AERIAL VIEW OF Bolsa Chica wetlands and beach (Wikipedia).

By Zia Zografos

Plans for a possible annexation of the currently unincorporated Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve is under consideration.  On Tuesday night, the Huntington Beach City Council voted 6-1 with Councilmember Erik Peterson dissenting to update the Bolsa Chica annexation feasibility study, in which city staff will later return to the city council to further discuss pros and cons of an annexation.

Huntington Beach first prepared the feasibility study to annex the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in 2009, where it was later updated in 2013, and then came to a standstill in 2015. This was due to the council’s questioning regarding the logistics of annexing the wetlands.

Now, the feasibility study will be updated to reflect all relevant changes over the past decade.

Councilmember Dan Kalmick, who submitted the item, stated in his report that absorbing the wetlands could add to the tourist attractions of Huntington Beach and could also complete the city’s corporate boundary, joining Sunset Beach and Brightwater.

Victor Leipzig, a 40-year resident and former member of city council, gave his approval to reinitiate the feasibility study and also offered the support on behalf of two environmental organizations, Amigos De Bolsa Chica and the Sea & Sage Audubon Society.

“Both of those organizations do not wish to take a position at this time as to annexation itself, but only the value of doing a study of its benefits so that the public can have the information necessary for the public and the city council to make an informed decision,” said Leipzig.