Ballona Wetlands 6 mile walk, and early Garlicky Italian Dinner

Come take a level 6 mile walk through West L.A.'s Ballona Wetlands, home to over 1000 species of plants and animals, including 350 types of birds, cute critters, sweet smelling sage brush and wildflowers, creekside cattails and saltmarsh pickleweed.

The State of California purchased the wetlands for $140 million in 2003 from Goldman Sachs corp, stopping a condo development proposed to house 15,000 people. You'll hear from your tour guide about the controversy over the future planned restoration of the 600 acre site, whether it should take 10 years and completely remake the entire site, or should it take 1 year and be much "lighter" on the land. Your tour guide runs one of the organizations challenging the 10-year plan in court.

Post hike, at 4:30: you are welcome to join us in our getting vaxxed against vampires, as we consume copious amounts of fresh garlic at Alejo's Italian restaurant up the hill from the wetlands,
8343 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester, CA 90045

Map Link:
https://goo.gl/maps/5xgTQffK225UDc5PA

[MENU: https://www.alejosrestaurant.com/menus/](https://www.alejosrestaurant.com/menus/)

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INFO ABOUT THE BALLONA WETLANDS:

http://ballonaplants.blogspot.com/

http://dontbulldozeballona.com

http://ballona-news.blogspot.com/

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BRING 3 BOTTLES OF WATER, COMFORTABLE SHOES, A HAT, SUNSCREEN, ANVILS, ACME BRAND FAKE TUNNELS, WIL-E-COYOTE, ETC ETC

LEGAL STUFF: by going on this hike, you agree to assume all risks of this hike, and that no one at Meetup including the organizer is responsible for your safety. See the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2:
https://www.meetup.com/terms/