Batiquitos Lagoon

GENERAL			Source
Site	Batiquitos Lagoon
Map	Encinitas 7.5' USGS quadrangle
Location	28 miles north of the City of San Diego, between the Cities of Leucadia and Carlsbad, at the southern edge of Carlsbad.
Contacts	California Coastal Commission, San Diego, (619) 521-8036
	Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Field Office, (619) 467-4202
	US Fish and WIldlife Service, Carlsbad, (619) 431-9440
Approximate Wetland Acreage	542 (Pre-enhancement)		18
Approximate Historic Acreage	724		18

Ownership	Owner	Acres	Source
	State Lands Commission (Leased to Fish and Game)	464	17
	Department of Fish and Game	135	17
	Port of Los Angeles (To be conveyed to the state as part of enhancement)	30-40	1, 14
	Private	Not available

LAND USE			Source
Land Use Designation	Open Space in the City of Carlsbad General Plan.		8
Onsite Use	El Camino Real, Carlsbad Blvd., Highway 101, I-5, and the Santa Fe Railroad divide the lagoon into three basins. In 1983, the lagoon was made a DFG State Ecological Reserve. Passive recreation is the predominant use. There are two trails along		8
	the north shore of the lagoon.
Historic Use	25 acres in the eastern basin were used as evaporation ponds between 1901-1910. Secondary treated wastewater was discharged into the lagoon from 1967 to1974.		8
Adjacent Use	El Camino Real and commerical lands are to the east of the lagoon. A golf course and other development are to the north. La Costa Avenue lies along the		8
	southern edge of the lagoon. The area south of La Costa Avenue includes vacant land and residential development. South Carlsbad State Beach is located to the west.
Historic Adjacent Use	Irrigated orchards were a prevalent land use around the lagoon beginning in 1917.		8

HYDROLOGY			Source
Tidal Influence	Highway 101, the railroad, and I-5 limit the reach of tidal action in the lagoon. The location of the entrance channel is fixed by the 101 bridge. Over the past ten years the mouth has been predominatly closed; the tidal prism is insufficient to clear		1, 8
	sediment accumulated in the mouth. The potential mean tidal prism in 1985 was 13.2 million cubic feet(approx 303 acre-feet). The mouth has been occasionally opened by mechanical means. A project was underway in October 1995 to keep the mouth open.
Watershed Area	52 square miles		9

Tributaries and Flow	Tributary	Flow	Source
	San Marcos creek	It was estimated in 1989 that a 100-year flood would discharge 1,050 c.f.s into the lagoon.	1
	Encinitas creek	It was estimated in 1989 that a 100-year flood would discharge 804 c.f.s into the lagoon.	1
Dams	San Marcos Dam, constructed in 1952, controls approximately 53% of the watershed.		8
Other Sources	Several smaller tributary streams flow from the north and south into the lagoon. Freshwater also enters the lagoon from storm water runoff and seeps associated with the canyons to the north and south. Groundwater also provides a water source.		1, 8, 11, 9

WATER QUALITY			Source
General	1994-1995-bacteria levels were generally below the level of concern. Proposed for delisting in 1996 draft list of impaired water bodies. Beneficial uses are rec1, rec2, biol, est, wild, rare, mar, and migr.		7, 15, 16
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)	1994- Data were collected at four stations covering all basins on August 17th and 18th (mouth closed/pre-enhancement). DO concentration of surface water ranged 4.80 to 18.65 mg/l; measured at one station, bottom water read 3.18 mg/l.		2
Water Salinity	1994- Data were collected at four stations covering all basins on August 17th and 18th (mouth closed/pre-enhancement). Surface salinities ranged from 10.1 to 10.6 ppt.		2
	1979-1982-Sampling at three stations in the east and west basins found ranges from 0 to 100 ppt, with extremely high salinities occurring in dry years.		1
Sediment	1985-average annual sediment rate was estimated to be less than an inch (1-2 cm) per year.		8, 10

Soil			Source
Soil	Eocene and Pliocene age sandstone, Pleistocene terrace, and alluvial deposits comprise the geologic base. Soils consist of graded sand, silty sand, elastic silts, and fat clays. A layer of black organic silt is present throughout the		1, 11
	lagoon from the mudline to a depth of 6-12 inches.

Habitat	Acres	Vegetation
	Data represent pre-enhancement conditions
Open water	348	Not specified
Estuarine flats	85	1944 - Sparsely vegetated with pickleweed or alkali bulrush.	1
Coastal salt marsh	100	1994 - coastal marsh species dominated by common pickleweed, alkali heath, and salt grass; prickly ox-tongue, sow thistle and rabbitfoot grass* found in some high marsh areas. No cordgrass.	Ac. 18 Plants 2
Riparian	2	1988 - The riparian woodland community was dominated by willow, tamarisk, elderberry and tree tobacco.	1
Brackish emergent marsh	7	1988 - Soft-flag cattail, tule cattail, common tule and bulrush were the dominant species.	Ac. 18 Plants 1
Upland	16	1993 - Coastal sage scrub and chaparral	18

ANIMAL USE	Data represent pre-enhancement conditions		Source
Birds	1994 - 136 species observed over the year, 76 water-associated species including 14 sensitive (8 additional sensitive species in other habitats). 1991 - Belding's Savannah sparrow# nesting; 1994 - western snowy plover# and California least tern# nesting.		5, 6, 19, 20
Fish	1994 - A total of 6 species of fish were caught at three stations in seines and beam trawls in August. Mosquitofish* were dominant. Other species observed included Ca. killifish, mudsucker, pipefish, bluegill, and smallmouth bass.		2
Benthic Inverts	1988 - Samples collected throughout the lagoon. number of total species not specified. Taxa found were: polychaete worm, ostracod, gastropod, pelecypod mollusc, and crustacean.		1
Insect	1994 - 3 orders collected in beach seines, with water beetles, dragon and damsel flies, stone flies, and gill-bearing nymphs most abundant; quadrats of the intertidal found ants, shore bugs and rove beetle burrows.		1, 2
Other Wildlife	1984 - 21 mammal species occurred in wetland and upland areas; black tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontail, ground squirrel, house mouse, coyote, skunk, raccoon, and dogs* were most common. 1976-10 reptile species observed in the lagoon		8, 11, 13
	area, including western pond turtle+, aquatic garter snake, and gopher snake.
Special Status Species	1994 - Common loon, Amer white and Ca brown pelican+, double-crested cormorant, white-faced ibis, osprey, light-footed clapper rail, western snowy plover, long-billed curlew, Ca gull, caspian tern, elegant tern, Ca least tern#, black skimmer,		1, 5, 6, 11,19, 20
	long billed curlew, white-faced ibis, Belding's Savannah sparrow, osprey, and 8 additional upland species; also 1991 - Belding's Savannah Sparrow#; 1994 - California least tern# and Western snowy plover#. 1976 - western pond turtle.

OUTLOOK			Source
Enhancement Status	In 1984 the Coastal Conservancy prepared the Batiquitos lagoon enhancement plan. To mitigate impacts at the Port of Los Angeles, the Port is currently implementing the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project, which was developed cooperatively with		1, 14
	resource agencies and includes some recommendations from the Conservancy plan. The project involves dredging the lagoon, constructing new inlet jetties to keep the mouth open and permanently restore tidal flows,
	and creating nesting areas for colonial nesting birds including the Ca. least tern and western snowy plover. Construction was expected to be complete by the end of 1996. The project includes 10 years of monitoring for biota and water quality.
Watershed Management	In 1987 the Coastal Conservancy prepared the Batiquitos lagoon watershed sediment control plan. This plan recommended construction of sediment traps and was not implemented. In 1989, the City of Carlsbad and the Port of LA completed a		10, 4, 21
	sediment load study for the lagoon, which concluded that inadequate tidal flushing was a greater factor in the rapid filling of the lagoon than sedimentation from upland sources. It's conclusions were incorporated into the enhancement plan.
	The City has also established a database focusing on development in the watershed.
Pressure	Sedimentation, eutrophication, and recreation impacts from agriculture and urban development in the watershed.		14, 16

SOURCES
1	City of Carlsbad and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project EIR/EIS draft vols. I and II, final vols. I, II, and III. 1990.
	These volumes describe and evaluate the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project and alternatives. The environmental setting and analysis of environmental effects are presented in detail in volumes I and II of the Draft. Original data were collected for
	biological resources. Existing information is incorporated into much of the analysis. Vol. I of the final summarizes the environmental analysis and expands discussions of project issues raised during the comment period.
	Vol. II contains the response to comments and Vol. III contains technical appendices which include several analyses of physical processes, the long-term monitoring plan and an assessment of the project's effect on regional habitat values.
2	Wetlands Research Associates. Batiquitos Lagoon enhancement project pre-construction monitoring report. 1994. 40 pp., plus appendices.
	Before construction of the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project, a survey of the vegetation, water quality, benthos and sediments, fish and birds was conducted. This report summarizes the results of baseline monitoring on August 16-18, 1994.
	Raw data are provided in the appendices.
3	California Department of Fish and Game. 1976. The natural resources of San Dieguito & Batiquitos lagoons. 110 pp.
	Comprehensive descriptions of San Dieguito and Batiquitos lagoons and their environs with recommendations for maintaining and enhancing existing resources. The document characterizes geologic and hydrologic conditions,
	vegetative, aquatic invertebrate, fish, bird, mammal, and reptile resources, and identifies problems with respect to maintaining resource health. Includes original vegetation, bird, mammal, fish and aquatic invertebrate surveys.
4	City of Carlsbad and Port of Los Angeles. 1989. Sediment load study for Batiquitos lagoon, draft technical memorandum for the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project. 39 pp., plus appendices.
	This study was done in support of the EIR/EIS for the Port of LA's Batiquitos lagoon enhancement project. The goal was to determine if sediment traps were necessary at the mouths of San Marcos and Encinitas Creeks. The report describes soils,
	land use/land cover, and runoff data for the lagoon. Detailed erosion calculations are included.
5	Wetlands Research Associates and P&D Technologies. 1995. Batiquitos lagoon enhancement project: California Least Tern breeding survey for Batiquitos lagoon, San Diego County 1995 season. 26 pp.
	Report on the second year of intensive monitoring of breeding at all historic and new California least tern nesting sites at Batiquitos Lagoon. Habitat conditions and management activities for each nesting area are detailed.
6	San Diego Audubon Society. 1995. Batiquitos lagoon bird census for 1990 - 1995. Freeman F. Hall count leader. Unpublished survey data. 8 pp.
	Summary of monthly survey data collected by the San Diego Audubon Society at Batiquitos lagoon from 1990 through August 1995.
7	Tetra Tech. 1994. Annual report,1994 water quality monitoring, Batiquitos lagoon enhancement project. 4 pp., plus attachments
	This report summarizes water quality data collected for the Batiquitos lagoon enhancement project. Data were collected from 29 June 1994 to 31 Jan. 1995 for turbidity, bacteria, and temperature, in accordance with permit conditions.
8	California State Coastal Conservancy. 1984. Batiquitos lagoon enhancement plan. 116 pp.
	This plan summarizes the Batiquitos lagoon's existing environment for soils, water and streams, natural resources, aesthetic values, plans and policies. The baseline is based on existing information. The plan also details a proposed enhancement plan and
	discusses the various tidal alternatives. It also includes a discussion on implementation.
9	Keith B. Macdonald & Associates and Ecological Research Services. 1985. Batiquitos lagoon habitat enhancement study. 106 pp., plus appendices.
	This report was prepared as part of a master plan for the Pacific Rim Country Club and Resort, to be located adjacent to the Batiquitos lagoon. It provides original data for water resources, fish and invertebrates, and rare and endangered species.
	The report includes a literature search and summary of previous studies and sources for geology, hydrology, water quality, sedimentation and ecology.
10	California State Coastal Conservancy. 1987. Batiquitos lagoon watershed sediment control plan. 60 pp., plus appendices.
	This report presents a detailed plan for erosion control in the Batiquitos lagoon watershed. Both structural and non-structural measures are discussed. It recommends eleven sediment control measures that could be implemented by the
	four jurisdictions that control development in the Batiquitos lagoon watershed. Includes information on the costs of erosion control measures.
11	Nute Engineering. 1985. Batiquitos lagoon reclamation project conceptual plan. 80 pp., plus appendices.
	This report analyzes the concept of using treated wastewater to create a freshwater habitat in the Batiquitos lagoon. The study was sponsored by the Leucadia County Water District, which maintains a treatment plant at the eastern end of the lagoon.
	It summarizes climate, geology, history, biology, and land use for the lagoon. Various lagoon enhancement and wastewater reclamation options are discussed. A conceptual plan is included.
12	Wetlands Research Associates, Inc. for the City of Carlsbad. 1990. Wetland delineation Batiquitos lagoon: Section 404 wetland boundary determination. 12 pp., plus attachments.
	As part of the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhanement Project, a wetland delineation was performed for the entire lagoon. The report defines the extent of wetlands that will be disturbed by the project and provides detailed data for the parcels that were
	acquired as part of the project implementation. The report includes original fieldwork for vegetation. Background information on hydrology and soils is based on existing information.
13	City of Carlsbad. 1984. Batiquitos lagoon management plan. 54 pp.
	This early work focuses on land use issues around the lagoon. It provides a general overivew of the history, biology, hydrology and geology of the lagoon.
14	Ralph Appy, Port of Los Angeles. Personal communication October 18, 1995.
15	San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. 1994. Water quality control plan for the San Diego basin. Approximately 225 pp. and appendices.
	The plan designates beneficial uses and associated water quality objectives for inland surface waters, coastal waters, reservoirs and lakes and ground water in San Diego County. It includes a discussion of applicable policies and statutory
	requirements and identifies measures for achieving water quality objectives. It also describes ongoing monitoring and assessment programs. Appendices contain summaries of regional growth forecasts and criteria for organic and inorganic constituents.
16	San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. 1996. Draft 303(d) list.
	A proposed list of waterbodies in the San Diego Basin that do not or are not expected to attain water quality standards after application of required technology-based controls. Specifies selected beneficial uses and criteria assessed,
	and the percentage of samples in which criteria were exceeded. It also identifies waterbodies for which previous assessments are no longer applicable.
17	Troy Kelly. Department of Fish and Game. Personal communication August 14, 1996.
18	MEC. 1993. San Dieguito Lagoon restoration project regional coastal lagoon resources summary. 56 pp and appendix.
	This report provides a summary of habitat types, fish, bird and benthic invertebrate populations at 16 coastal wetlands south of Anaheim Bay. It is primarily a synopsis of existing information; sources used in identifying and quantifying
	habitat types include aerial photographs taken in early 1993. Discusses restoration of habitats at San Dieguito Lagoon given present and historic conditions of other coastal wetlands in the region. This report was prepared as part of the
	San Dieguito Restoration Project undertaken by Southern California Edison to mitigate for damage to coastal marine resources from the operation of the San Onofore Nuclear Generating Station.
19	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1991. A survey of the Belding's savannah sparrow in California, 1991. Report to the California Department of Fish and Game. 24 pp. and survey site maps.
	Report on a survey for territorial Belding's savannah sparrow at 34 marshes between southern Santa Barbara county and the border with Mexico. Results are discussed within the context of previous years' data and recommendations are provided
	for further study and habitat improvements. The survey was carried out to provide an update on population data and to evaluate habitat conditions.
20	Wetlands Research Associates and P&D Technologies. 1995. Batiquitos lagoon enhancement project: western snowy plover breeding survey for Batiquitos lagoon, San Diego County 1995 season.17 pp.
	Report on the second year of intensive monitoring of breeding at all historic and new western snowy plover nesting sites at Batiquitos lagoon. Habitat conditions and management activities for each nesting area are detailed.
	Nesting activity and success are charted for each nest and compared to the previous breeding season. Discussion includes effects of predation and human activities.
21	Michael Josselyn. San Francisco State University, Romberg Tiburon Center for the Environment. Personal communication. March 18, 1996.

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