One of the biggest problems with large human populations is that we tend to wipe out the natural areas when we move into a location. This is certainly true of the greater Los Angeles area, which include houses with a Torrance zip code. Our society's commitment to natural barrier free living has meant that wherever a big city stands, nature has been sacrificed. This is certainly true of the area surrounding Torrance. Once a place where animals and plants could thrive in local marshes and estuaries, there are now very few natural spots left.

Over the years we have tried to minimize our impact on the natural world somewhat. We recycle industrial water through the use of waste water treatment chemicals and other steps; we have emission laws and standards. These steps have helped preserve a few remaining spots in the South Bay area, one of which is the Madrona Marsh. This is the last marsh in the entire area, and has been preserved right in the city of Torrance by municipal and state governments.

You will never see a horse fence erected around the boundaries of the marsh, as no domestic animals are allowed around it. This is to preserve the sensitive ecology of the area and keep the animals species which still live there safe from encroachment. Monitoring of the balance of the marsh is part of the mandate given to the Madrona Marsh nature center, a facility operated by the city of Torrance.

The nature center sits on the edge of the marsh. It is a large facility that is used for educating the public on the importance of the marsh and preserving it. As a nature based facility, the Center includes many green technologies. For example, low flow toilets mean you will never see a septic tank pump truck arriving to the Center, as there is no need.

The Madrona Marsh Nature Center introduces visitors to the marsh and to wetland ecology in a number of different ways. Guides take visitors on tours of the marsh over the trails and pathways that have come to naturally cross it through the activity of its animal species. Bird watching is very popular along these trails as well, and the site is used by a local college as a lab for botany and biology.

Much as everyone would like to keep the Marsh totally equestrian, London Ontario visitors will probably notice that there are visible signs of invasion even in this preserved area. The oil industry at one time tried to open operations in the marsh, but public outcry caused a minimization of the process and more protection for the area.

The Nature Center at the marsh is also very active in restoring some of the lost species to the area. Efforts with local plants and insect species have been particularly successful.