2 newportbeachindy . com JANUARY 6 , 2023
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ing our coasts .” Worldwide , they list chapters in South America , Europe , Asia , Africa and Oceania .
With its 1,100 miles of coastline , California “ leads the country in coastal management ,” a recent Surfrider report claims . The state received a “ Beach Grade ” of A , due to “ excellent policies and implementation focusing on sediment management , coastal armoring , development control and sea level rise .”
Another well-known monitoring and activist group , “ Heal the Bay ,” headquartered in Santa Monica , listed 51 out of 500 daily-monitored beaches and watersheds in the state to its Honor Roll , up from 35 last year . Locally , both Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove made the cut .
To earn a spot on the Honor Roll , a beach must be monitored weekly all year and must receive an A + for all seasons and weather conditions .
It ’ s no accident that Newport Beach ’ s beaches are A + rated . Credit can be given not only to environmentally sensitive and beach proud residents , but to the city ’ s five-member quality control team led by Senior Engineer John Kappeler . “ We test 35 spots in the bay and ocean once a week for bacteria ,” said Kappeler , adding that “ Our current focus is on keeping trash and debris out of our waters . The back area of the harbor doesn ’ t get as much flushing as the open areas , but the next phase of dredging beginning in March will help that .”
Up to 850,000 cubic yards of silt will be removed .
The Upper Bay is an ecological preserve , with “ lots of native stuff out there ,” Kappeler observed . “ Trampling on the foliage does more harm than good .”
It ’ s a challenge to keep debris out . To that end , there are interceptor traps set above the Upper Bay to capture as much waste as possible . At the Newport Aquatic Center , a boom is set to ensnare trash and debris — up to 70-80 tons annually . Kappeler is quick to mention that much of the debris is wet vegetation along with plastic bottles , thus adding to the tonnage .
“ About 700 tons of debris yearly flows down the Santa Ana River to pollute ocean and beaches alike ,” he said . Most debris pollution in Newport occurs on the city ’ s western beaches .
Not all control efforts are visible . “ Throughout the city , we have things called CDS units that are buried underground in storm drains that capture trash , up to 20-30 tons annually ,” Kappeler shared .
Depending on their size , they are cleaned out either quarterly or twice a year . Trash is then trucked to the Newport ’ s maintenance yard , dried out , then delivered to a landfill . Cost for each unit ranges between $ 250,000 and $ 1 million .
Like the submarine branch of our Navy , Kappeler and his maintenanceand Eco- surveillance team are truly a “ silent service .”
Yet their environmental efforts scream loudly in helping to keep Newport Beach the clean and beautiful city it is .
Environmental Nature Center Re-Opens Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach expanded its footprint when it acquired the 12-acre Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon in 2021 . ENC made upgrades to the facility , including installing ADA compliant restrooms and restoring the historic Tucker Residence .
Last year they hired staff , ran Summer Nature Camps over the summer , developed curricula for school and scout programs , and started running field trips for school groups and scout troops .
Habitat restoration started with removal of numerous non-native plants . Some locally native , wildlife friendly plants have been planted and many more will join them this fall .
Now , the ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . ENC members can visit in the afternoon on weekdays . The property includes a natural history museum , trails , and bird observation deck .
The Sanctuary is located at 29322 Modjeska Canyon Road in Modjeska Canyon .
According to information from ENC , Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary began in 1929 when Benjamin and Dorothy Tucker welcomed visitors to their bird observation deck in the Santa Ana Mountains . This site was dedicated as a wildlife sanctuary by the Tucker Family in 1939 and deeded to California Audubon as a memorial for Dorothy .
From 1968 to 2021 the property was managed by California State University , Fullerton ( CSUF ). In 2021 , CSUF sold the property to the Environmental Nature Center after a selection process led by the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society ( formerly California Audubon ).
“ We are committed to Benjamin and Dorothy Tucker ’ s legacy . The Tuckers wanted their property to be conserved as a wild bird sanctuary , refuge and preserve , and that is how we will manage it .,” said Bo Glover , Executive Director
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