Summer Activities!

Check out the new FOCL Event Flier showing events the end of the year! Pay special attention to the Science Shack Summer event that will occur every Saturday and Sunday starting July 7th and ending September 2nd. More information to come....

Friends of Colorado Lagoon have a couple of events this Saturday June 9th 2012:

Estuary Exploration from 8am-10am

and then, right after,

Habitat Restoration from 10am-Noon

Join the Lagoon education and restoration team to help fix and explore the Colorado Lagoon!
Email: Education@ColoradoLagoon.org for more information

On March 19th, 2012 the Friends of Colorado Lagoon  were awarded a competitive grant from the San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for $500,000 to revegetate the Western Arm of the Colorado Lagoon. In addition to restoring the salt marsh and adjacent habitat, FOCL will develop interpretive signage, improve the surrounding trails, and conduct monitoring of the project. The awarded funding comes from Proposition 84 and in coordination with the City of Long Beach, this new project will begin after the current dredging project, which is expected to be completed by August of this year.

FOCL is very grateful to the RMC for this funding as it is an integral piece of the restoration puzzle. This recent award adds to FOCL’s history of receiving competitive grant funds for community-based habitat restoration of the Colorado Lagoon. In 2008, FOCL was awarded $29,800 from the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project and $73,400 from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coastal Program to restore the Lagoon’s eastern shoreline.

FOCL works with many community partners and local schools to raise awareness and provide education for our valuable coastal habitats while offering opportunities for the general public to help restore Colorado Lagoon.  Involvement from local citizens will make FOCL’s efforts most successful. Those interested in participating should contact FOCL’s education program.

Working in the Wetlands!!

Somethings Creative, Tidal Influence and the Pike Restaurant are teaming up to clebrate the wetlands on February 25th. The 3rd Annual Wetlands Day Celebration will be held at the Pike Gallery near 4th st and Hermosa in Long Beach, California. This is a nature inspired art show to share with our community the Work being done in the local Wetlands. We want you there to share in the celebration.

For more information, email: info@tidalinfluence.com

Momentum and Passion

Passion is what drives us and Momentum is what keeps us driving. Any grass roots effort needs a strong and consistent dose of both of these ingredients. When one is lost, the other usually suffers as a result. And there are so many hurdles that can derail your Passion and Momentum.

After being affiliated and/or involved with numerous non-profit environmental groups I have seen many organizations that could not piece together the puzzle to truly achieve their missions in a cooperative and effective manner. Often ONE individual bears the burden, or personality flaws & irreconcilable differences in visions form rifts between group members. Power struggles are far too common as well...and to be honest...all of this is understandable because this stuff is HARD!!

Its hard to be a part of something that is bigger than you. Something that doesn't necessarily need you in order to exist. Something that one day you will leave behind for others to lead. Something that doesn't pay your bills. Something that you care dearly about, but ultimately do not have control over. This is how large scale conservation efforts generally are for 'Friends' organizations.

I personally have parted ways with groups with amazing missions, that I just could no longer work with for one reason or another (Many of my colleagues can sympathize)...and then it becomes hard to find another group with an open door and a worthy mission to get involved with.

However, this was not the case for me in 2006 with Friends of Colorado Lagoon. Open door policy is an understatement...it was more like an open flood gate. Without hesitation they invited me - an unproven,naive, but excited 25 year old salt marsh ecologist - to be a part of their family. Nobody felt threatened by my credentials or youthfulness...they were all just sooo jazzed to have someone NEW interested in their project. This invitation for involvement changed the trajectory of my life dramatically and I think it also led to a Renaissance for FOCL because once I realized the gate was open, I flooded their board and volunteer roster with my friends and colleagues and students. This change in personnel was welcomed and that welcoming attitude has led to the success FOCL is experiencing today.

Colorado Lagoon is realizing its potential to be restored into a full functioning, multiple-use facility for wildlife and recreation...all because of a well organized community group that has tenacity, a willingness to learn, and a bunch of supporters who make it their goal to be well educated about the ins-and-outs of a complicated Conservation effort.

Last night at City Council I saw the Passion FOCL still has and I also saw the Momentum build like a tidal wave when the votes for an open channel were unanimously supportive. What comes next in order to implement this project is yet to be seen, but I know that FOCL will be involved every step of the way...even if I one day get distracted by life and lose involvement...FOCL will still be there as Champions of Colorado Lagoon.

When is the flock capable without the Shepard?
When there is NO Shepard and the Flock is full of leaders that know where to climb in order to find greener pastures.

Congratulations to Friends of Colorado Lagoon for being a Flock Of Passionate Leaders with the Momentum to create a Culture of Conservation!

August 11th Public Meeting on the Phase 2 (Open Channel)

We need butts in the seats on August 11th at 7pm at the Bruin's Den at Little Rec to support the Colorado Lagoon's Phase 2 Restoration Design for a Tidal Creek to fully restore the connection to Alamitos Bay. The Design Alternative that creates an awesome Tidal Creek is Alternative 4A. We want 4A!Go to our website (coloradolagoon.org) and check our press release and our restoration page (coloradolagoon.org/focl/restoration.html) for more details. And you can always email me (Taylor@coloradolagoon.org) for more info. Thanks everyone, hope to see you there!

Post Acoustic Tidal Artwalk

Greetings Everyone!

Wow, Acoustic Tidal Artwalk was a wonderful event and great success! Many thanks to all our volunteers who made it possible. We had a strong group of dedicated folks who put in a lot of creative energy, time and love into making ATA 2010 a special weekend at the Colorado Lagoon.

Here's some numbers for 2010:

Artist- 7

Bands- 10

Volunteers- 17

2 Nights- 6-10pm

Attendance- 500+-

Sponsoring Partners- 7

Volunteered Hours- 300+

Gallons of Hot Chocolate/Coffee/Tea served- 25

Check out the Photos Below. Watch the progression of the Set up, the event, beautiful skies, art, bands and lots of folks enjoying the Lagoon!

Set up.....

Lots of signs!

Lots of hole digging...

We can do it!!!

The Event...

The Tea Room- Sponsored by Viento Y Agua. Haley's beautiful idea under the tree!

The sky put on quite the show!

Margie Darrow spent Friday night painting for us next to the stage. Thanks Margie

Helpers...

A little Lagoon History

The evening glow

Taylor Parker having fun as always

Studio 1021- a local art studio who specialize in kid & adult art lessons.

The Tails!

Master Emcee- Eric Zahn

It was an evening for the family

Bike Valet

The tide came up and created the Tidal Artwalk- People kicked off their shoes and waded through the tide

Timothy Dunham - Nature in Windows

Danny Zapalac

Shane Bowman

Whitney Graves

Dave Pirazzi

If you are interested in getting involved next year get in contact with our Education deptartment at ColoradoLagoon.Org or go to SomeThingsCreative.com

Thanks for another great year!

~Timothy