This is environmental and heritage on a local level today.  It should be a sound that resonates globally though.  The local area I am talking about is in my back yard – Bolsa Chica Wetlands about 2 miles from me.  There are not many remaining wetlands in southern California and this one has a long history of many battles.

The battles are environmental preservation and lost heritage preservation.  Some small gains in environmental have been won over the years. 
•    Areas of the wetlands are preserved
•    The water flow was reopened to allow the wetlands regain its natural environment

The Battle of Bolsa Chica that I am talking about now is the battle that has been 8000 years in the making a rages quietly in the background of society today.  The remains of this ancient culture and the people who thrived here no longer have their resting place.  The resting place that has been home for 8000 years.  The battle has waged for decades with the final blow coming when the bulldozers rolled in on a misty winter morning a few years ago.  The victory was the wetlands and the ocean reclaiming its long obstructed waterways.

About 100 years ago the ocean was blocked.  This was to dry part of the wetlands out and have a smaller lagoon for ducks.  A large hunting lodge was built so hunters had a nice place to duck hunt locally.  As time passed the lodge was torn down and developers began developing homes around the farmlands.

A small-dedicated group that wanted to preserve this area saved the Bolsa Chica wetlands from development.  Southern California is part of what is called the Pacific fly way.  Migratory birds use it and the wetlands are a crucial stopping place for many of the birds on their long trecherous journey.

That brings us to the Battle of Bolsa Chica.  Developers have owned the bluffs that surround the wetlands for many years.  Part of the bluffs was developed and these developers in turn paid for part of the restoration of the wetlands to their original state.

During development an ancient and sacred burial ground was unearthed.  There has been a long battle to get the remains returned and part of the land for a proper burial ground and hopefully a center about these local people, culture and history.

The Battle of Bolsa Chica is at a crucial point.  This battle while not with guns and horses it is in the halls of Huntington Beach and the Coastal Commission.  This Battle at Bolsa Chica is every bit as important to our history as any other battle that has been fought.