Return to Golden Shores

I made a quick trip back to Golden Shores to see if I could get any better "action shots" of birds in the wild.

And what a day it was!

Lots of foraging snowy egrets:


A great blue heron:


Quite a few caspian terns:


It's great to watch these guys hover and dive for fish!

(The industrial areas of the harbor make quite a backdrop for Golden Shores!)


A juvenile black-crowned night heron was hanging out in a nearby tree:

They do look kind of awkward perched like that, but they are quite at home there! Most of these wading birds start there lives in tree-bound rookeries. They nest in huge aggregations of multiple species. In fact, most of the herons and egrets you see were born in just a small number of areas. Protecting these few trees--even in highly urbanized areas--is critical to preserving the species for vast parts of the globe.

The highlight of the day was (for me!) an osprey that was soaring up the LA River!


These sea-eagles (as they are sometimes called) feed extensively on fish, and so few of the other birds took notice of this guy, as he was no threat to them.


In this photo, you can see how little the snowy egret cares about the osprey flying within a few feet of him!

Restoration opportunities

These are some ideas for restoration of natural habitats in the parks included in this guide. These are not recommendations--these are rather ideas that should be evaluated by the powers-that-be (Long Beach Parks Dept, City Council, etc.). Or you. If you like these ideas (or hate them), contact the powers-that-be and let them know!

Colorado Lagoon
Regrading of slopes, creation of new salt marsh habitat

Slopes may be regraded to restore tidal flow to many areas that are now maintained as lawn.
Cost: High, although fill disposal would be minimal.
Chance of success: High--restoring tidal flow would ensure establishment of salt marsh plants.
Benefits: High.
Risks: Loss of areas of active recreation. New wetland areas may accumulate trash.

Restore native vegetation on bluffs

Remove nonnative iceplants and replace with a native bluff community.
Cost: Low
Chance of success: Moderate. Exotic plants may re-establish. Maintenance would be required.
Benefits: Moderate to high. No native habitat currently exists at Colorado Lagoon.
Risks: Maintenance is required to avoid re-establishment of non-native vegetation.

Golden Shores Preserve
Restore coastal sage-scrub vegetation to upland areas
Cost: Low
Chance of success: High. Current horticultural plants unlikely to re-establish.
Benefits: Moderate: No native upland habitat currently exists in the area.
Risks: Establishment of non-native species.

Increase public access to wetland areas

Remove fence, create new aesthetic fencing and/or boardwalk to improve access to the wetlands. Long Beach Parks identified this as a need in the Riverlink plan for the Los Angeles River.
Cost: Moderate
Chance of success: High.
Benefits: High. Increasing access to the marsh will improve awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats, decrease illegal dumping.
Risks: Increasing access may lead to trampling, littering (although major illegal dumping will be decreased).

Long Beach Greenebelt
Expand restoration area

Remove nonnative vegetation and replace with native coastal sage-scrub habitat between 4th and Ximeno streets. This area currently contains turf in very poor condition.
Cost: Moderate to low.
Chance of success: High.
Benefits: High. May reconnect sage-scrub with wetland habitats at Colorado Lagoon.
Risks: Loss of active recreation areas. Establishment of nonnative species must be prevented through continued maintenance.

Increase environmental education
Create interpretive signs, trail guides.
Cost: Low
Chance of success: High.
Benefits: High.
Risks: None.

Jack Dunster Reserve
Minimal opportunities for restoration. This park is pretty well built-out and maintained.

Marine Stadium Marine Reserve
Restore coastal sage-scrub vegetation to upland areas

Cost: Low
Chance of success: High
Benefits: Moderate to low. Currently no upland habitat exists at the site.
Risks: Low to none. Proper landscaping may be required to overcome objections to appearance of nonnative vegetation.

Regrading of slopes, creation of new salt marsh habitat
Slopes may be regraded to restore tidal flow to many areas that are now maintained as lawn.
Cost: High.
Chance of success: High--restoring tidal flow would ensure establishment of salt marsh plants.
Benefits: Moderate to high. Not too much area for expansion of intertidal areas.
Risks: Loss of areas of active recreation. New wetland areas may accumulate trash.


Bluff Park
Increase restoration area

Remove nonnative iceplant and replace with native vegetation east of current restored area. Restore isolated patches west of current restored area. Stabilize slopes.
Cost: Moderate.
Chance of success: Moderate to high.
Benefits: Moderate
Risks: Expand feral cat population. Maintenance required to prevent re-establishment of nonnative vegetation.

Control feral cat population

Use trapping, outreach to reduce feral cat population.
Cost: Low.
Chance of success: Low.
Benefits: High. Feral cats are a major threat to native wildlife.
Risks: Most effective control measures (e.g., trapping and killing) unacceptable to many people. Maintenance required to avoid re-establishment of feral cat populations.

The Beach
Improve tidal flushing by removing breakwater.
Cost: Very high
Chance of success: Moderate to high.
Benefits: Increased flushing will remove trash and reduce levels of harmful bacteria at the beach. Some wildlife may increase as well.
Risks: Unclear how much improvement can be expected. Some breakwater must be maintained for safety of the port.

Shoreline Park

Expand restored area into areas currently maintained as lawn or landscaped vegetation (e.g,. eastward and around the edge of the peninsula).
Cost: Low.
Chance of success: Moderate to high.
Benefits. Moderate. Very little native habitat currently exists at the site.
Risks: Loss of recreation areas. Increased vagrancy due to "unkempt" appearance of landscape. Possible increase in feral cat populations. Natural dynamic dune ecosystem unlikely to be created at this site.

Sims Pond
Increase public access
Safe access may be increased by opening gates and creating a trail, boardwalk, or viewing platform. Create interpetive materials.
Cost: Moderate to low.
Chance of success: High.
Benefits: Moderate. Access will probably always be restricted due to proximity of homeowners.
Risks: Increased disturbance of neighbors and wildlife. Increased dumping in the pond.

Golden Shores Preserve

CommunityWalk Map - Golden Shores Preserve

The Golden Shores Marine Biological Preserve was created as mitigation for wetlands destroyed elsewhere in the port area.


The Golden Shores Marine Biological Preserve, nestled between downtown and the port area on the Los Angeles River

The mouth of the Los Angeles River used to contain a great deal of wetlands, but nearly all of them have been destroyed--mostly in the construction of the port. [oldmap]

The wetland is right next to Catalina Landing, and is easily visited by the LB Transit Passport bus, or by the LA River bikepath. However, once you are there, access is restricted by ugly chainlink fences.



You must content yourself with gazing at the marsh from the shore. Bring binoculars to get the most out of your time here.


The stands of Spartina form little islands that rapidly accumulate peat--just one of the many critical functions of wetlands.

The wetland largely consists of salt grass (Distychlis spicata), with a few areas of pickelweed (Salicornia). In wetter areas along the main channel, taller cordgrasses grow (Spartina, presumably the native California cordgrass, S. foliosa). Even though Spartina plants grow closer to the ocean, they are in fact less salt tolerant than the salt grass and pickelweed that grow at higher elevations. This may seem backwards, but the further from the water, the saltier the environment. Tidal channels get flooded daily, so the water is never saltier than the ocean. In contrast, the higher elevation areas get inundated only during higher tides, so the salt gets concentrated until the next flooding flushes it out.


The taller cordgrasses grow in the wetter areas, where regular flushing keeps salinities low. Saltgrass and pickleweed can tolerate the higher salinities where flushing occurs less often.


Pickleweed (Salicornia)


In addition to the marsh habitat, the restoration includes some mudflat and open-water areas.


Mudflats at Golden Shore Preserve

These habitats might seem barren, but they are critical spawning grounds for fish, and provide excellent forage for waterfowl.

Despite the intense industry around the park, wildlife watching is pretty good here. Many birds, including herons, grebes, cormorants, and pelicans find plenty of fish to catch in the protected waters.


Pelicans taking off at Golden Shore Preserve

The rocky shoreline that surround the marsh were probably not considered part of the restoration, but you can find wildlife on these rocks as well:


Barnacles, mussels, and other organisms need hard surfaces (such as these rocks) for attachment.


This great basin fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis longipes) is only too happy to make a home among the shoreline rocks.


Across the mouth of the preserve is an unusual yellow floating tube, called a boom:


This boom manages to keep most of the floating trash and debris from entering and smothering the wetland. Unfortunately, it does not work during floods, and can do nothing to prevent incosiderate people from tossing trash over the fence (a major problem at this secluded park).

The upland areas of the park are landscaped and manicured. Unfortunately, the restoration seems to have stopped at the high-water line, and all the upland plants are nonnative horicultural shrubs--a wasted opportunity for native habitat restoration.


California encelia (Encelia californica), one of the few native plants I saw in the upland parts of the park.

Signs near the preserve provide some information about wetland ecology and wildlife:

Welcome

CommunityWalk Map - LBNA

This webpage is a guide to the natural areas of Long Beach, CA. It will eventually include surrounding communities, such as Lakewood and Signal Hill, creating a little box bounded by the 710, 605, 91, and the Pacific Ocean. In the future, I may expand beyond these boundaries to San Pedro and Seal Beach, or maybe further up the San Gabriel River.

Although Long Beach is densely urban, and as far as possible from the mountain wilderness escapes most Angelenos enjoy, there are quite a few places to enjoy nature within our city limits. Like a modern day Mesopotamia, Long Beach is nestled between two of the great rivers found in southern California: the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. These two rivers have sculpted and shaped our geography, which has given rise to diverse ecosystems. Habitats found in the City include salt marshes, coastal sage-scrub, oak woodlands, chaparral, freshwater marshes, ponds, streams, coastal bluffs, and (of course!) our wonderful--but much maligned--beach.

I will attempt to visit as many parks in Long Beach that contain significant natural areas, describe access, history, and things to look out for. In addition, I will describe the flora, fauna, geology, and ecosystems that make Long Beach what it is.

Note: This blog is a draft for a forth-coming online guide to the natural areas of Long Beach. It is not meant to be read linearly, so ignore the dates on the posts. "Old" posts will be updated frequently, I hope!


The map above shows the parks included in the guide (bright green markers). The photo and park name are linked to the page describing that park . (If you have problems, you can also navigate using the links in the side-bar, or the list at the bottom of the page.) Parks marked in lighter mint-green will eventually be included in the guide. Parks marked in red are limited access; most can be accessed by coordinating with environmental groups, like the Audubon Society's El Dorado Chapter.

If you know of a great spot I've missed, email me (raphaelmazor@yahoo.com) and let me know!


Natural areas in Long Beach

Parks (public access)

The Long Beach Greenbelt
DeForest Park
El Dorado Park
Colorado Lagoon
Long Beach City Beach
Bluff Park
Golden Shores Preserve
Marine Stadium Marine Reserve
Jack Dunster Marine Reserve
Shoreline Park
Rainbow Lagoon
DeForest Park
San Gabriel River Parkway (in Lakewood)
LA River Estuary (coming soon)
Domiguez Gap (coming soon)
Alamitos Bay/Naples Canals (coming soon)

Parks with limited access

Cha'wot Nature Preserve (Signal Hill)
Sims Pond Biological Reserve
Los Cerritos Wetlands (coming soon)

Natural history of Long Beach
Coming soon!

Flora and Fauna of Long Beach
Habitats of Long Beach
Geology of Long Beach

Learn more, do more
Things you can do to help
Environmental organizations in Long Beach
Restoration opportunities
References