Sahagún, L. (2023, May 30). Judge orders halt to Ballona wetlands restoration project. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-05-30/judge-orders-halt-to-ballona-wetlands-restoration-project

On May 17th, Judge James c. Chalfant ordered the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s plan to introduce tidal flows into the Ballona Creek wetlands to stop immediately. Judge Chalfant sided with opponents to the project, who argued that the states plan to send in machinery to dig out dirt on site to create levees that would protect the area from Pacific Ocean tides could actually harm the native species. If the wetlands were to be flooded by the Pacific Ocean’s rising tides, wildlife that rely on seasonal rains and brackish water could be wiped out.

This article is related to environmental science because it discusses a habitat and the animals who live there that are under threat. It touches on the challenges environmental projects often face with the courts and how restoration groups have to pivot. This was a really interesting article to me, because it highlighted a split between two camps in the conservation field. One camp was the state government, who proposed a large-scale plan that would undoubtedly sacrifice many animals as construction was underway. On the other side, you have grassroots activists who opposed the state’s plan, and urged for a more gentle approach to the delicate wetlands. It seems as though the state’s plan is for the greater good, but these activists are hung up on the lives that will probably be taken to finish the project. It makes me wonder what precautions the state can take to have the least amount of casualties possible, if that is even possible. It also makes me wonder if there are different approaches entirely to the threat of flooding Ballona Creek. Are mangroves a part of the natural landscape? And if so, could those be restored to fight flooding? I wonder if the two groups have been able to reconcile since the article was posted. This was a really captivating article, as it forced me to think about the potential drawbacks of habitat restorations and how the government handles them.