LONG BEACH - The city of Long Beach has been awarded a $2.5 million grant for its wetlands restoration project, a plan to create open space with improve habitat along the Los Angeles River, Supervisor Don Knabe announced Tuesday.The grant came from the California Resources Agency, which helps fund projects that provide public access or are part of conservation activities. Long Beach, in a joint project with L.A. County Public Works, is looking to restore 34 acres of wetlands along the lower Los Angeles River and allow native vegetation and animal habitats to thrive again. Construction is expected to begin next summer. "I am pleased that the California Resources Agency has awarded $2.5 million in funding to the city of Long Beach for the restoration of the DeForest Wetlands project along the lower Los Angeles River," Knabe said in a statement. "This project will be the longest public open space project on the Los Angeles River to date."

********** Published: September 16, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 22