Killing Nature with a Nature Trail?

A planned nature walking trail in the Ballona Wetlands that is halfway completed may be stopped due to the discovery of a nearly extinct wildflower. Rains have brought out a patch, possibly the largest population in existence, of bright yellow Orcutt's yellow pincushions in the middle of the four-acre project a few miles north of LAX. Now two environment groups want the L.A. Department of Public Works to stop the project so state wildlife authorities can examine the site and project. Nature-lovers are "killing nature with a wildlife-enhancement project," said Ballona Institute director Robert Jan van de Hoek. The Center for Biological Diversity is also siding with Hoek.