Photo by Bruce Robertson, Ballona Valley Preservation League

It would be easy to assume, when driving by the corner of Jefferson & Lincoln boulevards on the Westside near Marina del Rey, that the struggle to save all 1,087 acres of the Ballona Wetlands ecosystem is over. But bulldozers roll, wooden structures are going up, a mural announces the coming of "Water's Edge"–a massive commercial structure to be built as part of the proposed Playa Vista mega-city. In reality, the struggle is going on and is stronger than ever.

The proposed development would bring approximately 200,000 new vehicle trips each day to the region, translating to a 28% increase in traffic on the often gridlocked 405 freeway. Santa Monica Bay and Ballona Creek, an officially declared "impaired water body" would be subject to even more pavement, which always translates to more pollution. Thirteen thousand new residential units and six million square feet of commercial space are planned, with large subsidies (your tax dollars!) being given in order to make this project happen. These impacts, along with the obvious loss of severely imperiled wetlands and wildlife habitat, have been enough for 108 neighborhood, environmental and civic organizations to band together during the past six years to say "no!"

		Actor Martin Sheen and activists at protest for Ballona Wetlands in The Last Stand.

Below are detailed some of the actions in process that give Westsiders hope that their vision of a 1,087-acre State Park and Natural Preserve is possible instead of the developer's proposed alternative of 1,087 new cars every eight minutes!

 • A United States Supreme Court case brought by Wetlands Action Network and the California Public Interest Research Group is pending that would put a halt to all of the bulldozing if environmentalists prevail and require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers complete a full Environmental Impact Statement, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

 • The Sierra Club, one of the nation's most respected environmental organizations, has just weighed in, filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, explaining the national significance of the lawsuit.

 • The California Coastal Commission staff has recommended denial of proposed road expansions that would enable the first phase of the development to receive occupancy permits, stating the approval would violate the California Coastal Act

• On December 31, 2000, an option the developers held to re-purchase from the state a 73-acre parcel of land on the Creek expired. State Controller Kathleen Connell refused to extend the option, and there are efforts underway in Sacramento to transfer this land into state parks, which would be the first land the public can enjoy and restore to health.

 A new city council and new mayor are about to be installed at City Hall, officials who may not be so quick to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in public financing for a project that many believe ought to be financed privately if it goes forward at all. The public Mello-Roos bonds that developers want would not be available to other areas of the city for five years, according to city regulations, meaning it would be more difficult to finance schools, police and fire stations, libraries and other infrastructure in other regions, while this one development receives this unusually large financing package.