CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION SET TO VOTE ON LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS EL SEGUNDO DUNES AREA REHABILITATION PERMIT APPLICATION

(Los Angeles, California – January 9, 2013)  The California Coastal Commission is scheduled to vote on Los Angeles World Airports‘ (LAWA’s) application for a permit to improve the visual appearance of and plant native vegetation in a portion of the former residential subdivision in the ecologically important El Segundo Dunes area west of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 

The hearing where the application will be reviewed will be held on January 10 in the City of Pismo Beach’s Veteran’s Memorial Hall, located at 780 Bello Street, Pismo Beach.  The Commission meeting gets underway at 9 a.m.

The Dunes Improvement Project includes the removal of selected abandoned streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, retaining walls, foundations, and above-ground utilities, in an approximately four-acre area.  It also proposes the repair of curb and gutter along Vista Del Mar, and a reduction of non-native invasive plants and the planting of approximately six acres of native coastal dune and coastal prairie vegetation spread out within a 48-acre area that was formerly a residential subdivision, and is generally bordered by Waterview Street, Rindge Avenue and Napoleon Street on the north, Pershing Drive on the east, Sandpiper Street on the south and Vista Del Mar on the west.

“If LAWA’s application is approved, then we anticipate requesting our Board of Airport Commissioners on February 19 to give us authorization to put the work out to bid,” said Michael Feldman, LAWA’s deputy executive director for Facilities Management.  

The project is phased to include removal of the most visually intrusive remnants, but not all of the prior residential structures; removal of non-native plants; and landscaping with native vegetation.  The replanting will be done in the right season for the native plants. Once construction gets underway, the project is expected to take approximately eight months to complete.

When completed, LAWA will monitor the site for a period of time, and conduct regular weed abatement, sand stabilization, and erosion control as needed.

Given the location of the work, there will be minimum noise and traffic impacts to neighboring residential areas.  Minor traffic impacts may affect Vista del Mar during the replacement of curbs along the east side of the street.

The LAX Master Plan Stipulated Settlement Agreement established a specific budget of up to $3 million for aesthetic improvements to the dunes area.  Hence, LAWA’s current total project budget is $3 million for all planning, design, permits, monitoring and construction expenses.

During the early 20^th Century, the El Segundo Dunes – along with other dune systems nearby – were seriously threatened by coastal development.  As coastal land began to be cleared for housing tracts, non-native plants were introduced, choking out native species.  By the late 1950s, most of the dunes had vanished, along with their native plants and animals.  Although the native habitat preserved at LAX comprises less than two percent of the original El Segundo Dunes, it is the largest remaining coastal dune fragment in Southern California.