SAN ELIJO LAGOON RESTORATION PROJECT STUDY AREA

A Focus on Wetland Restoration

Given that the dynamics of the lagoon have continued to change over the last decade, and that SELC and its state and county partners had acquired more land in the past several years, it was necessary to reconsider the study area. In total, the SELRP project study area is composed of approximately 961 acres.

Focus on wetland restoration
At meetings with lagoon stakeholders in November and December 2008, the study area boundaries were generally defined to include publicly owned parcels where restoration activities could occur. (The entire parcel was included even if restoration would only affect a small area.)

The study area extends west to reflect the possible project actions at the beach (new inlet and beach nourishment with dredged material) and does not extend as far east as the Reserve since the focus of the restoration effort is wetlands, not uplands. The study area boundaries are illustrated in Figure 3-1 (see map in next column). This figure also shows general land ownership pattern with DFG generally owning lands west of I-5 and the County generally owning lands east of I-5.

Private Parcels
As shown in Figure 3-1, the vast majority of the SELRP is publicly owned. However, there are 3 privately-owned parcels totaling approximately three acres that are included within the study area boundaries. These parcels contain of both channels and habitat within the lagoon. The water flow in these channels and connectivity to adjacent lagoon lands between Highway 101 and the NCTD railroad are considered integral to restoration success. Thus, these three private parcels will be considered as part of the study area for restoration planning purposes.

The western extent of the coastal study area includes the beach area west of the lagoon (excluding the parking lot at Cardiff State Park) and extends into the water at the potential inlet location sites. The southern extent of the study area includes the public right-of-way owned by Caltrans adjacent to I-5, but it does not include the private lands located on nearby slopes and uplands west of I-5. The northern boundary essentially coincides with the Reserve boundary and Manchester Avenue, with the addition of newly acquired mitigation lands in the northeast corner of the study area.

Four Basins Defined
The study area has been separated into four basins or areas as shown in Figure 3-1 (next column). Each lagoon basin, its location, and approximate size (in acres) is included in the Figure 3-1.

Coastal Area
The Coastal Area is identified due to the possibility of a new inlet and jetty location, as well as the location for potential sand nourishment with beach-quality dredged material. The Coastal Area is composed of approximately 20 acres and is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and Highway 101 on the east.

West, Central, Eastern Basins
The West Basin is approximately 53 acres, generally between Highway 101 to the west and the NCTD railroad corridor on the east. The Central Basin, totaling approximately 356 acres, and Eastern Basin, totaling approximately 532 acres, are separated by the I-5 freeway, but they remain connected via a channel under the freeway on the northern side of the lagoon.