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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-06; Beach Preservation Commission; ; Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation ActivitiesMeeting Date: June 6, 2023 To: Beach Preservation Commission From: Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director Staff Contact: Michael Tully, Parks Planner michael.tully@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5724 Subject: Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Activities Recommended Action Receive an informational report on the activities of the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation. Discussion Deb Mossa, Vice President of the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, will discuss the foundation’s conservation, restoration and enhancement efforts at the Batiquitos Lagoon. Ms. Mossa will also present information on the ecological benefits of scheduled maintenance dredging of the lagoon, and the corresponding sand replenishment at South Ponto State Beach. Exhibits None June 6, 2023 Item #1 1 of 1 BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION Staff Report BATIQUITOS LAGOON FOUNDATION BLF INCORPORATED AS A 501(C ) (3) IN 1983 BY CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT & ENHANCE BATIQUITOS LAGOON. THE CDF&W IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAGOON. LESS THAN 10% OF WETLANDS REMAIN IN THE U.S. •WHEN THE LAGOON WAS FORMED IT WAS A BIG OPEN BAY, THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME AND SEA LEVEL DROP IT BECAME AN ESTUARY. •CONSTRICTING DEVELOPMENT: COAST HWY, RR BRIDGE & I-5 CLOSED IT TIDAL FLUSHING •TIDAL INFLUENCE WAS DIMINISHED OVER TIME AND IT BECAME STAGNANT AND SMELLY •FISH POPULATION WAS DOWN TO 5 SPECIES •ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS LEAST TERNS, SNOWY PLOVERS, RIDGEWAYS RAILS WERE BEING THREATENED PORT OF LOS ANGELES •IN 1980 MITIGATION FUNDS BECAME AVAILABLE AND IN 1984 BATIQUITOS LAGOON WAS SELECTED FOR RESTORATION WITH THESE MITIGATION FUNDS WHICH WERE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF COASTAL HABITAT DURING THE DREDGING OF SAN PEDRO HARBOR. THE INITIAL RESTORATION COST WAS OVER $55 MILLION DOLLARS AND TOOK THREE YEARS. RESTORATION PROJECT •STARTED IN 1994 AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1997, IT WAS DREDGED TO AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 6-7 FEET. THE SAND WAS PUMPED OUT AND SPREAD ONTO THE BEACH AND PACKED AROUND THE SIDES OF THE NESTING SITES AND RR BERM. IT WAS THEN FORTIFIED WITH LARGE ROCKS TO PROTECT FROM DECOMPOSITION. •THE RESTORATION PROJECT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS. THE LAGOON ITSELF CONSISTS OF 610 ACRES THAT DRAINS FROM A WATERSHED THROUGH CARLSBAD, SAN MARCOS, ENCINITAS AND PARTS OF ESCONDIDO. THE MAIN TRIBUTARIES ARE SAN MARCOS & ENCINITAS CREEKS. TODAY THERE ARE OVER 65 SPECIES OF FISH AND 200+ SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED AT THE LAGOON. •WE’VE HAD OVER 25,000 VISITORS IN OUR NATURE CENTER (2019 PRIOR TO COVID) AND ESTIMATE OVER 250,000 VISITORS USE THE TRAIL EACH YEAR. MAINTENANCE DREDGING NEEDED •IT IS ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CUBIC YARDS OF SAND ARE WASHED INTO THE LAGOON NATURALLY, THROUGH TIDES AND STORM EVENTS EACH YEAR. •THE LONGSHORE CURRENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS SAND TRANSFER •CHOKE POINTS AT PCH & RAILROAD BRIDGES DEPOSIT MAJORITY OF SAND IN CENTRAL BASIN •DEVELOPMENT OF SAND BAR REDUCES TIDAL FLUSHING MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE DREDGING •NOVEMBER 2011—APPROXIMATELY 108,00 CUBIC YARDS OF SAND WAS REMOVED ALONG WITH COBBLE STONES AND MUD •NOVEMBER 2019-APPROXIMATELY 114, 512 CUBIC YARDS OF SAND WAS REMOVED FROM CENTRAL BASIN •ALL DREDGED MATERIALS WERE PLACED ON SOUTH PONTO STATE BEACH IN A RETENTION BASIN FUTURE DATES FOR DREDGING •TBD •IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR DREDGING AND PRESERVING THE BATIQUITOS LAGOON A DREDGE CYCLE OF APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS HAS BEEN PROJECTED. BENEFITS OF DREDGING •PROMOTES WATER QUALITY BY IMPROVING TIDAL FLUSHING •ALLOWED THE DEVELOPMENT OF EELGRASS BEDS WHICH ACT AS NURSERY AREAS FOR MANY FISH SPECIES •ALLOWED THE DEVELOPMENT OF PACIFIC CORD GRASS WHICH PROVIDES REFUGE FOR ENDANGERED RIDGWAY’S RAIL •ALLOW THE TRANSPORT OF NUTRIENTS THROUGH OUT ALL THREE BASINS •ALLOWED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NESTING SITES FOR CALIFORNIA LEAST TERN & WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER •PROVIDES BEACH REPLENISHMENT OPPORTUNITY