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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-11-13; City Council; 16432; Update On Eradication Of Caulerpa Taxifolia7 CITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# lb,,%% m: DEPT. HD. h&f-! + UPDATE ON THE ERADICATION OF CAULERPA MTG. ii-1301 TAXIFOLIA FROM AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON CITYATTY. / DEPT. PLN %@ ClTYMGR& RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council RECEIVE the presentation about the current situation in Agua Hedionda Lagoon. ITEM EXPLANATION: After the June 2000, detection of Caulerpa Taxifolia within Agua Hedionda Lagoon, the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team (SCCAT) was formed to eradicate the highly invasive seaweed. The SCCAT is primarily a multi-agency coalition of local, regional, state and federal agencies that have various authorities and responsibilities. The SCCAT has forwarded a request to the City (Exhibit 1) to approach the City Council with a current status report of the eradication efforts, and to make recommendations for City Council action that would promote the completion and success of the on-going detection, surveillance, monitoring and eradication efforts. ENVIRONMENTAL: While the Caulerpa Taxifolia situation is an environmental issue within the city, there is no environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act for the proposed City Council presentation by the SCCAT. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact in providing City Council with this update. EXHIBITS: 1. Letter from John Robertus, Executive Director of the Regional Water Quality Control Board - San Diego Region, dated November I,2001 wJ-02-BE1 10:03 Rw(xB REGION 3 OI7 _)II”JIL I .” t3 C&ifornia Regional Water Quality Control Board San Diego Region 9,,4Sky pprLCt,m Suil. 100, San Oicp. Cdifcmia 91123 F!mnc (8.56) 4674952 - PAX (658) 5714972 Novsmbar 1,200l Mr. Ray Patchett City Manager City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village I)livc Carlsbad, California 92008 Dear Mr. Patchettz SURJRCT: Request for City Couudl Meetiug Agenda Item about Caukvpa ta*ifol& In Agua Bedionda Lagoon I am writing to quest that the November 13,200l City Council meeting agenda include an item about the efforts to eradicate the highly invasive non-native seaweed Caulerpa taifolia in Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Such an agenda item would provide the oppomtniry for representatives of several federal and state agencies participating in the Southcm California Caulerpa Action Team (SCCAT) to update the council members on the status of the eradication efforts and to make recommendations for future City actions, including formal action by the City Council. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board is one of the state agencies participating in SCCAT. Mr. Bruce Posthumus (858-467-2964). chair of SCCAT, will remsent the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control at the City Council meeting. JOHN H. ROBERTUS Executive officer San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board cc: Michael HoIzndller, City of Carlabad Planning Director Bill Paznokaa, CDPG Bob Hoffman, NMFS Lars Anderson, USDA TOT% P.01 November lo,2001 Mayor Bud Lewis and members of the Carlsbad City Council 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Dear Mayor Lewis and City Council Members: AGENDA ITEM # / c4 Mawr f@ /61L.I33 Cl6 &ki;E:cil Cli:f Manager my wt?oriIey The decision to close the Agua Hedionda Lagoon to recreational use may soon be presented to you. The arguments to do so will come from SCCAT, composed mainly of government fish and wildlife agencies, environmental groups, and individuals employed by Merkel and Associates, the contractor in charge of eradicating the caulerpa taxifolia. During my 24 years as a citizen of Carlsbad, I have been a frequent user of the lagoon. The arguments will be variations of the following basic concepts: 1. Boats cause a danger to diving operations 2. Boats cause the water conditions to be unfavorable to underwater visibility. 3. Boats cause the spreading of the caulerpa to other parts of the lagoon. Argument number 3 probably has the most convincing sounding premise so I will deal with it first. As a professional ship captain I have spent 34 years as a student of how vessels interact with the medium in which they float and the sea bottom. The rules remain the same regardless of the size of vessel. Large ships navigating rivers, bays, harbors and estuaries are often at very close tolerances in regard to draft versus the water depth, and beam in regard to channel width. Vessels operating in an essentially unrestricted waterway with a depth three times or more than the vessel’s draft will have no interaction with the bottom. In short, a water-ski boat with a draf? of 23 inches will not have any effect from propeller wash or hull movement on plant life on the bottom under the vessel in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Merkel and Associates marine biologist Ms. Woodfield’s comments as printed in the November 6 edition of the North County Times are as follows: “Motorboats and jet skis contribute to some extent to the spread of the algae. The propeller wash current blows the bottom (of the lagoon) around”. This is an incorrect statement given the depths and that the algae is covered with tarps and boomed off preventing the approach of vessels even in the shallower areas near Hoover St. where such bottom interaction could take place. Argument number 2 is invalid largely for the same reasons as number one. Conditions that effect water clarity in the lagoon include the time of year, water temperature, tidal currents during spring tides, the presence of plankton and other marine life, sun angle to the water, and wind conditions. The presence or absence of boating activities will not have any affect on underwater visibility. Argument number 1 is a matter of common sense, good seamanship, communication and proper professional conduct in performing the surveying, inspection and eradication measures of the caulerpa. The City has done a very good job of informing the boating public of ongoing dive . . - operations through mailers to the lagoon permit holders. This policy should be continued. Boat operators understand the meaning of the “diver down” flag, and buoys and booms that mark areas to be avoided. The few incidents that have taken place have been due to improper signals being displayed by the divers and the lack of warning from the operator of the attending dive boat Unfortunately, Ms. Woodtield herself has been guilty of not displaying proper signals when conducting underwater surveying. If I might direct your memories to the City Council Meeting when you heard comments regarding the establishment of a ban on anchoring and fishing in the lagoon; Mr. Merkel was asked by one of the Council members if boats or jet skies operating on the lagoon surface contributed to the spread of the algae. The answer was no, that only fishhooks, anchors, and any device that actually made contact with the bottom in the area where the caulerpa grows were suspected of causing the spread from one area to another. Boaters and fishermen have subsequently observed the ban on anchoring and fishing. There are two goals that need to be achieved here. First, caulerpa taxifolia needs to be removed from the lagoon and not allowed to spread to the sea. Second, the lagoon needs to be preserved as a recreational waterway for the citizens of Carlsbad, our neighbors, and those visiting our area to enjoy as our children and we have for decades. Agua Hedionda Lagoon is the crown jewel of Carlsbad and unique in Southern California. The two goals can be met without accomplishing one at the expense of the other. The boating public must be made aware of what operations are being conducted and what areas to avoid. Proper markings, signals, advertising and on-site communication will provide a condition where divers performing their duties and recreational users of the lagoon can co-exist during this process. Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. Yours truly, Captain Bob Payne 406 1 Skyline Road Carlsbad, CA 92008 cc: Mayor Bud Lewis Councilwoman Ann Kulchin Councilwoman Julianne Nygaard Councilwoman Ramona Finilla Coucilman Malt Hall City Manager Raymond Patchett Bristol Cove POA -... . II-CT-0 I November 11, 2001 AGENDA lTEhl # 7 Mayor Bud Lewis and Members of the Carlsbad City Council o: iUZly0r A8 IL,Lt32- 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive City Collncil Carlsbad CA 92008 City Manager City Attorney Dear Mayor Lewis and Council Members, cp clerk l- rmuw0-L It is my belief, to clearly understand the problems that are facingur!. Hedionda Lagoon, we must look at the events that have occurred in a time%ue fashion. To determine what avenue of approach would be best suited to mainlhin-~ ‘. the preservation of the lagoon, I am outlining the events to date as they have occurred. 1. During the eel grass replacement, which was part of the mitigation requirement for dredging the lagoon, caulerpa taxifolia (algae) was discovered at the bottom of Hoover Street in the lagoon in the June of 2000. The area of infestation was roped off to prevent access and spreading of the algae. An “intense snrveyy~s m performed at that time to determine the extent of the infestation. 2. Later that summer, KDCI News interviewed one of the main divers who said that it was dilBcnlt to determine if they had discovered all of it (algae) due to tbe large amount of eel grass in the lagoon. At this pohrt in time, the major agencies who had descended upon the lagoon, and who had been camping out on the shoreline area, below Hoover Street, disappeared from a management position and have hardly been seen since. Soon after, a video was produced with Alan Alda ard Miss Rachel Woodlield. In the video she was quoted sayhtg that the algae was “under control and managed”. She also described the water conditions as “deep and calm”. 3. In June 2001, with the mitigation funds from the eel grass, continued diving occurred. Near Eckes’ point, a new area of algae was discovered. At this point Merkel and Associates came before you and the council requesting a ban on anchoring and fishing in the entire lagoon. At that time, they did not state that the anchoring and lashing was the cause of the new location of algae discovered. They merely suggested that it would be prudent to ban fishing and anchoring. During the question and answer period at the council meeting, Mr. Merkel was questioned by City Council as to whether surface boats were deemed as dangerous as to the spread of the algae. As you may recall, he said, “they are not a problem”. Members of Bristol Cove and other citizens voiced concerns to IMerkel and Associates that night, that a full “intense survey” needed to be completed. Mr. Merkel explained to me that an “intense survey” entailed having three or four divers shoulder to shoulder criss-crossing the entire lagoon. It should he noted that after this meeting of the City Council, that a signilicant increase of diver activity was observed by all who were using the lagoon. I would also like to point out that I recommended to the City Council that someone other than a consulting firm should he the lead agency overseeing survey, diving, funding and management of the eradication. . 4. In late August 2001, while doing still more eel grass planting just southeast of old Whitey’s Landing, two small areas of infestation of the algae were discovered in deep water. It should be noted that significant time period had gone by since the banning of fishing and anchoring in the lagoon before they discovered this new area. It was discovered only because of the planting of the eel grass. It was at this point in time, that the “intense survey” truly began. In speaking with the divers on somewhat of a daily basis Monday through Friday, they confirmed that they were a few small shoots in deep water. They mentioned that tarping. and treatment at that time had been done. 5. August through October, an “intense survey” of the remaining of the lagoon is completed. All the way to the far east end through what is now the passive area. Now the news is out that funding for further monitoring and diving has been exhausted. During the entire time of the operation of eradication, the boating and passive use (kayaks, sailboats, etc.) community cooperated fully to respect the ‘properly’ marked areas of containment, tarped and poisoned well below the surface. I am certain that if Merkel and Associates felt that surface boats were spreading the algae, their organization would have paddled or swam out to the containment areas. This is an issue of shared usage. It always has been. Agna farming, lish hatcheries, YMCA summer camps and recreational boating and sports have enjoyed years of use even under this present problem. Efforts to cooperate, to a fully funded., eradication effort is a sound direction for all to follow. If necessary, during peak” survey hours, during certain weeks of the summer, partial closure could become+ option to ensure maximum safety to all. However, a closer review of procedures anil ’ management of activities on the lagoon and better communication is necessary. -~ : The allocation of funds should be a top priority to all and should be the.main emphasis of this council and other agencies and parties involved (i.e. Cabrillo Power). The SCAT agencies seem determined to set policy. When the real problem lies in enough funding to eradicate it prior to entering the open sea. After talking with a contact at the Los Angeles Harhor Mitigation fund, there is an area~in Huntington Beach in the Bolsa Chica area which recently donated additional funds for lagoon enhancement. I know Mrs. Kulchin and other members of the City Council, are aware of how beneficial these funds can he for the enhancement of the lagoons. Why not the eradication of something that is endangering the entire seacoast? I appreciate this opportunity to convey my concerns regarding caulerpa taxifolia. We can get through this similar to September II *, if we don’t react from a basis of fear, but rather from a well organixed and funded program of eradication. Yours truly, 7&Q 72 Thomas A. Frey 4677 -C Park Drive Carlsbad CA 92008