Events

The City of Newport Beach (City) will host an open house to provide information and gather community input as we develop a Western Snowy Plover Critical Habitat Management Plan. The open house is scheduled for Thursday, September 14, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Marina Park Community Center, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.  

The Western Snowy Plover (Plover), a small shorebird, is federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  A population of Plovers live on the Balboa Peninsula for a majority of the year. Under the ESA, the area between B Street to G Street is designated a “critical habitat” area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The City is required to help manage and protect this habitat area and would appreciate your participation as we develop a plan to do so.

We are seeking your input on various components of the management plan including:

• Western Snowy Plover Monitoring Program
• Habitat Restoration and Maintenance 
• Public Education, Outreach and Protective Measures
• Beach Operations and Maintenance
• Predator Control Monitoring Program

Representatives from various City departments (Police, Fire & Lifeguards, Community Development, Recreation, and Municipal Operations), Dudek Engineering and Environmental Biologists, and representatives of USFWS, and the California Coastal Commission will be available during the open house to answer questions related to the critical habitat area and management plan process.  

An information and comment packet will be available at the open house and will posted online Friday, September 8 on the Snowy Plover Critical Habitat resource page.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 949-644-3036 or recreation@newportbeachca.gov.