By Meredith Powers
Peering through trees and crackling brush that line the perimeter of Freshwater Marsh, Bruce Schelden gently explains the engineering that directs water through the marsh, into Ballona Creek and at last into the ocean.
To passersby, the low-lying habitat that neighbors the intersection of Lincoln and Jefferson Boulevard may go unnoticed in contrast to sprawling Playa Vista, Silicon Beach and other booming developments nearby.
But to Friends of the Ballona Wetlands, an organization dedicated to protecting and exhibiting this terrain and others, Freshwater Marsh is one of many ongoing projects that provides an opportunity to teach the public about local wildlife and environmental impact.
As a tour guide, Schelden leads the first-time guests around and through Freshwater Marsh, using binoculars to identify the creatures rustling in the distance. He spots an American Coot floating through the marsh water and explains how the bird resembles a duck but is distinguished by its un-webbed feet.
Next, he shows visitors the Canada Goose foraging in the brush, and then just beyond, a white Egret circling the water with spread wings. He explains the techniques for restoring the land without disturbing wildlife, how the water level is controlled and how the marsh is maintained throughout the year.
During the school year, Friends of Ballona Wetlands works with schools to provide education for elementary through college-aged students.
During the summer, the calendar of events shifts slightly, offering family-friendly events like movies at Discovery Park, arts and crafts, outdoor yoga and more.
wThey coordinate periodic tours of different ecological reserves, nature hikes, and ongoing habitat restoration events.
Each month, the group organizes a clean-up day, where volunteers help remove trash and litter from Ballona Creek.
“When you go out there with 50 people and you come back with 200 pounds of trash and you haven’t made a dent with what’s sitting along the bed of the creek, it’s pretty impactful,” said Scott Culbertson, Executive Director of Friends of Ballona Wetlands.
In the summertime, the organization also hosts Ballona Discovery Nature Camp, a science-based summer day camp focusing on nature in an urban environment.
Culbertson says the aim of the different programs is to give neighbors and residents a better understanding and appreciation for the environment. In addition to clean-up efforts, the group sponsors Habitat Restoration days, where volunteers learn about and help care for the plant life in each territory.
“It’s a good opportunity to learn about the impact that we all have, that everything we do has an impact on the environment,” he said. “It’s remarkable when you’re out there with 50 or 100 people and you’re filling 20-gallon trash bags with straws. (You think) maybe I shouldn’t be drinking out of a straw or maybe I don’t need that Styrofoam container from that restaurant.”
As for Freshwater Marsh, since its construction in 2003 as a stormwater management system, the habitat has attracted more than 200 species of birds while functioning as a water ecosystem.
“There was a habitat here, but it wasn’t healthy, so they put in the native plants and some of the birds came back, as well as the invertebrates, the insects, the butterflies and the few mammals that are here as well,” said Schelden, who has witnessed the area’s transformation since his time as an employee of Hughes Aircraft Company years ago.
For those not sure where to begin, Culbertson says it’s easy.
“You see things that you’re not going to see anywhere else in a habitat you’re not used to seeing. How many of us grew up on wetlands?” he said. “Just come out and get involved. Literally come out and get your hands dirty.”
For more information on Friends of Ballona Wetlands, visit www.ballonafriends.org.