Sea turtle 'trekkies' to tour San Gabriel River, Los Cerritos Wetlands this Saturday, May 4

Sea turtle fanatics will be on the look out for the ancient, endangered shelled reptiles often seen swimming in the warm waters of the San Gabriel River and will have a chance to explore unnoticed portions of the Los Cerritos Wetlands this Saturday morning, May 4. 

The "Turtle Trek" that starts at 8am will be led by local biologists and environmental educators Taylor Parker and Eric Zahn, founders of environmental consulting group, Tidal Influence. The regular tour is organized by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. 

During the tour, visitors will led to the San Gabriel River along the bridge that crosses the river at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and then through Zedler Marsh, Calloway Marsh, up to Westminster Boulevard, across the river to the western levee, past the "pumpkin patch" and "land swap" property and then back.  

The tour provides a "view of the scope of the wetlands that most of us have not seen," notes the Land Trust. 

The wetlands are currently rife with plant life and animals, in addition to sea turtles, due to spring weather, according to the Land Trust.  "Spring has brought out all kinds of duck species, killdeer, herons and egrets too," the Land Trust states. 

Sea turtle habitat

The prevalence of sea turtles, however, mostly comes from the fact that the water at the mouth of the San Gabriel River is kept warm all year long "artificially" by the AES and Haynes power plants, a fact that the Land Trust states environmentalists remain concerned about due to its effect on native sea life. 

"It is a little known fact that, due to the warm water discharged by the AES and Haynes power plants, a portion of the river has been attracting green sea turtles," the Land Trust states. "At the same time we are apprehensive about the effect of the artificially warm water on native sea life, we cannot help but be excited that these wonderful sea turtles have decided to take up residence in our local wetlands."

The tour meets at the corner of 1st Street and PCH in Seal Beach (just over the bridge from Long Beach into Seal Beach). Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information or to RSVP ejlambe@verizon.net or call (714) 357-8576.