The Bay Foundation have built a two acre enclave, "re-wilding" the area with native plants mimicking what it may have looked like before human interference.
Last December, The Bay Foundation began planting native plants in a fenced off area of Santa Monica's beach as part of a pilot restoration project. This enclave had their ribbon-cutting ceremony last week as dune plants have now had a chance to sprout from the sand. If dunes do form, they can act as barriers against flooding or storm surge. Many see this option as more visually pleasing and possibly cheaper than more traditional sea walls or jetties.
The "re-wilded" areas may also serve as habitat for wildlife. "Already, animals are taking notice. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found a threatened western snowy plover nest in the restoration plot last month, the first one discovered in L.A. County in more than 70 years," reports Emily Guerin for KPCC radio.
FULL STORY: Re-wilding' a Santa Monica beach to protect against sea level rise
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