LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS TO WORK WITH SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY TO KEEP LAX DUNES HABITAT HEALTHY

(Los Angeles, California – January 10, 2017)  Demonstrating its continued commitment to environmental stewardship, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) today approved a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Authority (SMBRA) to continue habitat maintenance and restoration efforts in a 48-acre northern portion of the LAX Dunes.

“A big part of our mission is to protect our environment,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners Vice President Valeria Velasco.  “The LAX Dunes nature preserve is a local treasure, and we’re excited to have the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Authority by our side to protect and restore it.”

“Los Angeles World Airports is excited to work with the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Authority to strengthen and preserve the LAX Dunes ecosystem for future generations,” said Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “Together, we are committed to preserving this precious natural habitat, which is home to the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly and many other unique plant and animal species.”

"Restoring the LAX Dunes is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  LAWA’s care of this valuable ecosystem has given rare dune species a chance to thrive, and we are thrilled to be an active partner in this important habitat restoration project,” said Tom Ford, Executive Officer of the SMBRA.  “We look forward to expanding our current efforts through more frequent volunteer restoration days, as well as encouraging community members and students to learn and actively participate in restoring the health of a habitat all but lost in Southern California.”

The MOU follows the ongoing efforts of both LAWA and non-profit volunteer groups to restore the habitat for plant and wildlife species.  The MOU will support increased activity on the site allowing for greater community involvement and an expansion of restoration efforts.  Removing invasive plants is important to the restoration of the dunes.  LAWA and the SMBRA will continue to host monthly volunteer events on the first Saturday of every month.  In 2016, 467 volunteers weeded and dispersed seeds throughout 17 events.

SMBRA will also provide a variety of other services to accomplish maintenance and restoration objectives in conformance with conditions set forth by the California Coastal Commission (CCC), as part of LAWA’s 2013 permit to remove former roads, driveways, and other hardscape in the area.  LAWA removed over 32,000 square feet of abandoned streets, curbs, gutters and utilities associated with the dunes’ past history as a residential area.  These areas were replaced with graded soil to provide permeable areas for seeding native plants. 

Additionally, SMBRA will advise LAWA’s Maintenance Services Division on grass control and tree-removal methods.  SMBRA will also prepare the initial and subsequent monitoring reports on the progress of habitat restoration for the CCC during the term of the MOU on behalf of LAWA. 

The LAX Dunes Preserve is the largest remaining coastal dune area in Southern California. The 308-acre preserve also supports the 203-acre El Segundo Blue Butterfly Habitat Restoration Area, which is south of the MOU-affected area. 

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third in the United States.  LAX served more than 74.9 million passengers in 2015.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in

the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.1 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 655,564 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2015. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor

income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

            LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.