Tide Pools

I want to thank you for your excellent editorial and cartoon in support of tide-pool protection. Those of us who are in the trenches appreciate your spreading the word. Our tide pools are unique areas of rare biological diversity and truly singular beauty. In fact, the state of California has deemed them ? and indeed, much of the Laguna Beach coastline ? worthy of protection by law. The tide pools at Heisler are part of the Heisler Park State Marine Life Reserve. In enacting the Marine Life Protection Act, the Legislature declared, "Marine-life reserves are an essential element of an MPA system because they protect habitat and ecosystems, conserve biological diversity, and provide a sanctuary for fish and other sea life."

Recently, one of our letter writers suggested Laguna hire a full-time Marine Safety and Education Officer. We like the idea of a full-time tide pool monitor with the authority to enforce the $1,000 fine for taking sea creatures. Of course, considering city leaders can't even afford to hire enough lifeguards for their liking, a marine safety officer is a long shot. In the meantime, we have our docents -- thank you very much -- and we have our vigilant beachgoers.

Jeanne Meyers I am writing this letter to urge our leaders and resident to help protect our beautiful marine life sanctuary here in Laguna Beach by adding to the staff of the lifeguards a marine enforcement/education officer. With the incredible growth of Orange County over the last 10 years Laguna's beaches have been impacted by the millions of visitors who have discovered this seaside treasure. As a community, we have a stewardship responsibility to protect this treasure.

Ocean Laguna Foundation concludes in a recent report that the tide pool education program introduced this summer at the Treasure Island seashore adjacent to Montage Resort & Spa has been a great success in educating visitors about the importance of preserving the tide pools. From June through August, Ocean Laguna Foundation's Tidepool Educators observed nearly 10,000 visitors to the Treasure Island and Goff Island tide pools and approached more than 6,000 to remind them of "good tide-pool rules."

The first in a series of artistic educational signs has sprung up above the tide pools at Monument Point. Marine Protection Officer Calla Allison recognized a need to inform visitors of what makes the Laguna Beach?s ocean area unique. She said public understanding of why tide pool rules are in place cuts down on a need for enforcement. ?When it makes sense to them, it?s easier,? Allison said. In the true Laguna spirit, Allison integrated local art elements into the sign along with informational artist renderings of various creatures native to the area.

Environmentalists, hoteliers and members of the city’s marine protection department are hoping a seven-minute video will educate young visitors about the city’s tide pools and how to enjoy the fragile tidal zones without harming them. The video features original music sung by Cheryl Procaccini, a local children’s musician. In the video, she sings, “Walk gently, treat it with care, so tide pool life will always be there.” Procaccini said she trained as a volunteer tide pool docent with Laguna Ocean Foundation in 2004.

Ahhhh, we can all give a collective sigh of relief. It looks like, it seems pretty certain, that we will, in fact, soon have a marine enforcement officer. Did you hear those little sea urchins sighing too? How about all those volunteer docents and maybe even a few lifeguards? Laguna's beaches and coves are designated as a Marine Conservation Area. That means no plants or animals, dead or alive, may be taken from the tide pools at any time. But ocean lovers say the area has lost some of its richness with the disappearance of abalone, moray eels and sheepshead.

What a great way to get your hands into something you love -- as a docent, you get to be truly involved with the tide pools, the canyon trails or the Festival of Arts. This year, volunteers have studied hard and dedicated their time and energy to guiding those of us around who may not be so at one with the wilderness parks, the tide pools or the festivals. With controversies swirling all around -- land preservation issues seem never ending and always a struggle; the best way to prevent sewage spills and other harmful elements from reaching the ocean has some in a frightening frenzy; and the Festival, well, discussions about the Festival board are reaching levels of animosity equal to displays by a certain councilman toward a certain city attorney -- but the docents go on, doing their part in helping things make sense.

After nine months on job, Matt Brown bows out, citing unaffordable real estate as the reason; it's unclear whether position will be filled.To the disappointment of local environmental groups, Laguna Beach's first marine protection officer, Matt Brown, has left to pursue opportunities in Oregon. Fears have arisen over when, or even if, Brown will be replaced. After less than a year on the job, Brown -- who has a wife and two children -- said an unaffordable real estate market was pivotal in his decision.

They come from Russia, Japan, China, Iran, India and Pomona. They are allies, enemies, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics and atheists, but once in Laguna they are all Main Beach tourists. Like schools of colorful fish, they huddle, pause and swim, randomly moving forward, stopping and pointing at nothing in particular. They stop at shiny things and talk in foreign tongues, Instagramming their experience, immediately looking at the image, laughing and taking another. And another.

Hula dance company to perform The Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts award-winning dance company, Pupukahi I Ke Alo O Na Pua, will perform at 7 p.m. today at the Laguna Beach High School Artists' Theatre, 625 Park Ave. Under the direction of master hula teacher, (Kumu Hula) Michael Casupang, the troupe gave workshops to all of the high school dance students Thursday and today at the school, where they had the opportunity to learn about the history of the hula, basic foot movements, steps and costuming, said Kevin Yates, spokeswoman for the Laguna Beach Unified School District.

Is it really Dec. 31? Looking outside all I can see are sunny skies without a cloud in sight — maybe an omen for us in 2010? Let’s hope so. Summer had some of the warmest water temperatures in recent memory. The last summer I can remember with such high water temperatures was the epic El Niño summer of 1996, and let’s not forget the dreadful summer of 2005 with the drizzle and hideous red tide that followed the big rains of that winter. None of us can forget the Bluebird slide of June 1, 2005.

It?s time to pump up the volume of our beach and tidepool protection. The Marine Life Protection Act is determining actual designations, but we as a city need to focus on who is or should be designated to officially give citations for infractions. Signs at each end of town and media notification will simply not do. There are not enough officials allowed to actually ?cite? offenders and issue fines ? only our police and Marine Protection Officer Calla Allison. Beach patrol, lifeguards, docents, et al can only ?

This year’s Fourth of July weekend showed a marked decrease in the size of beach crowds compared with last year, according to the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department. “But it didn’t have to do with the economy,” said Scott Diederich, marine safety lieutenant. “We had lighter crowds because the weather was much cooler. Inland temperatures were only in the ’90s, and it was windier than usual so people didn’t have to come to the beach to cool off as much this Fourth of July,” he said.

A new children’s book aims to make environmental education enjoyable. “See into the Sea,” written by Laguna Beach resident and Ocean Foundation member Molly Peckels and illustrated by Australian artist Svett Strickland, is a 16-page coloring book designed to educate children about tide pool behavior, sea critter identification and environmental responsibility. Each page has an illustration of common shore and near-shore animals for coloring, information about the creatures and a “Wacky Wave” insert that reveals unusual and quirky characteristic about each animal.

I want to camp on the beach. I’ve wanted to camp on the beach in Laguna since I was a little girl. Set up a tent right next to the water and listen to the waves all night long. Wake up early and drag my feet through the wet sand and explore the tide pools. Yes, I’ve wanted to camp on the beach in Laguna for as long as I can remember. Except that it was never legal. Even my Brownie troop couldn’t get a permit. So it was with no great angst that I read about the city’s repeal of their ordinance prohibiting pitching a tent or sleeping on public property, and even greater anger that the ACLU would waste its precious resources threatening Laguna Beach.

Environmentalists, hoteliers and members of the city’s marine protection department are hoping a seven-minute video will educate young visitors about the city’s tide pools and how to enjoy the fragile tidal zones without harming them. The video features original music sung by Cheryl Procaccini, a local children’s musician. In the video, she sings, “Walk gently, treat it with care, so tide pool life will always be there.” Procaccini said she trained as a volunteer tide pool docent with Laguna Ocean Foundation in 2004.

The first in a series of artistic educational signs has sprung up above the tide pools at Monument Point. Marine Protection Officer Calla Allison recognized a need to inform visitors of what makes the Laguna Beach?s ocean area unique. She said public understanding of why tide pool rules are in place cuts down on a need for enforcement. ?When it makes sense to them, it?s easier,? Allison said. In the true Laguna spirit, Allison integrated local art elements into the sign along with informational artist renderings of various creatures native to the area.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce took a trip to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center for its monthly networking luncheon Tuesday. The field trip-themed event came complete with a boxed lunch, though the gourmet eggplant, turkey and tuna sandwiches provided by A La Carte probably wouldn't be found in many children's lunchboxes. There was also an educational presentation on marine mammals by the center's education director, Meg Jones, during lunch to add to the educational flair.