Protecting the Los Penasquitos Lagoon

by Councilman Scott Peters
September 2003

On September 20th, 250 volunteers joined my staff and me to clean up trash at Torrey Pines State Beach and the Los Penasquitos Lagoon. The event was part of the statewide California Coastal Clean-Up Day sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, of which I am a member. Volunteers at our site removed 1,330 pounds of trash and recyclable material from the beach and lagoon. The tremendous volunteer turnout is indicative of the value that this beach and lagoon hold for all San Diegans.

The Los Penasquitos Lagoon is an environmental treasure. It is one of the last large salt water coastal lagoons in Southern California and is home to many wetland species. Coastal lagoons are the base of the food chain and incubators for young fish and other aquatic species. This is why I have made it a priority to protect and preserve this lagoon, so that our children and their children will be able to enjoy this important natural resource.

One of the first lagoon protection actions taken since I joined the City Council was the decision to permanently close Sorrento Valley Road between Carmel Mountain and Carmel Valley Roads. The closed section is slated to become a leisure corridor allowing people to walk and bike next to the lagoon, while enjoying the area’s natural resources. The separation of cars and their pollutants from the lagoon will enhance the health of this fragile ecosystem. Unfortunately, construction activity on the north end of the road has made the area a haven for illegal dumping. Last May I organized a clean-up of illegally dumped construction waste in this area and asked the police department to be more vigilant about patrolling. We’ve also organized volunteers in the area to keep an eye out for people dumping illegally. These efforts have successfully reduced the dumping in the area and you can help us by reporting illegal dumping to the police department.

On the North end of the lagoon we worked with the community to gain approval at the City and the Coastal Commission for a plan that will enhance Carmel Valley Road, reduce pollutants entering the lagoon and improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the area. The $4.8 million project, scheduled to begin next Fall, includes street improvements to the existing 1.2-mile stretch of the road between Via Mar Valle and Sorrento Valley Road. The project will add class 2 bike paths on either side of Carmel Valley Road. The South side of the road will also include a walking path along the lagoon. These improvements will provide safer access for cyclists and pedestrians to Torrey Pines State Beach and Del Mar beaches. The undergrounding of power lines, which is also part of the project, will open up view corridors and increase safety.

One of the best features of the Carmel Valley Road project is one that will not be readily seen. The new road will include storm water pollution filters that will capture and treat polluted run-off from the street before it enters the Los Penasquitos Lagoon. This will create a healthier lagoon and cleaner water at area beaches. Finally, we will removal aggressive non-native plants like ice plant, and replace them with native wetland species.

The health of the lagoon will also be improved through enhanced tidal flushing promoted by replacement of the highway 101 bridge over the mouth of the lagoon, set to begin late this year. The inflow and outflow of seawater in the lagoon is akin to the inhaling and exhaling of air into your lungs. Constant tidal flushing replenishes nutrients and keeps the entire lagoon system healthy. The current bridge has 72 pilings, which clog the mouth of the lagoon with sand, requiring heavy equipment to remove. Our new bridge will be built with only 4 pilings and engineered to promote tidal flushing. The City has also committed to continue to dredge the mouth of lagoon if and whenever it is needed. The bridge project will also remove non-native plants, replacing them with native species.

Our coastal lagoons are the hearts of the environment. They provide sand for our beaches, serve as hatcheries for fish and provide nutrients that are the base of the food chain. Our City is doing its best to protect these resources. Please think about the fragility of these areas when you drop a piece of trash or wash pollutants down a storm drain. Everything ends up downstream. I encourage everyone to learn more about this important ecosystem and look forward to seeing you all next year at California Coastal Clean-Up Day.