description Ballona Wetlands Overview
The Ballona Wetlands are a surviving coastal wetland complex beside Santa Monica Bay in Los Angeles County, California. The area contains salt-marsh, tidal, freshwater, and upland habitats within a heavily urbanized landscape near Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey. It provides habitat for resident and migratory wildlife and is managed for ecological protection, public access, research, and restoration.
help Ballona Wetlands FAQ
Where are the Ballona Wetlands located?
They are beside Santa Monica Bay in Los Angeles County, between Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista. The reserve is near LAX and covers nearly 600 acres of remaining coastal habitat.
What kinds of habitats are found at Ballona?
Ballona includes salt marsh, tidal areas, freshwater marsh, upland habitat, dunes, and riparian corridors. It is an urban wetland complex where coastal and freshwater environments occur close together.
Why are the Ballona Wetlands important?
They provide habitat for birds, fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals in a heavily developed part of Los Angeles. Historically, the wetland complex covered roughly 1,500 to 2,100 acres, so the surviving reserve is only part of its former extent.
Is Ballona Wetlands being restored?
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has proposed large-scale restoration to reconnect Ballona Creek with parts of its historic floodplain. The project is intended to improve tidal and wetland habitat while adding public education and recreation opportunities.
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