IN THE PIPELINE:

From an “In The Pipeline” column almost two years ago: “I’ve been reading about Mark Bixby for the last few months. He’s the computer engineer-cum- environmental activist who has spent the last five years walking softly and carrying a big camera, documenting one of the last significant open spaces in Huntington Beach (located on the northeast border of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands).

The 50-acre plot of land he patrols is called Parkside and while Brea-based Shea Homes is looking to construct up to 150 homes here, Bixby (and others) are fighting the construction in the name of protecting precious coastal wetlands.”

Mark’s efforts are well known and much appreciated by many in Huntington Beach. But it’s nice to know others appreciate them, too.

When I received this note recently from Mark’s wife, Julie, I thought it was time to revisit Mark in another column and ask a few questions.

From Julie: “The Angeles Chapter of Sierra Club is giving Mark their Extraordinary Achievement Certificate for his above-and-beyond efforts to preserve the Shea property. Usually this award is given to groups (the Tejon Ranch Task Force is also being honored this year), but exceptions are made for extraordinary individuals. And certainly what Mark has done in fighting the Parkside development *is* extraordinary.”

And here’s my interview with Mark:

The Angeles Chapter of Sierra Club is giving you their Extraordinary Achievement Certificate for your efforts to preserve the Shea property — how did you feel when you found out?

There are a lot of really amazing people in the Sierra Club who have been involved in conservation battles both far larger and longer than I have been, so I feel quite honored to be presented with this award.

How long have you been involved in these efforts?

I got involved in fighting to preserve the Shea property way back in December 2001 after some anonymous person left a flier on my doorstep announcing a neighborhood meeting organized by the Bolsa Chica Land Trust to discuss upcoming development plans for the property and what the possible alternatives might be.

Up until that time I had never been involved with civic issues of any kind, so I doubted that I had any constructive role to play in the Bolsa Chica battles that have been raging for decades. I came very close to tossing that fateful flier in the trash and skipping the meeting. But in the end I decided to attend, and little did I know at the time that it would prove to be a major “tipping point” that sent my life in utterly unexpected directions.

What is the status of the Shea property situation?

The city is processing Shea’s LCPA (Local Coastal Program Amendment) IP (Implementation Plan) and associated CDP (Coastal Development Permit). We expect these to come before the City Council sometime later this year, and if these are approved by the city, the matter would then go back to the Coastal Commission one last time.

Did you have any idea when you started that the fight would go on this long?

I knew Bolsa Chica had a very long history, so I figured the fight would not be quick or easy. Shea estimated it would take them about three years to build the project after the city approved the EIR in October 2002, and here we are nearly seven years later and nothing has been built.

So it’s probably safe to say that both Shea and I are surprised that this battle continues.

From your point of view, what would be the best-case scenario for the Shea property?

For Shea as a willing seller to obtain a fair price for the property by selling it to the state for conservation and restoration as wetlands habitat, upland habitat, and a natural treatment system to improve downstream water quality in the rest of Bolsa Chica, Huntington Harbour and ultimately our beaches.

What’s the biggest public misconception about the Shea property?

That there is no habitat there worth saving. Many people use trails on the Shea property regularly to access the rest of Bolsa Chica, but few people are aware of the amazing diversity of plant and animal life that can still be found on the property despite decades of abuse.

Threatened and rare species continue to eke out an existence just steps from suburbia.

Despite my years of exhaustive site surveys, I look forward to every additional visit because there’s always the possibility of seeing something new or amazing.”

Mark’s photography of the area is also incredible, and a sample is included in the column today.

The Angeles Chapter will honor its members at the Annual Awards Banquet on May 3, at the Brookside Country Club near the Rose Bowl.

For more information visit angeles.sierraclub.org/ about/Awards.asp.

Special thanks: At St. Bonaventure school’s open house last week, in Sister Winifred’s class, I was honored to be included in the autobiography of sixth-grader Songvy Nguyen.

Songvy interviewed me as part of her project, and so I’d like to say thank you, Songvy!

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected].