The developer who owns the Villa Venetia Apts in Marina Del Rey is right now cutting back the large cypress trees that have been a rookery for many great blue herons this past year. According to reports, he is cutting them so severely that the herons will not be able to use them again this season. Citizens and the Coastal Commission were interested in making this wonderful rookery area an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA), but the developer has been adamantly opposed. Due to major tree trimming and tree destruction in the marina area, the herons are having a very hard time finding appropriate nesting places.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Call the California Coastal Commission at (562) 590-5071 and ask to speak to either the SouthCoast Enforcement Area agent, Grace Noh, or Al Padilla or Pam Emerson. Al and Pam oversee the Ballona area. Ask them to please halt this massive destruction of these trees until an investigation can be done.
If you want to come to the site, it is at the Villa Venetia Apts. at the far west end of Fiji Way in Marina Del Rey.