Bolsa Chica Dune Habitat Restoration Underway

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – The Bolsa Chica Conservancy has partnered with California State Parks to restore 10,000 square feet of critical dune habitat and educate the community about the sensitive ecology from the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Reserve to the Bolsa Chica State Beach across the street.

The coastal dune habitat will be restored in three locations by teams of community volunteers through the planting of native plants into existing sandy areas within a few hundred feet of the coast.

“The goal of the dune restoration project is to restore habitat and educate the community,” said Orange Coast District
State Park Superintendent Kevin Pearsall. “Parts of the coastal sand dunes are inhabited with invasive plant species that must be removed and restoring the sand dunes and wetlands plays a significant role in protecting habitat for
wildlife that depend on the Bolsa Chica as a stopping point along the Pacific Flyway, spawning ground for fish and filtering polluted water entering the wetlands,” Pearsall said.

The educational component includes public engagement in learning about the connectivity and functionality of the
ocean, coastal strand habitat and wetlands. In addition to community education, the Conservancy will engage young people in intensive habitat education studies that meet STEM requirements for elementary through high school and hands-on learning opportunities for college students.

“This dune restoration project engages the community and provides access to beach resources like the Bolsa Chica
State Beach, giving students an opportunity to learn about the connectivity between wetlands and ocean ecosystems,”
said Executive Director Grace Adams.

Both the Conservancy and the State are interested in raising awareness and
understanding among all ages in the community to the significance of the wetlands, watersheds and the coastal
environment, their habitats and the biology that depend on them.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and State Beach are located along Pacific Coast Highway between Seapoint Street and Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach. Volunteers are welcome to participate in habitat cleanup and restoration. For more information, visit bolsachica.org