| A number of groups and
individuals made the 145-foot,
70,000 pound bridge possible
through their fundraising and
financial contributions. The
Conservancy, Amigos de Bolsa
Chica, Bolsa Chica Land Trust
and other local and state
environmental groups worked hard
for seven years to raise the
necessary money. The State of
California Department of Fish
and Game coordinated the Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony with three
Bolsa Chica environmental
groups. Recognized at the event
were several people who made it
possible, including Madison
Makoff, a Huntington Beach
resident, who donated $750
dollars from birthday gifts to
the project two years ago when
she was just 7. Chuck and
Barbara Steel made a huge
donation for the bridge's
completion and were also
recognized.
I'd like to THANK everyone
involved in making the dream
come true, including Edmund J.
Pert (Regional Manager for the
State of California Department
of Fish and Game'South Coast
Region),
Chica
Conservancy Chairman Mark
Gaughan, Paul Arms (Chica
Land Trust President), Jennifer
Robins (Amigos de
Bolsa
Chica
President), John Moorlach
(Orange County Supervisor for
the Second District), Huntington
Beach City Councilman Joe
Carchio, Ed Laird (Chief
Executive Officer of Laird
Coatings Corp), Flossie Horgan
(Executive Director of The
Chica
Land Trust) Joe Shaw, Nancy
Donaven, Jim and Carrie Thomas,
Eileen Murphy, Vi Cowden, Kim
Kolpin, Don and Juana Muller and
Marc Stirdivant (Chica
Land Trust Members), Dave and
Margaret Carlberg, Tom Livengood,
Jim Robins ( Amigos de
Bolsa
Chica
Members), Grace Adams (Chica
Conservancy Executive Director),
Ross and Patti Griswold (Chica
Conservancy Members), Dan Kanne
(Shipley Nature Center Board
Member), Chris Epting
(Huntington Beach Independent
Columnist), Matt Liffering (HBTV
Channel 3), Greg Griffin
(President of The Sunset Beach
Homeowners Association) and
Merle Moshiri (Huntington Beach
Residents for Responsible
Desalination). Also,
representatives from State
Senator Tom Harman and
Assemblyman Jim Silva were on
hand to present Proclamations.
Both legislators helped in the
bridge effort.
Supervisor Moorlach talked
about how symbolic the bridge
was uniting so many groups for
the common cause. 'I don't just
see a bridge, I see people, who
work together, in spite of
differences, to achieve a common
goal that will benefit everyone
today and in the future,' said
the articulate supervisor.
Now go enjoy the bridge and
when you're walking across it,
think of all the people who made
it possible. It really does
show, when communities care,
anything can happen. We all can
help build bridges for a better
tomorrow.
Bridge Location:
Bolsa
Chica
Ecological Reserve north lot.
Free parking as space permits
for mesa tours is in the north
lot at the corner of Warner &
Pacific Coast Highway next to
the interpretive center
(trailer) in Huntington Beach,
CA.
For further information
contact:
- The
Bolsa
Chica Conservancy
at: (877) 265-7261.
bolsachica.org
- The
Amigos de
Bolsa
Chica at: (714)
840-1575.
amigosdebolsachica.org
- Bolsa
Chica Land Trust
at: (714) 846-1001.
bolsachicalandtrust.org
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