Just east of the Harbor Freeway, in the middle of an industrial area of Carson, lies a 17-acre haven for birds, ducks, plants and other wildlife. The Bixby Marsh is a wetland that’s home to 110 different plant species, 69 bird species and other animals, including more than 40% of them federally listed endangered and threatened species, according to a fact sheet about the marsh. The marsh was once threatened by development and other challenges. But now, thanks to ongoing efforts by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, the wetland is thriving. … The marshland is not just a refuge for the local community and wildlife — but also a water filtration system for the area. When water flows into the marshland, the environment naturally cleans the water of sediments before it flows out to the local Wilmington Drain. 

Other wetlands news:

• The Orange County Register (Irvine, Calif.): Volunteers work on reversing erosion at Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach
• UC San Diego: Blog: Love your wetlands day