There are 28 coastal wetlands scattered along the southern California coast from Santa Barbara County, south to the Mexican border. Fifteen of these wetlands possess high values for wildlife. The remainder, primarily because of smaller size or degree of alteration, are of lesser importance. About 67 percent of southern California's wetlands have been lost to dredging, filling and other alterations which have removed them as wildlife habitat. Of the remaining wetland acreage, 42 percent is threatened by existing plans for development and utilization of these wetlands.
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