Bolsa Chica Conservancy

Inspire and connect all generations through community involvement and leadership in hands-on restoration and education in wetland science, coastal ecology and environmental conservation.

Since 1990, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy has played an important role in restoring native habitat at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, which, at more than 1,400 acres, is the largest remaining saltwater marsh in Southern California. The Conservancy provides science-based educational programs designed to promote public awareness of the important role wetlands, watersheds and coastal resources play in the health of our local environment.  More than 600,000 students, volunteers and visitors from across Southern California and around the world have participated in the BCC’s education and habitat restoration programs since inception.  These programs feature immersive outdoor education and hands-on field activities that allow participants to connect theory with real-life science. For nearly three decades, these operations have been conducted from two double-wide trailers at the northwest corner of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. In 2021 this 1,400 square foot space was updated with new building to showcase visitor information, exhibits and educational displays, a classroom, laboratory, and administrative offices. If you haven't been by to experience the new exhibits and layout, come visit! Each year, the center attracts an increasing number of visitors and students from across the globe. Unfortunately, some of the visitors that come don't understand the ecological importance of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and cause damage both intentionally and unintentionally.

The Bolsa Chica works every year to achieve the following goals: 1.)  Serve more than 29,000 students, volunteers and visitors at the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center 2.)  Remove nearly 20,000 pounds of non-native species from sensitive habitat 3.)  Achieve 70% native plant cover within a 10-acre restoration project site within Harriett Wieder Regional Park (started with 1% native cover) 4.)  Remove freeway iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis) from 16-ac of coastal strand habitat on Rabbit Island, and constructe five nesting rafts for the endangered Ridgway's rail 5). Provide outreach with our mobile marine van for the WOW (Wetlands On Wheels) program to reach students in Title I districts and disadvantaged communities without access to the coast.

With more people and families seeking solace in outdoor parks and trails and developing an interest in outdoor recreation, there comes an innate use and damage to natural spaces from those that don't recreate responsibly. Everything from graffiti to littering, and walking dogs off leash, going off trail to take social media pictures in patches of wild flowers, or causing noise and disturbance to wildlife. Some damages had good intentions, others were simply careless or disrespectful. The need now to effectively connect with our community, to grow an understanding for the value of these open spaces, and to inspire and cultivate pride in their conservation is now at a critical point.

Top Most Pressing Needs: 1.) Continue to maintain and update the exhibits and programs provided at our current Interpretive Center 2.) Increase funds to revamp the Conservancy's Wetlands On Wheels (WOW) program, and provide a whole new experience that takes social distancing into consideration 3.) Assistance in further developing staff capabilities and board engagement. 4.) Create a plan to build a permanent interpretive center that could house expanded program offerings and staffing. 5.) Develop more community engagement and involvement with our habitat restoration and citizen science programs so our visitors can help us in our mission and we can cover more ground.

While the Conservancy is located in north Orange County, it serves people of all ages from across the United States and the world.  Students, visitors and volunteers from the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside comprise the lion's share of our clients.

Environmental science and ecology face challenges that need public attention, such as emerging infectious diseases, climate changes, habitat destruction, and invasive species. Increased public knowledge of conservation biology requires an informed public and one of the most effective ways to educate the public is to start with students. The Bolsa Chica Conservancy's programs focus on coastal wetlands, habitats that provide key ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, nursery habitat for aquatic animals, and runoff filtration (Mitsch and Gosselink, 1993). Yet the loss of coastal wetlands and their associated services during the past century has been extensive. In California, less than 10% of historical distributions remain intact (Dahl, 1990; MacDonald et al, 1990), making remaining wetland parcels incredibly important.
 
 A key element to protecting these remnant wetlands is educating the general public and youth about human impacts to wetlands; about the importance of these habitats; and about the role of youth as stewards of our fragile ecosystems. Only 41% of students understand what a watershed is (Shepardson et al., 2007) and 71% of students tested had misconceptions of watershed hydrology and did not know anything about the biology of watershed systems. There is a substantial need to educate the general public about watersheds and interactions between water, microbiota and macrobiota in the environment.
 
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is at the intersection of providing programs designed to increase understanding of the science behind coastal resources such as the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and their role in preserving it. 

At more than 1,400 acres, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay and the Tijuana River Estuary. It is an ideal location for scientific exploration and discovery where youth and the community may actively participate and learn about our local coastal resources and their connections to it.

The Bolsa Chica Conservancy (BCC) is a 501 (c) (3) private non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, established in 1990 by the Bolsa Chica Planning Coalition consisting of representatives from the State of California, County of Orange, City of Huntington Beach, the landowner Signal Landmark, and an environmental citizens group called the Amigos de Bolsa Chica.  The BCC operates the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center located in the north end of the ecological reserve in Huntington Beach, CA. The Interpretive Center is a focal point for environmental planning, educationand information on the wetlands. The volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of 25 directors with various professional in science, business and education.  By design, our board has representation from all facets of the community to become an effective public-private partnership.  Working with a talented and dedicated board is fulfilling by itself. Over the last 27 years, we have grown as an organization, serving more than 500,000 people.  In 2016, we served 49,000 students, visitors and volunteers.  The support from the community has been astounding.  Our primary challenge is to continue to improve as an organization so we can increase our capacity to meet program demand, and lay the ground work to improve our marketing and development needs to raise capital to build a new facility to better serve the public. My passion is education and youth development.  The Bolsa Chica Conservancy gives me the opportunity to support and participate in programs that address these two areas of interest.