NATURAL PERSPECTIVES:

Vic and I have a growing file of small items to talk about, so today we’re going to run through a few of them. First and most importantly, we read recently that the Mills Land and Water Company reportedly has been accused of grading, fencing and partially paving a delineated wetland area near the Cabrillo Mobile Home Park along Pacific Coast Highway between Beach Boulevard and Newland Street. If this is true, what were they thinking?

Mills should know in fine detail what it can and cannot do. Years of litigation between Mills and public agencies over this land finally came to an end a couple of years ago with a comprehensive settlement. That settlement was supposed to guarantee a combination of habitat protection and economic development.

Caltrans had taken this strip of coastal land from Mills decades ago, but the property was returned to Mills in 2004. The city and coastal commission acknowledged Mills’ right to develop on parcels like the already-paved corner of Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, plus a large parcel on Newland Street. Mills acknowledged the protective habitat zoning on the wetlands portions of its property. Everything was settled. Mills didn’t get everything it wanted, but it had the green light to proceed with some very high-value development.

But now the company has reportedly gotten itself into trouble over a tiny parcel that was turned into a parking lot. Unbelievable! Fortunately, wetlands watchdog Jan Vandersloot photographed the alleged misdeed. Hurray for Jan and our other local wetland watchdogs.

In other news, good things are happening at the Huntington Wetlands Conservancy. The new Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center building is finally finished, at least on the outside. Conservancy officials have contracted with the Acorn Group to design a plan for the interior for interpretive exhibits.

This fall, the conservancy will begin restoration of the Brookhurst Marsh, as well as do some touch-up work on Talbert Marsh, which was restored back in 1989.

The big news is that the conservancy is about to close escrow on a 17-acre parcel at Brookhurst Street and PCH, the last piece needed prior to beginning restoration of Brookhurst Marsh. The conservancy owns and manages all of the coastal wetlands between Newland and the Santa Ana River. We hope they keep marching on to Beach Boulevard.

Like most environmental groups, the conservancy could use your help. The conservancy conducts monthly cleanups and restoration work parties at 9 a.m. the second Saturday of the month at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center. Call (714) 963-2123 for more information, or visit www.hbwc.org/.

Speaking of things native to the area, did anyone feel the earthquake at 9:28 p.m. March 26? We sure did. It was a single quick jolt, over fast. It took us longer to straighten the pictures on the walls than the temblor lasted. After the quake was over, I went on the Internet to check it out.

To see real time maps of all the earthquakes in California and Nevada over the past week, go to the USGS earthquake map website at quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/ latest.htm. The size and color of the different squares represent the magnitude and recentness of the quake, respectively. When we looked, there were more than 540 quakes listed on the website that occurred in the last week, including Saturday’s 4.1 quake just south of Mexicali. This is a reminder that we live along the Pacific Rim, where the Pacific tectonic plate slides under the North American plate all the time.

Last week’s temblor was a little one as these things go. The 3.1-magnitude quake came from about 5 miles down, along the San Joaquin Hills fault zone, which blends into the Newport-Inglewood fault.

When you feel a quake, you can log onto the USGS website and go to the “Did You Feel It?” questionnaire. You fill out responses to a number of questions about where you where, what you experienced, and what happened.

At the end, you will get a numerical response of the relative intensity in your area and can compare it to the experience of others. You’re actually assisting in scientific research when you respond. Scientists use this information to better predict the effects of quakes of various sizes in different areas. We experienced a level III response, but people in Costa Mesa closer to the epicenter experienced a more vigorous level IV response.

It’s a good idea to always stay prepared with enough food, water, a camp stove, batteries, etc. on hand to get by on your own until help arrives. In the event of a big earthquake, it may be a while until power and gas are restored and stores reopen. Just think Hurricane Katrina without the water, and you’ll be on the right track.

VIC LEIPZIG and LOU MURRAY are Huntington Beach residents and environmentalists. They can be reached at [email protected].