On the morning of Monday, January 23rd, several City of Los Angeles departments and agencies, including LAPD, Los Angeles Department of Sanitation, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Los Angeles Department of Transportation, St. Joseph's Center, and others came together for a long-awaited comprehensive cleanup to remove debris and hazardous materials on the street, in the parking lane, and on the public trail at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh on Jefferson Blvd. between Lincoln and Culver Boulevards. We are grateful to Councilwoman Traci Park and her team from Council District 11, who initiated and oversaw the action.

Top: Debris material from individuals residing in the encampment on Jefferson Blvd. Photo Credit: EcoKai
Bottom Photo: La City employees clearing and disposing of the debris on Jefferson Blvd. Photo Credit EcoKai

For nearly 3-years, the Friends of Ballona Wetlands and the Ballona Wetlands Conservancy have invested thousands of hours lobbying every city office and agency to find solutions to protect and repair the Freshwater Marsh from the destruction that occurred throughout the pandemic. The Ballona Wetlands Conservancy spent, and continues to spend, tens of thousands of dollars to pick up tons of debris and trash left by the encampment dwellers.

At the end of the day on Monday, more than 19 tons of debris was removed, including 200 + lbs of toxic and hazardous materials and dozens of needles. LAHSA and St Joseph’s offered housing to every person dwelling in the encampment.

LA City employees clearing and disposing debris material from RV encampments on Jefferson Blvd. Photo Credit: EcoKai

The city has scheduled another comprehensive cleanup next week. In the meantime, the city has contracted LA Conservation Corps to pick up trash in the Freshwater Marsh and in the Ecological Reserve along Jefferson for the remainder of the week.

We have so much work ahead, but this is important progress to be celebrated.

Thank you to everyone who was involved with advocating for the Freshwater Marsh over the last three years, Jim Burton and the EcoKai Team, and Catherine Tyrrell; for your devotion to pushing this effort forward.

Special thanks to Councilwoman Traci Park and her team. We look forward to the day when wildlife will not be endangered, and public access can return to the Ballona Freshwater Marsh.

The Freshwater Marsh Comprehensive Cleanup - A Step In The Right Direction