What did the restoration cost?
The total was about $148 million of which $25 million went to the purchase of the 880 acres. The rest went for planning, cleanup (part of which was paid for by the oil company) and construction. Where did the money for restoration come from? The bulk of it, $102 million, came from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as mitigation for their filling tidelands for expanding the ports. The balance came from bond money and interest. Has the restoration been successful? While it is too early to fully assess the restoration, preliminary signs point to a winning project. Almost immediately after the ocean inlet was opened, fish and birds were seen exploring the full tidal basin. Scientists have begun extensive monitoring of the wetland to assess its biological health. Because of the very dry weather over the last two years, attempts to establish native plants along the levees and overlooks of the restored area have been disappointing. Are there plans for additional public trails in the wet
