A marsh is a wetland environment. It is a tract of soft, wet land usually containing grass or rushes. The Sanitation Districts’ marshland consists of various habitats that receive water from the Wilmington Drain. Wetlands are unique because of their role as an “ecotone”, or transition area, between terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) environments.

The Bixby Marshland is a remnant of a formerly extensive, natural-freshwater wetland known as Bixby Slough. Over the years, most of Bixby Slough was destroyed due to development.

To restore the Bixby Marshland, the site was vegetated with a large number of native plants and regraded to improve the flow of water. A pump was installed to lift stormwater and urban runoff from Wilmington Drain into the marshland. After going through the marshland, the water exits back into Wilmington Drain. Through this restoration effort, the site has been rejuvenated, renewing the marshland’s health and increasing its value to wildlife.

Wetland habitats are home to 43 percent of the federally-listed endangered and threatened species. They provide habitat for birds, animals, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, and a diverse group of plants. Besides providing habitat, wetlands are sometimes called “the kidneys of the landscape” because they receive water that rushes off the land during storms. In the wetland, water is cleansed of sediments and pollutants before it slowly enters the ocean or underground aquifers.

At least 28 species of birds call Bixby Marshland home including: Gadwalls, Mallards, Pier-billed grebes, Great egrets, Snowy egrets, Red-tailed hawks, Soras, American coots, California gulls, Mourning doves, Red-shafted flickers, California jays, and more.

Yes, the Sanitation Districts are seeking volunteer docents to provide tours and educational programs at the Bixby Marshland. Weekend and weekday opportunities are available, depending on the docent's schedule. We hope that docents will commit to help in one tour/education program per month (2 hours/month), but will appreciate any amount of time you have to offer. If you are interested in participating as a docent, please contact Wendy Wert at 562-908-4288, extension 2308, or at wwert@lacsd.org.