Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project

Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project

The Project will restore and reconnect Ballona Creek with its historical floodplain, include adaptation for sea level rise, restore upland and non-tidal wetlands, construct public access improvements, establish new flood risk and storm water management infrastructure, and provide for long-term operation and maintenance activities. The Project, as described in the EIR, is divided into two phases (Phase 1 and 2). However, during the next design phase, the Department will firm up potential sequences available to further divide the Project into smaller components. The Project includes the following restoration-related components: 1. Overall net increase of approximately 201 acres of wetlands. 2. Remove and replace approximately 9,800 feet of existing Ballona Creek levees with transitional zones to accommodate for sea level rise and realigning the existing Ballona Creek channel with a more natural “meander-shape” through the Project reach and re-established floodplain. 3. Restoring, enhancing, and establishing estuarine aquatic and associated upland habitats connected to the realigned Ballona Creek. 4. Improving tidal circulation into the Ballona Reserve and implementing other modifications to create dynamic interactions between the Ballona Creek channel, aquatic resources within the Ballona Reserve, and the Santa Monica Bay and thereby support estuarine and associated habitats within the Ballona Reserve. 5. Modifying existing infrastructure and utilities as necessary to implement restoration activities, including the abandonment or relocation of SoCalGas wells and pipelines with the Ballona Reserve. 6. Implementing long-term post-restoration activities as needed, including inspections, repairs, clean-ups, vegetation management, and related activities. Public access–related improvements include: 1. Removing existing bike trails from the middle of the Ballona Reserve, reconnecting fragmented habitat, and realigning the bike trails atop constructed levees around the perimeter of the reserve with interpretive and learning opportunities. 2. Installing approximately 29,000 additional linear feet (approximately 5.5 miles) of pedestrian-only trails. 3. Installing approximately 2,000 linear feet of elevated boardwalks. 4. Constructing two bike and pedestrian bridges. Providing access between Area A and North Area C over Lincoln Boulevard and between Area A and Area B over Ballona Creek. 5. Constructing a spur bicycle trail connection under Lincoln Boulevard (Highway 1). 6. Improving Area A and West Culver Parking Lots. Flood risk management–related components include: 1. Constructing new engineered levees set back from the existing Ballona Creek channel in Area A and along Culver Boulevard. 2. Installing, operating, and maintaining new hydraulic structures. 3. Constructing storage basin in Area B to alleviate neighborhood flooding.

Los Angeles

Southern California