We are sad to report that significant vegetation has been removed from the sloped banks of Ballona Creek just downstream from Centinela Avenue. As most of you know, this location along the soft bottom tidal estuary has been a special place for volunteers and wildlife. While the vegatation included many

BCR volunteers, among many others, were shocked to discover in late October that almost all the vegetation on the creek banks at Centinela Avenue was removed by L.A. County Flood Protection. The plants removed were non-native, invasive plants growing on the banks. The most ridiculous plants were the palm trees

On October 26, the City of Culver City recognized BCR, the Culver City High School BCR Club, and other local organizations for their diligent work in cleaning up Ballona Creek on the anual Coastal Cleanup Day, September 19. Accepting an award certificate for BCR were several BCR board members; BCR

BCR was pleased to have a booth at the vibrant Del Rey Day community event in Glen Alla Park in Del Rey on October 18. As usual, We brought our displays and literature about what we do to protect and promote Ballona, along with knowledgeable volunteers. In the photo, Culver

September 26 was the 7th annual Volunteer Day for all UCLA incoming freshmen and transfer students. They joined continuing undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and community members to visit more than 40 sites across greater Los Angeles. Volunteers served at K-12 schools, food banks, parks, shelters, veterans’ facilities,

BCR participated in this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day, which is the third Saturday of September every year, when ocean and creek cleanups are organized all along the coast of California. In the L.A. area, Heal the Bay organizes cleanups at over 50 sites, including not just beaches but also some

This conference, held once every five years, offers presentations of research and discussions by professionals about issues concerning Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds. It’s presented by the Bay Foundation, The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, and Loyola Marymount University (LMU). This year’s edition, held on September 9, was sponsored

The last weekend in August is the occasion of Culver City’s annual big party in the park at the Veteran’s Memorial complex. The 2015 edition was warm, but a breeze helped keep the event comfortable, as did numerous vendors of food and drinks. BCR created its usual educational booth, with

On August 28-29, Culver City Public Works created an attractive rain garden in the parkway along Lindblade Street at the corner of Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City. Heavy equipment was used to install the infrastructure on the first day; the following day, community volunteers finished up by planting various drought-tolerant

In today’s parlance, an “Ocean-Friendly” Garden is one that greatly reduces or eliminates the negative environmental effects of our grass lawns and gardens full of flowering plants from other areas with wetter climates. Several major local environmental organizations and public agencies have been subsidizing homeowner efforts to create gardens that

BCR’s striking mural “Rivers of the World” was renovated in April, 2015, to reverse the effects of  time and weather, scrapes by maintenance vehicles, and (unfortunately) graffiti and damage by other passers-by. The work took over a week, including wall preparation, actual painting by many community volunteers under the guidance