Ballona Wetlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve |
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| Location | Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Area | 577 acres (234 ha) |
| Operator | California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (say it: "Bah-yo-nuh" or "Buy-yo-nah") is a special protected area in Los Angeles County, California. It used to be the natural mouth of the Ballona Creek where the creek met the ocean. This reserve covers about 577-acre (2.34 km2) of land. It is located just south of Marina del Rey.
Ballona is the second-largest open space in Los Angeles city limits, after Griffith Park. The state of California owns it, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages it. The Ballona Creek channel runs through the middle of the reserve. The 90 Marina freeway is to its east.
The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is one of the last important wetlands left in Los Angeles County. Wetlands are areas that are often flooded and have special plants. Ballona is a delicate bog that gets water from both fresh and salt sources. Wetlands are full of life and are some of the most productive places on Earth.
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Exploring the Ballona Wetlands
The original Ballona Wetlands were much larger, likely between 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) and 2,100 acres (8.5 km2). Today, the wetlands are divided into five main types of areas. These include saltwater marsh, freshwater marsh, creek areas, sand dunes, and bluffs.
Different kinds of natural homes, called habitats, are found here. These include coastal grasslands, willow forests, coastal shrublands, salty pools, and even small ponds that appear only at certain times of the year.
The Ballona Creek is not just a natural river mouth; it also helps control floods. In the late 1950s, a harbor called Marina del Rey was built. This added 700 acres (2.8 km2) of urbanized water to the area.
East of the wetlands, land was used for farming in the early 1900s. Much of this farmland became the private Hughes Airport. Some fields were still farmed until the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the Hughes Airport land was developed into a neighborhood called Playa Vista.
Protecting the Land
The remaining open space of what was once a huge area called Rancho la Ballona has been fought over for many years. Developers wanted to build on it, but environmental groups wanted to protect it.
About Eighty-three acres (340,000 m2) of wetland were bought by the state. This land was once owned by Howard Hughes and later by developers of Playa Vista. Many environmental lawsuits and the state's purchase of land have helped protect almost all the open space west of Lincoln Boulevard. This includes all the remaining tidal wetlands.
Ballona Freshwater Marsh
The Ballona Freshwater Marsh (BFM) is a 26.1-acre (106,000 m2) marsh. It gets its water from nearby Bluff Creek. This marsh was built in 2003 by the company that developed the Playa Vista neighborhood next to it.
Before the marsh was built, the land was a neglected celery field. About 50 bird species lived there. The new Freshwater Marsh has been very successful. It provides a rich natural home for animals and allows people to visit. Now, about 250 species of birds have been seen at the Freshwater Marsh.
Wetlands Sections
For planning and study, the Ballona Wetlands are usually divided into four sections:
- Area A: This is west of Lincoln Boulevard and north of the creek.
- Area B: This is west of Lincoln Boulevard and south of the creek.
- Area C: This is east of Lincoln Boulevard, north of the creek, and west of the Marina Freeway.
- Area D: This includes the Playa Vista neighborhood and the Bluff Creek area.
Wildlife and Plants
Wetlands are very important for nature. They are not just for birds. They are also like nurseries for fish. They help filter water and air. They allow groundwater to refill underground water sources. And they act as buffer zones, protecting homes from floods.
Many native plants grow in the wetlands. These include pickleweed, alkali heath, saltgrass, and glasswort. You can also find upland plants like coyote bush and goldenbush.
Some plants that are not native to the area have also grown here. These include crown daisy, Canary Island palm, ice plant, and wild mustard.
Volunteers from the Friends of Ballona Wetlands have helped restore eight acres of sand dune habitat.
A rare native plant called Orcutt's yellow pincushion was found at Ballona in 2010. This plant only grows in the coastal sand dunes of southern California.
Amazing Birds of Ballona
The Audubon Society recognizes Ballona as an Important Birding Area. Nearly 260 bird species have been seen at the Ballona freshwater marsh alone. If you include the wetlands, nearby bluffs, parks, and neighborhoods, the total bird count for the area is 320 species.
The Ballona Wetlands and nearby lagoons are a resting stop for birds on the Pacific Flyway. This is a major path that birds use to migrate (travel) between North and South America. Birds stop in wetlands to rest and find food. Saltwater flooding brings a lot of food for both shorebirds and land birds. About 90 percent of wetlands in Los Angeles County have been destroyed. This means there are fewer places for migrating birds to stop.
Birdwatchers often see red-throated loons, herons, tree swallows, and hummingbirds at the marsh. Red-tailed hawks are also common. You might also spot green herons, great blue herons, and snowy egrets. Shorebirds come to eat clams, snails, crabs, worms, and shrimp.
Sometimes, rare birds for the area visit Ballona. These can include surfbirds, wandering tattlers, black oystercatchers, and pelicans. Even a bald eagle visited in the winter of 1977-78! More common birds you'll see are plovers, willets, sanderlings, and curlews.
Special bird species found here include nesting pairs of Belding's Savannah sparrows and California least terns.
Other Wildlife
The wetlands and waterways are home to many insects, including a dozen types of dragonfly and several kinds of damselflies. Five types of bumblebees have been seen, including Crotch's bumblebee, which needs special protection.
Several reptile species live here, such as the San Diego legless lizard and a group of Southern Pacific rattlesnakes. In the 1990s, red foxes that had been introduced were moved away. Now, coyotes are often seen in the wetlands and surrounding areas.
History of Ballona Wetlands
During construction at the Playa Vista site, artifacts and ancient human remains from the Tongva people were found. The Tongva people considered the Ballona Wetlands sacred. They lived near the wetlands, ate fish from its waters, and hunted rabbits. They used plants like pickleweed for medicine and buried their dead there.
The name Ballona has an unclear origin.
In 1911, a California newspaper shared some history about the area: The ocean front of La Ballona Rancho was known as Ballona Slough. It had marshy fields, sand dunes, and saltwater lagoons. People thought it was only good for ducks and other game birds. In 1870, a man named William Tell built a shack and called it Tell's Lookout. He offered boats, guns, and fishing gear. In 1877, Michael Duffy opened Hunter's Cottage in the same spot.
An "old-timer" who remembered the area from 1876 to 1890 said there were few trees. From the hills, you could see the ocean waves over the sand dunes at Playa Del Rey, which was then called William Tell's Lake.
A history of Santa Monica mentioned that duck shooting and boating on the Ballona laguna were popular. Spanish games were held in the spring when a channel was cut to let water flow from the laguna to the ocean.
In 1887, the wetlands were important because of plans for Port Ballona. The "great marsh of Ballona" was seen as a resource for people in Santa Monica. People collected seaweeds and sold them. Birds like egrets and herons were used to make screens and fans. The marsh also had many wild ducks.
People hunted ducks in the marsh until at least 1910. Hunters especially liked the green-winged teal ducks. By 1921, Ballona Creek ended about a mile from the ocean. The wetlands absorbed much of the water, and sand dunes likely blocked access to the open ocean.
In 1940, Howard Hughes bought the land for his airport. In 1976, a resident described the wetland: "The land, owned by Howard Hughes' Summa corporation, has 'No trespassing' signs. But field mice, jackrabbits, dogs, cats, horseback riders, bird watchers, and students roam freely." She saw great blue herons and was amazed that birds could find wilderness in Los Angeles.
Around 1979, the salt marshes were a point of conflict between developers and environmentalists. Schoolgirls rode horses there, and children learned about ecology.
In 1995, as the Playa Vista development began, the L.A. Times explained the wetlands' history. The Ballona Wetlands are what's left of 1800 acres of marsh. Building Ballona Creek in the 1930s and Marina del Rey in the 1960s greatly changed the wetlands.
Restoring the Wetlands
A big plan to restore the Ballona Reserve started in 2004. In December 2020, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the plan. However, in May 2023, a judge ordered the approval to be canceled. The department is now revising the plan. They hope to have a new draft ready for public comments by Spring 2025. If all goes well, they hope to start the project in 2026.
The restoration project aims to increase coastal wetlands by about 200 acres (0.81 km2). It will also change the Ballona Creek levees (walls) to allow for sea-level rise. The creek channel will be reshaped to be more natural, and tidal water flow into the reserve will be improved.
The plan also includes new bridges, a scenic viewing deck, 3.6 miles (5.8 km) of bike and walk trails, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of pedestrian-only paths, and a boardwalk. There will also be educational signs and more parking.
Under the plan, the Southern California Gas Company will close 16 old oil wells. They will also remove roads and other structures from that time.
There is still disagreement about the restoration projects. A professor from UCLA said in 2020 that Ballona shows two different ways of thinking about nature. One idea is to leave nature alone because humans have already interfered enough. The other idea is that humans should use their knowledge to restore nature.
Groups that support the plan include the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Friends of the Ballona Wetlands, Heal the Bay, and SoCal Gas. Groups that are against it include the Los Angeles Audubon Society and the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust.
Visiting Ballona Wetlands
Even though major roads are nearby, the wetlands are worth visiting. You can imagine what the area once was and what it could become. One writer noted that despite the traffic noise, just a few feet away is a world of plants, wildlife, and bird songs.
You can see parts of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve from the Ballona Creek Bike Path.
- Ballona Freshwater Marsh
You can visit the Ballona Freshwater Marsh during daylight hours. There is a .75-mile (1.21 km) walking path along Jefferson and Lincoln Boulevards. Parking is available along Jefferson, but it can be busy. More parking is often found near Ballona Discovery Park. You can also get there by Big Blue Bus line 3 and 
Metro bus line 115.
- Ballona Saltwater Marsh
The Ballona Saltwater Marsh is closed to the public. However, the Friends of Ballona Wetlands offer regular guided tours. The Audubon Society also hosts monthly bird walks. These tours start from an entrance in Playa Del Rey.
Tours often stop at a viewing deck built on an old train track area. You can reach this area by Metro bus route 115. Limited parking is available behind Gordon's Market.
- Area A
Area A can be reached from Fiji Way, across from Fisherman's Village in Marina Del Rey. You can also enter from the Ballona Creek Bike Path. Area A is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays. Culver CityBus route 7 serves this location. There is a dedicated parking lot for cars and bike racks along the path.
- Ballona Discovery Park
Ballona Discovery Park (1.7 acres) is not part of the state reserve. It is across the street, next to Bluff Creek, within the Playa Vista development. It opened in 2011 as an outdoor museum. Native plants and bird feeders attract wildlife. A model kiiy (a traditional Tongva boat) and signs teach visitors about the Tongva native people. The address is 13110 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista 90094.
