"There's a small percentage of wetlands that are remaining, and the birds that migrate in the winter have to stop here to refuel," Leuthold said. "Since so many of those pit stops have been eliminated, if we don't protect this, we're looking at a lost species."
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Leuthold's class met with officials from the Coastal Commission, who demonstrated how to dig holes and transfer potted plants into the ground. The school obtained most of the plants from the Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano.
According to Jennifer Naegele of the Coastal Commission, the combination of breeze and local housing developments has led to a number of invasive species — including ice plants and mustard — growing along the Back Bay. Naegele said the land might take years to completely rid itself of non-native species, but added that the students' work made a difference.
Early College High School, which opened last August and has only one grade level so far, uses the Back Bay for a number of activities. The art class is sketching the wetlands, and Leuthold is trying to get a grant from the Coastal Commission to lead her students on kayak tours.
For the moment, ninth-grader Cassandra Rubalcava said she was happy to do her part for the wetlands.
"It's a tough job in the sun, but you get the hang of it," said Cassandra, 14.
Eric Noel, 13, noted that planting shoots in the ground was only the beginning.
"This is not all the work," he said. "There's more work. There are people who raise these plants, and that takes a lot of time and care."
