Date: 8/13/26 9:31 pm From: Marcia Hanscom via groups.io <wetlandact...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Hundreds of Dead Fish in Ballona Lagoon
Hello all ~ Ursula ~ thank you for reporting this. I’ve had numerous complaints and reports from neighborhood groups about this. Our allies at Venice Canals Association reported that when the Washington Blvd. tide gates opened earlier today, the fish went in from Ballona Grand Canal Lagoon, which is just to the south, but to the north of Ballona Lagoon Marine Preserve. We are not sure if there were dead fish in Venice Canals before the gate was opened.
The ocean water is hotter than usual, as reported by Dr. Daniel Swain in numerous places. Thus, it can be surmised that the tidal areas, where water is coming from the ocean is also hotter than usual (although we haven’t seen evidence of any testing of such.).
We’ve noticed and are reporting to the relevant City authorities that the tide gate at Del Rey Lagoon, which is supposed to ALWAYS be open, except during big rain events - has been closed for weeks now. There may be dead fish or dead marine life there, as well.
I think Roy van de Hoek, Environmental Scientist who has studied this area for some 35 years and is trained as a Marine Biologist and Wetland Scientist, has written to you separately, Ursula, about his observations over many years, as well as his suspicions about the current conditions. (And his efforts, along with that of former Hyperion Director John Crosse, have attempted to move things in a good direction, but bureaucratic change is challenging, especially when one lagoon is managed by Street Services, another is managed by Rec & Parks personnel at Griffith Park (yes, really!) and another is managed by - well, really no one, since Public Works personnel retired - and LA County Beaches & Harbors supposedly turned over some tide gate operation to city departments, but for some reason, no one will accept the duties.)
Suffice it to say, neither the City nor the County have biologists trained in the appropriate disciplines or who know the very disjointed ways that the tide gate systems here work. And CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife has no one on site at the moment who can help. This stagnant situation is part of why we have worked with US Rep. Ted Lieu, and our US Senators, as well as other congressional Reps from the region to advocate for a presence of experts and rangers from the National Park Service. Please join this effort because NPS can bring the expertise and help the local agencies to find solutions that - so far in the 30 years I’ve been working to protect these areas - have remained elusive. Of course, we need a federal administration that supports the solid mission and guiding law of the National Park Service Organic Act, and we don’t have that currently. SOON, let's hope! Meanwhile, we can and should call on the few biologists we do have the ears of (Coastal Commission might be the best) and ask that they call together the various agencies, departments and knowledgeable stakeholders to get this situation under control while our planet and ocean continue to heat up.
~ Marcia Hanscom
Protect Ballona Wetlands (focus on City lagoon areas.)
&
Defend Ballona Wetlands (focus on Greater Ballona Wetlands Ecosystem)
(310) 877-2634
~
> On Aug 13, 2026, at 5:39 PM, Ursula K. Heise via groups.io <heise.ursula...> wrote:
>
> Hi Ann:
>
> Thanks for the update - I hope that means it was a temporary problem. I talked to Fish and Wildlife and sent them a picture, and also talked to Heal the Bay. Did you see any fish in the Venice Canals? The dead ones might have gotten swept in there (I’m not sure if there’s any kind of grate at Washington Boulevard?). And yes, I saw four Great Egrets and 22ish Snowy Egrets there this morning.
>
> If I hear anything back or see dead fish again, I’ll let you know.
>
> Best,
>
> Ursula K. Heise
> Venice
> On Aug 13, 2026 at 17:29 -0700, Ann Flower <msflwr...>, wrote:
>> I went down to have a look after reading Ursula's post and walked the length of the lagoon from the main channel of the Marina to where the Venice canals begin, and weirdly didn't see any fish, dead or alive. The tide was pretty high so maybe they got pushed into the canals? But the Snowy Egrets were still there - all 37 of them - sitting contentedly on the island near the beginning of the path.
>>
>> Annie
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 10:52 AM Katz, Nurit via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <nkatz...> <mailto:<fm.ucla.edu...>> wrote:
>>> Report to CDFW as well
>>>
>>> https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report >>>
>>> Nurit
>>>
>>> Encino, CA
>>> From: <LACoBirds...> <mailto:<LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> <mailto:<LACoBirds...>> on behalf of Ron Cyger via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <ron...> <mailto:<cyger.org...>> >>> Sent: Thursday, 13 August 2026 10:50:15
>>> To: <heise.ursula...> <mailto:<heise.ursula...> <heise.ursula...> <mailto:<heise.ursula...>> >>> Cc: LACoBirding <lacobirds...> <mailto:<lacobirds...>> >>> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Hundreds of Dead Fish in Ballona Lagoon
>>>
>>> I think you can report it to...
>>>
>>> LA county EPA at 888-700-9995
>>> or 211.
>>>
>>> Ron Cyger
>>> Monrovia
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 10:10 AM Ursula K. Heise via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <heise.ursula...> <mailto:<gmail.com...>> wrote:
>>> Hello Birders:
>>>
>>> Just got back from going along Ballona Lagoon/Strongs Drive in Marina Del Rey. There are hundreds of dead fish floating from the ocean toward the Venice Canals: large and small, all kinds of species. Does anybody have info on what’s happening? Or how to report it to LA County Beaches and Harbors? I went to their website, and there seems to be no link to report an environmental issue that also has one concerned about the birds in the area (lots of egrets this morning).
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help,
>>>
>>> Ursula K. Heise
>>> Venice
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
