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Who
are the “Friends of Madrona Marsh”? The
Friends of Madrona Marsh (FOMM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to
preserving and restoring the Madrona Marsh. The Friends
have been the backbone of the Madrona Marsh Preserve for the last thirty
years. They are involved in creating, sponsoring and conducting various
activities to promote the preservation and restoration of the marsh and
being of service to the
FOMM is
the owner and operator of the Nature Center Gift
Shop. There is a wide
variety of books about nature, puzzles, games, toys, jewelry and shirts
and a special kids area in the shop.
All proceeds help fund various programs at the
Preserve. We invite you to become a member of the Friends of Madrona Marsh. History
of the Friends of Madrona Marsh (FOMM) and Relationship to the City
of ü
The land now saved as a
preserve never had been developed. It
was held vacant except for an oil drilling platform on a small portion of
it. Oil drilling had begun in
the 1920s, when the land was far from any other development.
In essence, oil production saved it. ü
In the 1950s and 1960s,
ü
City management and, in
particular, the Parks and Recreation Department, found it could not keep
up with the loss of open space and the need for it. ü
A consultant report
confirmed that Torrance was falling behind in it’s ratio of optimum open
space per capita and identified the private oil drilling property as
potential permanent open space. ü
In this process, the City
became aware that Audubon and others used the marsh area was for bird
watching. Professors and
students in biology and other nature study classes at El Camino College
and ü
The City wanted to test the
water for public support. It
held a public meeting attended by a fairly broad spectrum of interests.
From then, public pressure mounted and the Friends of Madrona Marsh
was founded and grew to be a very large and influential force. ü
Civic and ecological
organizations joined the support effort. ü
The land continued to be
owned by the oil company, however. ü
The Friends of Madrona
Marsh and the City lobbied for money to buy the land.
Preservation of the marsh came to be included in numerous bills
introduced in the House of Representatives and the State Legislature. They
received Licensed Plate funds, County recognition and inclusion in the
Keene Wetlands Bill. The
lobbying and letter writing kept going throughout. ü One of the most important assets of the group was dynamic leadership- relentless and informed. They held a consortium of interests together for 15 years. The continued to give talks, lead walks, have social events, work at all volunteer events throughout the area, keeping the idea alive. All this time, volunteers planted, weeded and watered native species as part of the restoration of the marsh and upland preserve. The
Receipt Of The Land ü
The City and FOMM still
sought the money to buy the land, but it was much too costly.
In the late 1970s, a massive development was fended off for several
reasons—intensity of the development primarily. ü
In the mid-1980s, the oil
company (owner of the land), the owner of Del Amo Mall and Watt
development company formed Torrance Investment Company, a corporation with
the intent of building condominiums. The land involved not only the 54
acre marsh site, but the 110 acres to the east. As part of the agreement
between the City and TIC, a density bonus would be granted the development
in return for dedication of the 42 acre marsh site.
The City further agreed to build a street from Crenshaw to the
shopping center. ü Final deeding of the land to the City took place in 1987. City
And Friends After The Land Was Saved ü
The City hired a
professional naturalist to establish the programs for land and water
management and restoration. He
also conducted tours, held classes, and was liaison with the Friends.
During this time, the Friends continued to be visible and active.
Membership remained at a high level. ü
In the early 1990s, MM
received a part of County park bond funding.
That money was used to build the existing ü
The Metropolitan Water
District funded a native plant (xeriscape) garden around the perimeter of
the Center. ü The on-going restoration of the land, water, plant and animal life on the Preserve has been intensified by additional planning and funding afforded by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project. Creation of the Friends of Madrona Marsh In
1972, a meeting of more than 50 people was held in the old City Hall
Council Chambers to organize a support group for the preservation of a
potential wildlife park in
In
In the early 1980's the Torrance Investment Company, a partnership of Watt
Homes, Anderson Properties, Sherl Curci and Santa Fe Energy (landowner),
became seriously interested in developing the property north of Sepulveda
Blvd. , between Madrona Ave. and Crenshaw Blvd. which included the Madrona
Marsh land. In
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