Judge rules seals can stay at Children's Pool (La Jolla San Diego)

[FreeState]

This has been an ongoing saga for years and years... heres to hoping this is it and the seals get their place once and for all

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/13/judge-rules-seals-can-stay-childrens-pool/

LA JOLLA — The seals can stay.

So said Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor on Friday, when he overturned two prior rulings by other judges that would have forced San Diego to disperse about 200 harbor seals that live at Children’s Pool beach in La Jolla.

Taylor said the other decisions were correct when they were issued but that legislation signed in July makes it illogical now to force San Diego to get rid of the established colony.

Starting Jan. 1, the law will give San Diego leeway to let the seals remain at the cove. There’s no indication the City Council intends to evict the animals, which are a popular tourist attraction.

Under an old agreement between San Diego and the state, the city was supposed to maintain Children’s Pool as a swimming area for people. Bacteria levels at the site exceeded health limits after the seals congregated there.

Taylor’s decision pleased animal-rights activists, who had filed a handful of lawsuits to protect the seals, and city leaders, who said it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to scare away the creatures.

The seal colony could become “a wonderful, world-class wildlife viewing area,” said Dorota Valli, a member of the Animal Protection and Rescue League in San Diego. She said the group is trying to help the city by raising money for visitors signs, murals and other features aimed at promoting the cove.

Paul Kennerson, a San Diego lawyer who has led efforts to remove the seals, was noncommital about filing more litigation.

“This may well be the end of the line,” he said.

[naaman fletcher]

cool.

I was there a few months ago, and the seals were a major attraction.

[Double T]

1. I'm concerned about the bacteria levels produced by children and the affect.........

it may have on the seals' health.

[Maat]

3. HeeHee.

:rofl:

As an almost-San-Diegan, who spends a lot of time down there (I live in the Temecula/Murrieta, Ca. area), I'll take it upon myself to say that we'll do our best to see that the seals remain in good health (speaking for my surfer brother-in-law).

:)

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R. This is pretty cool...

And how many kids would be excited about seeing them? Certainly a lot more fun than another day at the beach... :bounce: