CRAP!

[valkyrie]

Can you believe this? They will ruin a good anchorage and spend tons of money to reduce accessibility to the island. I assume they will do away with the recently refurbished pier too.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/28/restoration-of-santa-cruz-wetland-sought/



Restoration of Santa Cruz wetland sought

Under the Park Service plan, fill dirt would be removed at Prisoners Harbor

By Zeke Barlow
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Centuries ago, before there were pigs and roads and ranches on Santa Cruz Island, there was a wetland.

The island's largest stream, Cañada del Puerto, ran through the oaks and grasslands of the vast central valley, dumping out at Prisoners Harbor, where a wetland was home to migrating birds, native plants and reptiles. But as one of the major gateways to the island, where the sheep, cattle and people moved to and from the mainland, the wetlands were filled in to provide easier access. The result was fewer birds and less native plants.
Now, nearly 200 years after the wetland was destroyed, Channel Islands National Park wants to bring it back.
As part of an ongoing effort to return the islands to their pre-Columbian state, the Park Service is proposing to remove the fill dirt, cut down the non-native trees and restore the wetlands to Prisoners Harbor.
"This is a unique opportunity to bring back coastal wetlands," said Kate Faulkner, chief of resources management for the park. The park is accepting public comments on how to best go about the project before starting the environmental assessment.
In Southern California, where about 90 percent of all coastal wetlands have been destroyed, a new one could give migrating birds a place to stop along their journey and help restore the balance in nature's favor, she said.
If the proposal goes through, an average depth of three feet of soil would be removed over about four acres. Once the soil is removed, the land would return to the marsh it was before it was filled in and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut a channel to create a river.
Many of the estimated 200 non-native eucalyptus trees would be cut down to allow the native vegetation to re-establish itself. The trees, some 100 feet tall, currently dominate the landscape and don't allow other plants to grow in the area, Faulkner said.
A still-unanswered problem is what to do with all the dirt and wood.
Some of the dirt could be used on road repairs around the island. The downed trees may have to be taken to the mainland.
The project is expected to take a few years to complete. Potential features could include a walkway for visitors to walk through the rehabilitated wetlands.

© 2008 Ventura County Star

[wils]

Restoration begins at home.
Lets see how dedicated they really are.
Those assholes need to tear down their houses and restore the land they live on.....FIRST!

[petersmt]

How would this ruin a good anchorage or limit access to the island?

What the article neglects to mention is the habit for fish that these wetlands will create. Why would we be against that?

[Carnivore]

Well another great waste of tax payer money down the tube!!! Instead of fixing the bathrooms, camping areas, table, BBQs etc in the existing parks, lets take millions to build a freaking brackish SWAMP!!! Well at least the tree huggers will have some material now..

[rjrich10]

I agree with Carnivore if it isn't broke leave it alone. Spend our money on other things like stated ... fixing up existing parks and rec areas. I'm sure they need alittle updating.

[squibblips]

Yep, my wife who teaches "our" childred was notified that she may not have a job next year due to budget restrainst. BUT we have money to turn a functioning area into a marsh. We already spend $100's of thousands to make sure the cave birds are happy on Santa Cruz (don't get me started on that one!). Yes, I for one think our priorities are screwed up. Where's their money coming from??? We can always seem to fund millions of dollars for restorations, but can't pay a teacher $40K to teach our kids. Oh well, the powers that be will do what they want anyway!!!

[Non fishin fool]

Originally Posted by squibblips

Where's their money coming from??? We can always seem to fund millions of dollars for restorations, but can't pay a teacher $40K to teach our kids.

I totally agree, maybe they are going to use Lottery money to pay for this. Or some of the $300 plus I paid to register my vehicle this year, money that is supposed to be going to fix the crappy roads.

[Tony Bones]

i think there was a typo in there . it's environmental A$$e$$ment ... if u wanna see wetlands ...go to carp , give the money to the teachers, and have a nice day! ... besides if the ice cap is meting like they say it is, it will still be under water anyways , if they wanna throw away $$on stuff like that i have a nice sand castle for sale !