment by Roadways
– Protection of Existing Flood Control Systems
– Fragmentation and Encroachment by Utilities

24. Constraints (cont.)
• Human Interaction
– Habitat Sensitivity to Urban Surroundings
– Onsite Homeless Encampments
– Maintaining Positive Public Perception
– Potential Impacts to Surrounding Neighborhoods
– Archaeological Resource Protection
• Regulatory / Implementation
– Land Ownership by Other Entities
– Easements by Other Entities
– Limited Funding
– Compensatory Mitigation Restrictions
– Permitting and Environmental Reviews
– Compliance with the City of Long Beach Local Coastal Program
and General Plan

25. Workshop Activity
Now we want to work on developing preliminary concepts for
restoration alternatives with you
We encourage you to use the maps in front of you and:
5. Use the Green Marker to outline areas you think need
Lots of Restoration Attention
6. Use the Blue Marker to outline areas you think need
Less Restoration Attention
7.Use the Red Marker to outline areas you think need
Little Restoration Attention
Use the pens on the table to explain the
“bubbles” you have created and describe
what your vision is.

26. Public Involvement:
Tentative Workshop Schedule
# Date Location
1 November 10th, 2011 Seal Beach Senior Center
2 March 8th, 2012 Aquarium of the Pacific
3 May 10th, 2012 Seal Beach Senior Center
4 September 20th, 2012 Aquarium of the Pacific
5 January 31st, 2013 Seal Beach Senior Center
6 April 18th, 2013 Aquarium of the Pacific

27. Next Steps
• Continue Process of Identifying Potential
Restoration Design Alternatives
• Determine Preliminary Restoration Design
Alternatives
• Conduct the 4th Public Workshop

28. Closing / Leave Behind
Final Questions?
Final Questions?
Contact:
info@tidalinfluence.com