Get ready for Coastal Cleanup Day 2007

Trash on our beautiful beach


Sunday, September 15, 2007 is California's Coastal Cleanup Day.

Why not devote half an hour to making Long Beach a more beautiful place? All you have to do is show up, and pick up trash you find along the beach.

Something is going on at nearly every stretch of the beach in Long Beach. In addition, there are inland sites along the Los Angeles River, and at the ponds in El Dorado Park. Remember: Trash anywhere on the strees in Long Beach will eventually wind up on the coast! So you can clean up the coast anywhere in the City. I'll post details about exact locations once they are known.

Coastal Cleanup Day is organized by the California Coastal Comission.

I participated in this event in 2006 at Alamitos Beach. So what did I think of it?

-Yes, it's kind of futile to think that one day of cleaning will have much of an impact. In fact, the beach didn't look any cleaner immediately after we finished.
-Some people don't quite get it. Some jerk dumped piles of moldy bread on the beach, and none of the volunteers thought it was littering until I pointed out to them that food on the beach attracts lots of rats.
-It's a great experience in self-education. There is FAR more litter on our beach than you might ever expect. And yes, it is all harmful to wildlife.
-It's a great public eductaion. If a man or woman sees hundreds of people cleaning up the beach, they may realize that the beach is something to value. Usually, people are ashamed to think someone else is cleaning up after them, and they will be more responsible with their own trash.
-They ask you to tally up all the pieces of trash you pick up. I think it's a waste of time and stupid. But for some people, it makes the task fun. I "guestimated" my numbers at the end. How many cigarette butts did you pick up? Eight billion?

By the way, they usually have awesome signs for the event. Last year's featured these cool wildlife cards:


The Cig-Egrett



The Spork Crab

Bluff Park

CommunityWalk Map - The Bluffs
Red area highlights restored coastal bluff areas. Restored areas include parts of Bluff Park, City Beach, grounds of the Museum of Art, and Bixby Park. Un-restored bluff extends several miles east. West of this area, the bluffs are largely built-over.

Most beach visitors keep their gaze on the ocean, with their backs to the land behind them. But in Long Beach, nature-watchers may want to turn around and take a look at the coastal bluffs form the spine of the beach.


Panorama of the bluffs

Even if beach-goers ignore the bluffs, they should be thankful for the solitude they provide. These bluffs provide something of a visual barrier that separates the dense urban development from the shore. Other beaches with bluffs, such as Laguna Beach, Point Dume, and Palos Verdes, are widely appreciated for their seclusion and peacefulness, in contrast to bluff-free beaches like Huntington or Venice, where civilization seems to run right up to the waves.

Geologically speaking, these bluffs are all raised sea terraces. In some areas of Los Angeles County, more than 20 distinct terraces can be identified. These terraces are typically ocean sediments that have consolidated into sandstone, which is raised from the water due to tectonic action. In nearby areas, fossilized organisms (such as fish, mollusks, whales) have been collected in marine terraces, such as Point Fermin on the Palos Verdes peninsula [ref]. I found no records of fossils unearthed from these bluffs in Long Beach, but perhaps it's only a matter of time before some turn up!

Most of the 2.5-mile bluff (ranging from ~Alamitos to the Belmont Pier) is dominated by non-native vegetation, such as iceplant, or by bare and eroding cliffs. However, a short stretch (0.2 mile) of bluff east of the Long Beach Museum of Art supports a diverse assemblage of native plants, typical of Southern California coastal bluffs. I do not know the history of this stretch--most likely it is the product of restoration efforts by the City of Long Beach. Another short restored area is found further east, near Redondo Boulevard. Perhaps more of the bluffs can be restored!

The restored areas are best appreciated from the top, in Bluff Park. The parts of the bluff closer to the beach are mostly (but not entirely) overrun by nonnative plants.


The bluffs in the foreground are dominated by one or two species of iceplant. Diversity is much higher in the restored area in the rear. Also, the more heterogeneous plant structure is better for wildlife.

Botanically speaking, these bluffs have much in common with coastal sage scrub communities, with few differences. Specialists, such as seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium), coastal goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii) and coastal liveforever (Dudleya caespitosa) are restricted to these habitats. Unfortunately, I did not encounter any of these rare specailists in the Long Beach bluffs.

Coastal bluff communities face a number of pressures from the natural environment. Plants here typically grow on shallow, nutrient-poor soils that hold little water. Winds are high, furthering dessication and stunting growth. Also, salts in the soil can inhibit many species.

Some of the plants of the Long Beach bluffs:


California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)


California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)


Southern California morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia)


Coastal prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis)


California encelia, or bush sunflower(Encilia californica)


Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea)

Apart from huge numbers of feral cats (see below), it's hard to observe wildlife at the bluffs. Hardly any of the small mammals, lizards, or birds one might expect to find can survive the intense predation from the cats. However, the more exposed parts of the bluff (which are avoided by cats) support nests for cliff swalls [pics forthcoming!]. In addition, the insect fauna is rich here, as these critters are little bothered by the felines.


A colorful species of buttefly in the blue family (Lycaenidae). A large number of these insects were attracted to this unidentified plant, a member of the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae). In addition, many species of native and nonnative bees, as well as colorful hoverflies are attracted to the blooming plants on the coastal bluff.


Threats

The coastal bluffs in Long Beach face a number of stresses. Development, of course, has erradicated the bluffs west of the Museum. Non-native species (especially the iceplants) completely displace other species and eliminates much of the natural biodiversity.

Some photos of nonnative plants at the bluffs:

Several kinds of iceplant:


Carpobrotus edulis

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum


Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)


Wild radish (Raphanus sativus)


Common geranium (Geranium dissectum)


Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

However, there are a number of additional threats in this area not as prevalent in other parks: erosion and feral cats.


Erosion is a natural process, in which the sandstone bluffs weather away from winds and rain. However, extensive trampling of the bluffs by people has exacerbated erosion to a terrible extent. Furthermore, the trampling elmiinates all vegetative cover (even the iceplants), so no plants are able to stabilize the soils on the bluffs. The resulting damage is costly and threatens safety of vehicles and pedestrians on Ocean Boulevard. Furthermore, the eroded sediment carries nutrients and toxins into the ocean, further harming water quality.


Two members of the bluff's large cat colony

A huge number of cats live in the bluffs of Long Beach. Although they seem to be more common in the shrubs of the restored area, they can be found throughout the entire length of the bluffs. The cats undoubtedly thrive off of the trash and detritus left by careless beachgoers. However, the population is further buoyed by well-intentioned individuals who provide them with food year round.


Food purposefully left out for the cat colony
The huge cat population creates a number of environmental problems. They produce large amounts of waste, which is a health hazard and another source of pollution in the ocean. Furthermore, stray cats have decimated populations of native birds and mammals. It is no wonder that the Long Beach bluffs are devoid of some of the fauna you might expect in this habitat (e.g., ground squirrels, birds, lizards).


A trap for the cats
Efforts to control the population have been controversial, as few people support outright erradication. Stray cats are generally unsuitable for adoption (unless they are caught as kittens). Sterilization is expensive, time-consuming, and often fail.


Partial list of flora
California encelia (Asteraceae: Encelia californica)
Mulefat (Asteraceae: Baccharis salicifolia)
Yellow star thistle (non-native) (Asteraceae: Centaurea solstitialis)
Bladderpod (Capparaceae: Isomeris aroborea)
California buckwheat (Polygonaceae: Eriogonum fasciculatum)
Coastal prickly pear (Cactaceae: Opuntia littoralis)
Australian saltbush (nonnative): (Chenopodaceae: Atriplex semibaccata)
California poppy (Papaveraceae): Eschscholzia californica)
Crystaline iceplant (non-native): (Azioaceae: Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
Sea fig (non-native) (Azioaceae: Carpobrotus edulis and C. chilensis)
Slender-leaved ice plant (non-native) (Azioaceae: Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum)
Mustard (non-native) (Brassicaceae: Brassica rapa)
Wild radish (non-native) (Brassicaceae: Raphanus sativus)
Common geranium (non-native) (Geraniaceae: Geranium dissectum)
Tree tobacco (non-native) (Solanaceae: Nicotiana glauca)


Partial list of fauna
Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Pigeons (Columba livia)
Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Feral cats (Felis domesticus)

This park is accessible by the Beach bikepath, by the Passport (A and D), and by the 21, 22, and 23 bus routes.

The Beach

CommunityWalk Map - The Beach

The Beach!



The singular most important feature of Long Beach--it's what gives the City its name!




Our beach is indeed long (5 miles?). And sadly, it receives little love from many residents of Long Beach who view it as trashed, dirty, or just not fun.

I wish I could say that all our beach-haters were blowing smoke. But they are justified in complaining about our beach. Recent water quality tests indicated that water quality was very poor here. However, our beach fared better in previous years, so hopefully this is a temporary downturn.

Other factors conspire to make our beach among the least loved, most polluted in southern California. Fed by both the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, all the trash and litter from millions of Los Angeles and Orange County residents washes into our harbor. The breakwater that keeps our port safe for large cargo ships prevents the normal oceanic flushing that would remove most of this trash, which consequently ends up on our shores. Adding insult to injury, this breakwater eliminates the wave action that is necessary for that quintessential California beach activity: surfing. The environmental group Surfrider (which has a Long Beach chapter) is actively campaigning to have part of this breakwater removed. All these factors, combined with the unsettling sites of offshore oil rigs and huge cargo boats plying our harbor makes our beach an offputting destination for many people.


Off-shore oil rigs are decorated to make these artificial islands look like fantasy-cities

It's a shame. Despite all these factors, The Beach remains one of the best destinations for recreation, as well as for natural history. And a side bonus is that you get a lot more solitude and privacy in Long Beach than you would at, say, Huntington Beach. Less people-watching means better bird-watching, in general.

The most conspicuous wildlife to observe at the beach are the seabirds. Gulls (family Laridae) are usually the most obvious birds, as they are loud and fearless animals, allowing people to get very close. There are many species in southern California, and each species has many different appearances (depending on age, sex, and season), making identification extremely difficult! In general, it helps to notice things like the color of the beak, feet, eyes, and eye-rings. This flock shows the diversity of shapes, colors, and sizes of our gulls:


Flock of seagulls


Heerman's gull (Larus heermanni), juvenile

Heerman's gull (Larus heermanni), adult

Terns are another common sighting at the beach. These are smaller and more gracefull than our gulls. In Long Beach, you can find several species, including elegant and Caspian terns. In the summer of 2006, a tern colony on an abandoned barge--the northernmost tern colony in the world--was destroyed by using a high-pressure water hose. Hundreds of dying fledglings washed ashore. The International Bird Rescue Research Center attempted to save some of these protected birds, but only a small fraction survived. Criminal prosecution against the barge operatore and crew may be underway.

On quieter portions of the beach, such as the peninsula, you may see other shorebirds that are less tolerant of noise and disturbance.


A small group of willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)


Pelicans are another common site from the beach. These large and awkward-looking birds show surprising speed and agility when they nose-dive into the water to catch fish. More often, they are seen slowly gliding in small groups, looking like miniature pterodactyls. Two species are found here--the white (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and the brown (P. occidentalis). Both are protected by federal law. Recently, several of these birds were found mutilated (their pouches slit open) in Orange County in 2006. The perpetrators were never found, but the prevailing assumption is that they were fishermen concerned about competition.

In addition, grebes, cormorants, and sea-ducks (like surf scoters and mergansers) are commonly seen swimming off shore.


If you go to Belmont Memorial Pier at night, you are bound to encounter another fascinating creature:

A juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax).

Of course you may see them during the day as well:

A juvenile black-crowned night heron

These birds are presumably attracted to the bait left behind by fishermen on the pier. At night, you can hear them make their bizarre calls.
These birds

In addition to birds, you may be lucky enough to see California sea lions (Zalophus californianus, common short-beaked (Delphinus delphis) and long-beakd (D. capensis) dolphins, or bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) swimming offshore, although all of these are rare occasions, especially within the breakwater of Long Beach. Sometimes, large fish like barracuda will jump above the surface of the water near shore. So keep your eyes peeled!

On even rarer occasions, you may even see a whale. A dead whale washed ashore just a few miles downshore on March 23, 2007 [ref].

A stroll down the beach will invariably yield some fascinating sea-wrack and other interesting gifts from the sea (as well as a distressing quantity of garbage). Some things you are likely to encounter are seaweeds.


Brown algae (Phaeophyta)


Red algae (Rhodophyta)


Green algae (Chlorophyta)


Kelp is one of the most conspicuous and massive seaweeds that wash ashore:



Kelp is a brown algae, and is one of the fastest growing organisms on the planet (growing over 1 foot a day during the summer). Large kelp bounds are found off-shore near the Palos Verdes peninsula and around Catalina Island, forming submarine forests that support nurseries of game fish, as well as marine mammals.


Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a common species of the California kelp forests.

Need ID (Need ID)


Gas-filled bladders help kelp remain upright in the water and grow towards the sun:



Kelp live in very turbulent oceans, which would tear most plants to shreds. Kelp, though, is made of extremely tough, yet flexible material which is almost impossible to tear.



Furthermore, they are cemented to hard surfaces by their holdfasts:



More often than not, the plant can withstand far more abuse than the rock to which it is attached. In the photo below, the disoldged plant tore off parts of the bedrock with it when it was uprooted.


A kelp holdfast. This one shows coloinzation by other organisms, such as the coralline algae (the red, feathery structures) and by a colonial bryozoan, the white, encrusting growth at the bottom of the holdfast.

If you poke around the blades of the seaweeds, you are likely to encounter all sorts of wildlife, like small crabs, shrimp, worms, and who knows what else!

Many transit lines take you to the beach, as do all the major bikepaths. For bus service, take the Passport (A and D), #21, 22, 23, or 131.