Bolsa Chica Land Trust Restoring Endangered Tern Nesting Islands

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Bolsa Chica Land Trust has taken the first steps towards restoring the Tern Nesting Islands in Inner Bolsa Bay, a critical habitat for more than a dozen bird species.

The Land Trust, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, has secured funding and released a Request for Proposal for the initial phase of the restoration project.

The two Tern Nesting Islands are critical habitat and serve 13 avian species including the endangered California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover. The islands are more than 40 years old and currently are degraded and under immediate threat of flooding caused by extreme tides and sea-level rise.

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust is proud to be able to start the process of restoring these habitats to improve their resiliency in the event of flooding. These islands were some of the first restored habitats after the Ecological Reserve was created, and for decades have been a key stopover and nesting site along the Pacific Flyway. We are grateful that we can improve their condition to ensure that they remain in service to the wildlife species that need them.

Funding for this project comes from a $135,000 Prop. 68 Pacific Flyway conservation grant administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board.

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