MISSION & HISTORY

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy is a community-spirited nonprofit land trust. 

Our mission
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy protects and restores the resources of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, its watershed, and related ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. To further this mission, we:

• engage and educate the community about the value of the reserve in order to promote ecological literacy and environmental responsibility
• conduct scientific research to advance restoration planning and conservation science
• design and implement ecological management plans
• manage and acquire land and easements; and
• collaborate with the community, organizations, and government agencies.

A volunteer board of directors sets policy for the executive director and staff. The Conservancy raises funds through membership, private donations, and public/private grants. These funds directly support habitat restoration and scientific monitoring of the reserve, and school and public programs.

History of San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
This is the story about a community that refused to let one of Southern California’s remaining wetlands disappear. Before San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve was established in 1983, economic interest in developing this unprotected watershed was soaring.

A lagoon to be saved
Prior to the 1970s, grand developments were proposed that would replace the lagoon—beachfront condominiums, a golf course, a marina, a closed saltwater lake, even a theme park with water rides.

There were those who understood the importance of this lagoon, even before environmental laws were written and enforced. Not only a haven for endangered birds and fishes, it was one of the last wild places left for recreation in the densely-populated coastal corridor of San Diego’s north county. Many in the community walked or jogged along the lagoon’s established trails, following in the footsteps of Native Americans who once relied upon this lagoon for its abundance of natural resources.

New homes were on the way. A plan to build 750 units on fingers of landfill extending into the lagoon was opposed by citizens who began to assemble as one voice. They wrote letters to residents and government officials, staffed community festivals, invited people for walks in the lagoon, and generated awareness of the importance of protecting these last places.

Ninety-percent of Southern California’s wetlands are gone—covered under asphalt and tar, polluted, or filled in for agricultural purposes and by urban growth during the last 150 years. These losses have devastated native populations of plants and animals, leaving many endangered and others extinct.

Like rainforests and coral reefs, coastal wetlands are one of the most endangered habitats in the world. Our approach to saving wetlands began to change in the 1970s with the enactment of Coastal Zone Initiative, California Coastal Management Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and Federal Endangered Species Act.

From the core group of lagoon supporters, San Elijo Alliance was formed in 1970 to stop the plans for development. Their successful efforts led to the purchase of the lagoon by the State of California and County of San Diego for the benefit of all.

In 1983, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve was officially created as a California state ecological reserve and San Diego county park at an original 852 acres.

Two citizen groups that predate San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy are recognized for their role in preserving San Elijo Lagoon:

• San Elijo Alliance was the watchdog group credited with saving the lagoon from development. Not only did it influence county and state agencies to create San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, they also fundraised for lagoon-dredging projects to improve water quality and tidal flushing. Thirty one of the original members were honored in ceremony in 2001 as the lagoon’s “Pioneer Protectors”.
• San Elijo Lagoon Foundation (founded 1976) was a nonprofit educational group that focused on restoration and management of the lagoon and surrounding wetlands. When the foundation dissolved, its assets were transferred to San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy in 2001.

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
As momentum gained for the newly established reserve, it was clear that a strategic plan for scientific monitoring and protection of the reserve needed to be established, addressing the future of conservation for this area if it is to thrive in the growing urbanization around it.

In 1987, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy was formed, tasked to continue protecting and restoring the resources of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, its watershed, and related ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations.

Today, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve has grown to 915 acres with six distinct plant communities. In the last decade, 45 acres were acquired, much of it stream-side habitat along Escondido Creek.

Land donations by private citizens, a $1.4 million land-acquisition grant from Ford Motor Company, and a real estate transaction with Rancho Santa Fe Foundation created an endowment for the Conservancy. These new properties extend the reserve’s boundaries to protect more sensitive and endangered species of plants and animals.

In 2007, County of San Diego, State of California, and San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy signed a cooperative agreement for the operation and maintenance of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve for a 25-year period. This replaced the original 1981 agreement (that expired in 2006) between State of California and County of San Diego.

In 2009, the County opened the new San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center which received Platinum LEED-certification. This year, the Conservancy's bi-annual gala will kick off the Conservancy's upcoming 25th Anniversary in 2012. 

Historic material for this article was derived from Birds of a Feather gala program 2007, edited by Lynne Friedmann; credit extended also to A History of the San Elijo Alliance, by Ray Patterson and R.G. Jenco Patterson (2001).