What Does It Take To Save Bolsa Chica?

Just four miles north from Huntington Beach Pier, Bolsa Chica State Beach features a stretch of A-frame beachbreaks generally considered milder to their counterparts in Surf City proper. Despite that, the spot is not for the faint of heart, as stingray barbs have caught the feet of novice and expert surfers alike.

In 1985, The California Coastal Commission conceptually approved a plan to develop a marina in the Bolsa Chica wetland with a navigable entrance cut through the beach itself. Three years later, in February 1988, a public hearing on the issue indicated overwhelming opposition to the marina and the wetlands development. The estimated crowd of 500 people was comprised of surfers, wetlands advocates, and beach users.

In October 1988, Surfrider sponsored a rally to save the cherished surf spot on the same day as the Amigos de Bolsa Chica’s annual 10K run. Together we lined up along a mile of the beach, creating a visual representation of the area that would be damaged by construction of a marina. The following month, Mayor John Erskine of Huntington Beach and the County Supervisor, Harriet Wieder, jointly called for reconsideration of the development plan.

When the city took action to participate in the new planning coalition, Surfrider recommended that they enter the negotiations with the expressed intention of examining alternatives without a navigable ocean entrance. The city voted 4-3 in favor of a motion to this effect, thereby eliminating the harbor project from consideration.

To locals like "Wild Bill," Bolsa’s camaraderie is what leads to activism for the space. The spot is very self-regulatory; pick up your trash, treat others with respect, and anyone will be welcomed with open arms. It’s a place where he leaves behind life’s problems to enjoy the waves, friendship, and family the beach has to offer.