Ormond Beach Wetlands

Photo courtesy of Kurt Preissler

The Ormond Beach Wetlands, located in the City of Oxnard between the Port of Hueneme and the Point Mugu Naval Base, are home to many rare plants and exist as an important resting spot for hundreds of migratory birds including the endangered snowy plover and western least tern. The wetlands also represent a critical beachfront and open space for south central coastal communities. Misused and abused for decades, the wetlands still bear the scars of industrial uses, including a federal superfund designation from the now closed Halaco smelting plant.

With so few of our state’s coastal wetlands remaining, it is vitally important that we protect and restore this coastal environment in our urban center. To this end, in 2012, EDC successfully stopped the development of more than 1,500 new residential units, which would have polluted and further degraded the Ormond Beach wetlands area. This area is being restored to one of the largest coastal wetlands in Southern California and its restoration will provide residents with safe, healthy, outdoor and educational opportunities.