The Bolsa Chica Mesa Should be Preserved

By Connie J. Boardman

The Bolsa Chica Mesa is too unique and special an area to lose to the construction of 1,235 housing units. As a biologist and Past President of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust I support the plan of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust to acquire the land at a fair market value or through a land exchange so the land owners receive a fair return on thier investment and the community has the Bolsa Chica Mesa to use for its educational, open space, and wildlife habitat values.

The sale of 880 acres of wetlands by the Koll Company to the State means the wetlands of Bolsa Chica will be preserved and restored. Now the most threatened area of Bolsa Chica is the Bolsa Chica Mesa. This 215 acre parcel is proposed to be the site of 1,235 housing units. If these are built the Mesa as we know it will no longer exist. Houses will come to within 50 feet of the bluff edge. The bluff itself will be graded, and storm drains as large as six feet in diameter will allow polluted run off from the development to flow into outer Bolsa Bay. Gone will be the bird of prey habitat in the eucalyptus grove where currently one can find 11 different species of hawks and falcons including the endangered peregrine falcon. Gone will be the mysterious cogged stone archeological site, and ephemeral pools on the Mesa. Gone will be the opportunity to show our children a piece of what coastal California was like.

This development does not have to happen. I support the efforts of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust to bring the land into public ownership through a land exchange. A land exchange would allow the land owners to receive a fair return on thier investment.

Some may ask if this area is outside the City of Huntington Beach why is it a city issue? While Bolsa Chica is in an unicorporated area of Orange County, the city does have some control over whether or not there is development on the site. The key the City Council holds is water. Without water from the city, I do not believe the development of Bolsa Chica can happen.

The City Council must decide by a vote that we have an excess of water before the city can provide the Bolsa Chica developer water. We do not have an excess of water so I could not support providing water to developers outside our city like the Bolsa Chica developer.

If this issue is important to you please take the time to find out how other candidates feel about development on the Bolsa Chica Mesa including how they feel about providing city water to the planned development.

There is much more to the Bolsa Chica issue than I can cover here. Please email me at CB4Council@aol.com with any questions you may have. Thank you.