Kickoff to Tidewater Docent program set

Barbara Diamond

Bluebelt environmentalists have begun a battle to protect Laguna’s

endangered tide pools.

The opening salvo is the formation of the Laguna Beach Community

Tidewater Docent program, as recommended in Environmental

Responsibility Element of the Vision 2030 report.

The first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Montage

Resort on South Coast Highway.

“This is truly an informational and orientation session, open to

everyone with an interest in protecting the inter-tidal zone,” said

Fred Sattler, who will conduct docent training classes. “There is no

obligation or commitment. Participants should check with the hotel

desk for the specific room where we will meet.”

The goal of the docent program is to educate the beach-going

public about the natural biological and physical assets of beaches

and inter-tidal zones unique to Laguna Beach.

Docents will be given basic training in local marine and tide pool

biology. They will be equipped with printed information and brochures

to distribute to the public and will be versed in the rules and

regulations that govern beach and intertidal resources.

The program will coordinated with the city’s Marine Safety

Department.

Volunteer docents will be stationed at coves and beaches

throughout the year during daytime low tides, when the intertidal

zone is most vulnerable, and at times when there is the largest

number of people enjoying Laguna’s beaches.

“Our first goal is to have trained volunteer docents in the coves

in time for the spring crush of elementary, middle and high school

field trips from surrounding communities,” Sattler said. “Docents

will work in coordination with lifeguards to enhance the safety and

educational experience of the visiting children and to protect the

intertidal marine environment.”

With the exception of beaches and rocks below Heisler Park, which

were given the highest level of protection under the designation as a

state Marine Reserve, all of Laguna’s beaches and coves are

designated as a Marine Conservation Area. That means no plants or

animals, dead or alive, may be taken from the tide pools at any time.

“That is the law,” Sattler said. “If you live in Laguna Beach and

spend any time at the beach, you get used to seeing these laws being

broken and the tide pool environment degraded.”

It doesn’t just happen here. Newport Beach, Dana Point and Crystal

Cove State Park are addressing the same issues, Sattler said. It is

an issue for all of South County, he said, and the county has

established a Marine Life Refuge Project, in collaboration with

cities, state parks and private organizations.

“The county project together with the Surfrider Foundation have

offered to become valuable partners working with and providing

resources and expertise to the Laguna Beach Tidewater Docent

Program,” Sattler said.

The docent program is sponsored by Ocean Laguna, an organization

now in the incubation stage, said founder Walker Reed.

Reed is a member of the Vision Laguna Steering Committee,

appointed by Councilman Steven Dicterow.

“We have several projects under discussion,” Reed said. “One in

progress is the evaluation of the city’s general plan as it

correlates to the 10 items recommended by Ocean Laguna in the

environmental element of the vision report. The element calls for the

formation of a Bluebelt nonprofit organization, based on the Laguna

Canyon Foundation and Catalina Conservancy models.

Reed held a meeting in November to discuss Ocean Laguna concepts.

“My wife, Jan, four of her swimming buddies and I went to the

meeting,” docent trainer Sattler said. “We had many questions, so I

put something in writing in case things ever came to fruition.

“Walker said, ‘You’re right. Why don’ t you go do it.”

Sattler is a retired businessman. He believes that skills honed in

his career will benefit the docent program.

“I came to this because it is a program that made sense to me, but

needed organization,” Sattler said. “That is my strength.”

For more information, visit Web site [email protected] or call

497-9367.