The Grand Canal is a remnant canal. It is the remains 
of an extensive 1905 development intended to resemble Venice Italy and is located in the heart of Venice California. www.venicehistorical.org/ After years of neglect the canal has been rediscovered as an asset to the community and wildlife. The restoration of the canal is a project combining mitigation required by the developer in order to build along the canal and habitat restoration for wildlife including snails, birds and the pygmy blue butterfly. The canal is being restored from the water line to the upland, an elevation difference of less than 10 feet but a critical 10 feet for the various species that live in wetlands and adjoining uplands.
Growing Solutions became involved in the Grand Canal Project through master wetland restorationist Dr. Wayne Ferren. Wayne, in his characteristically generous style, brought together a widely diverse stakeholders group to develop a mitigation-driven project into a community-based restoration. www.santamonicabay.org/
In 2008 the LA Conservation Corp http://www.lacorps.org/ and Growing Solutions began
growing a combination of wetland and upland plants for the project. Each organization involved students in the process, providing a unique educational opportunity for youth to gain a better understanding of wetland ecosystems.
The original development project didn’t survive the economic downturn and the restoration project went into limbo while the plants continued to grow. The Ballona Institute www.ballonainstitute.org stepped in to complete the project. To better understand the process and increase chances for success Marcia Hanscom, Roy van de Hoek and Marie Massa of the Institute came to the Growing Solutions’ nursery in Santa Barbara to see the plants and determine how the project would be implemented via a grassroots effort.
During October and November 2009 various crews of volunteers, community members and students have been coming to the site and planting plants. These include including students from the The Westside Leadership Magnet School just across the street from the Grand Canal site. www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Westside_Leadership_Magnet/
With funding from the Southern California Wetlands Project www.scwrp.org and The LA Conservation Corp, Growing Solutions has been able to conduct multiple restoration workshops. To date over 600 plants have been installed with many more to go.
The project was featured in an article in The Santa Monica Mirror, December 2009.
For more information and volunteer opportunities contact Ballona Institute. www.ballonainstitute.org
To learn more about the wetlands 
of Southern California check out:
• Friends of the Ballona Wetlands www.ballonafriends.org/
• Ballona Institute www.ballonainstitute.org
• Carpinteria Salt Marsh nrs.ucop.edu/Carpinteria-Salt-Marsh.htm
• Venice Historical Society www.venicehistorical.org/
Grand Canal
