The Tidewater Goby seems uniquely adapted to brackish and freshwater conditions. It is scattered in lagoons and marshes along most of California's coast. In the early spring, the male excavates a more or less vertical burrow in the sand in shallow water. Females develop a striking black breeding color on their body and median fins. They cavort, display and compete with each other for access to teh burrows for egg laying. The males, which stay somber in color, remain nearby to guard the eggs. Egg clutches from several females may occur in one burrow. The elongate eggs are attached to the sandy walls with fine sticky filaments. The young hatch in about ten days in closed lagoons which are at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They begin reproducing by the following spring. Their short life span (usually a year in southern California) and ecological restriction to a low salinity environment means that once a population is eliminated, it seldom re-estasblishes itself naturally. Several southern California populations have disappeared and others are at risk.

The Tidewater Goby is one fo the rare aquatic species that restrict themselves to brackish or low salinity waters. Brackish water species often do not disperse well, reducing genetic exchange. As each population goes its own way, more morphological and genetic variation often characterizes these species. This kind of isolation is important in the development of new species. Over the more than 1500 kilometer (938 mile) range of the Tidewater Goby, one finds the degree of morphological and genetic variation that can be found between different species of some other fishes.

Dr. Swift is an Associate Curator of Fishes at the L.A. Natural History Museum where he works on the status and biology of freshwater and estuarine fishes.

**Footnote Source: Tidelines, is the Newsletter by Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Please note also that the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro is a long established educational facility, that exists despite the City of Los Angeles not funding it properly. The citizens of San Pedro, marine biologists and environmentalists, have overcome the bureacracy of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles does not deserve credit for this Aquarium because they do not fund it adequately. However, the citizens, volunteers, scientists, children, environmentalists and educators that work hard to make it a success deserve the credit.**

Today, in 2001, just four years after 1997, when Camm Swift taught us about the Southern California Wetlands, we are making some progress, but threats to these imperiled ecosystems still exist. For example, the Tidewater Goby has been restored and recovered at Malibu Lagoon. However, the threat of breaching the Lagoon so that seawater can enter the Lagoon is a saltwater threat to the Tidewater Goby. Also, the increased sewage outfall from septics which adds nitrogen to Malibu Lagoon is a threat that imperiles the Lagoon.

Today, in 2001, opportunities for restoration and recovering abound. Opportunities waiting to happen. Time will tell! Humans from Europe, via their American colonies, then the United States, have only been here with their covering of the Earth with cement and asphalt for about 225 years. For about the last 50 years of these 225 years, Society has changed its perceptions toward Nature and the environment, but some federal agencies have not changed. For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a "misguided" force against nature lovers and liveable city advocates since the 1950s. The Sierra Club, Wetlands Action Network, and CalPIRG, have joined forces to take on the Engineers at the U.S. Army. The case is in front of the UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT about the NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) and Ballona Wetlands destruction.

Abolishing the "Army Engineers" as an agency will not work, but lessening its power in civilian matters in Los Angeles is a proper goal. As we replace this federal agency of the "Army Engineers," we need to elevate other federal agencies such as USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and USFWS (Fish & Wildlife Service) to take the lead in regulating wetland delineations, open space, liveable cities, and nature protection in Los Angeles.

We need more Parks of the natural kind. The ecological and logical choice is CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. Their influence is increasing in urban Los Angeles. Topanga, Los Angeles River, Baldwin Hills, Chino Hills, and Ballona Wetlands are examples of California State Parks' involvement. Their resource ecologists are the guiding forces to restore and recover wetlands at Malibu, Ballona, Mugu, and Bolsa Chica as Camm Swift recommended. The Tidewater Goby at Malibu Lagoon State Park is a fine example of good government involvement in the conservation of an endangered species. There is more to be done, everything is a process and a continuum, and things are moving in the right direction at Malibu Lagoon for the Tidewater Goby.