Huntington Marsh and estuary wetlands at its mouth, disturbing or remov- 

 ing a rare component of the California ecosystem. Spills from San Pedro 

 lease tracts or oil transportation and storage facilities near the river 

 pose a threat to both. 



Los Angeles County 



Los Angeles County has seventy-four miles of coastline. Nine miles 

 are rocky shore and fifty-one miles are sandy beach. The remainder is 

 developed harbor. Only 270 acres of what were once vast tidal marshes 

 remain unaltered. The acreage provides an "island shore habitat" for 

 wildlife in the county. 



The Department of Fish and Game has identified Bixby Slough, 

 Malibu Point, Ballona Creek and Colorado Lagoons as areas of "critical 

 wetland wildlife importance." The Fermin Marine Life Refuge, off the 

 coast of Pal OS Verdes Peninsula, supports abalone, lobster, rockfish, 

 mackerel and other marine species despite heavy sewage pollution. 



The Santa Monica Bay coastline is primarily sandy beach and is 

 heavily used by people during the summer. Further south, the old Venice 

 canals and Ballona Creek estuary marsh serves as habitats for fish and 

 birds and some invertebrates, but they are polluted by wastewater dis- 

 charges. 



Any further oil producing operations would increase the potential 

 for spills and thus threaten both the sandy beach and estuary marsh 

 components along the coast. Staging cleanup equipment at or near the 

 Santa Monica Pier, Marina del Rey, or Kings Beach would not threaten the 



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