1. Chronology Of Buena Vista Lagoon
A summary of important dates, compiled from Department of Fish and Game records in Long Beach and from a proposal for a Buena Vista Lagoon State Park prepared early in 1966 by the Buena Vista Lagoon State Park Committee of Carlsbad and Oceanside, published by the Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation.
1769 The
first record of the lagoon is found in the diary of Fr. Juan Crespit who
accompanied Don Gaspar de Portola on his military mission from San Diego to
Monterey:
ÒMonday,
July 17th Ð At three in the afternoon we left the camp (now
Batiquitos Lagoon), following the valley in a continued directionÉ (After
crossing Agua Hedionda Creek) we continued on our way in the same northerly
direction, over hills and broad mesas supplied with good pasture, and after
about one more leagueÕs travel we descended to a small, very green valley,
which has a narrow plain some fifty varas wide. We pitched camp on the slope of the valley on the west
side. The water is collected in
pools, and we noticed that it flowed out of several springs, forming about it
marshed, or stagnant pools, covered with rushes and grass. We named this place
Santa Sintrosa (now Buena Vista Creek and Lagoon).Ó
1939
A young Carlsbad
resident, Maxton Brown, later killed during World War II, secured the support
of 135 organizations in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside and Vista in obtaining
a county ordinance that prohibited shooting around the lagoon, thus, in effect,
making it a bird sanctuary.
The
Buena Vista Lagoon Association was formed by property owners adjacent to the
lagoon. The association provided
financial support for the sanctuary and erected signs for tourist information.
1940
Property
owners around the lagoon and other interested citizens installed water pipes
and flood control gates to regulate the water level in the lagoon, thus assuring
a year round water supply.
1950Õs The Buena Vista
Lagoon Association had acquired approximately 85 acres of submerged land in the
lagoon and successfully assured the continuance of the area as a stopping point
for migrating birds and as a haven for those that remained throughout the year.
1961 The
Buena Vista Lagoon Association conveyed title to 81.70 acres of lagoon property
to The Nature Conservancy, a nationwide, nonprofit conservation organization
dedicated to the preservation of vanishing natural lands. The Nature Conservancy then joined the
Association in efforts to save the remaining portions of the lagoon.
1962 The Bird
Island Development Corporation submitted a proposal to the City of Oceanside to
fill and develop areas in the lagoon.
Local citizens and conservation groups opposed the project. The Department of Fish and Game
requested the city to maintain the lagoon as a unique wildlife area.
1965-67 The Association, Conservancy and
the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad proposed that the State Department of
Parks and Recreation acquire the lagoon.
A Buena Vista Lagoon State Park Committee was formed. Hundreds of letters and petitions
requested the state to develop a state park. In February, 1966, House Resolution No. 10 by Assemblyman
Hale Ashcraft authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation to make a
feasibility study. The study was
completed in December, 1966. It
recommended that the lagoon be included in the park system, but there were not
sufficient funds in the Park Land Act of 1964 to acquire the land.
1965 By this
time the discharge of effluent and industrial waste into the lagoon has
ceased. Drainage from agricultural
land and Buena Vista Creek had become the main source of water for the
lagoon. Maintaining a satisfactory
water level during drought years became a problem.
In
November the Buena Vista Lagoon Committee made up of city officials, Nature
Conservancy and citizens met with the Department of Fish and Game and reviewed
the status of the lagoon Ð water requirements, tax status, cleanup and
maintenance of the area, ordinances and the filling of marsh land west of
Jefferson Street. San Diego
CountyÕs Perliminary Regional General Plan listed the lagoon as a regional
park.
On
November 28 the Department of Fish and Game accepted recommendations from its
Southern California office in Long Beach that an acquisition program begin and
that the Department accept Nature Conservancy property.
1968 April 26
the Fish and Game Commission authorized the Department to lease approximately
80 acres of land and water owned by The Nature Conservancy, with lease payments
applied toward purchase.
In
May the Department began discussions with the Division of Highways to modify
its design of Interstate 5 or mitigate for any loss of marsh habitat.
On
August 9 Dr. Roy Palmeteer called a meeting of the Buena Vista Lagoon
Association to discuss a proposed subdivision called Lake St. Malo Unit No. 1,
that would have filled 16 acres of the lagoon. A subdivision map was scheduled to be presented to the
Oceanside Planning Commission for approval. Fish and Game representatives and Richard Vanek, Administrative
Assistant to Assemblyman John Stull, attended the meeting. (Assemblyman StullÕs Ecological Reserve
Bill was being considered at this time in the state Legislature.)
On
August 19 the Oceanside Planning Commission met to consider the subdivision map
for Lake St. Malo, Uni No. 1. The
developers argued for acceptance of the plan, and the Association, Conservancy
and Department of Fish and Game argued for retention of the lagoon as a natural
area. The matter was continued
until September 3, 1968.
On
August 30 the Buena Vista Lagoon Association and Department met with the Lake
Shore Developrs for discussion of the project.
On
September 17 the Oceanside City Planning Commission met to consider the
subdivision map. Approximately 200
people appeared; most opposed to development. The Carlsbad Journal had published editorials recommending
against the development and a representative from the National Audobon Society
testified in opposition. The
Planning Commission denied the subdivision map on grounds it did not meet all
necessary restrictions.
On
August 22 the Department of Fish and Game requested the Fish and Game
Commission to classify Nature Conservancy land as an Ecological Reserve,
pending effective date of legislation introduced by John Stull, then an
assemblyman. Assemby Bill 1660 was
passed by the Legislature and became law late in 1968.
The
Wildlife conservation Board began negotiations in October to acquire 60 acres
of land owned by Palomar Savings and Loan. This was land which was to have been filled and built upon
by Lake Shore Developers.
On
October 4 the California Fish and Game Commission classified part of the lagoon
as an ecological reserve. This
became effective November 13, 1968.
It was the stateÕs first ecological reserve.
In
October owners of lagoon property known as Buena Vista, Ltd., expressed
intereste in selling their land (33 acres) to the state.
1969 In April
the Wildlife Conservation Board and Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
representatives inspected the lagoon in anticipation of acquisition of the
Palomar Savings and Loan property.
The Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation would supply matching funds
from its Land and Water Conservation Fund.
On
June 2 the Wildlife Conservation Board purchased 60 acres of the Palomar
Savings and Loan property in the middle section of the lagoon.
In
July the City of Carlsbad notified the Department that the water control
structure had been washed out during the winter floods of 1969. A new structure was necessary. Negotiations with various landowners
began. A solution was needed to
finance a new water control.
In
August the Oceanside Planning Commission met regarding rezoning of the land
owned by Buena Vista, Ltd. Two
hundred and fifty protesters filled the city hall. The Planning Commission voted to rezone thearea and permit
possible development.
In
November the Oceanside City Council overruled the Planning Commission.
On
December 10 Henry J. Tenaglia presented a statement to the Oceanside City
Council that led to solution of the reconstruction of the water control
structure on the lagoon. The
Nature Conservancy and the two cities raised $19,941 to construct the weir, and
the owners of the Army and Navy Academy and St. Malo dedicated in fee or grant
an 80-foot easement from the mouth of the lagoon to the train tracks which
totaled two acres of valuable land.
This action assisted the Wildlife Conservation Board in continuing its
acquisition program.
1970 On
January 9 the California Fish and Game Commission classified 60 more acres of
the lagoon as an ecological reserve.
This was the St. Malo Development Company land that the Wildlife
Conservation Board acquired from Palomar Savings and Loan.
In
February the City of Oceanside issued a grading permit to allow filling of a
northeast section of the lagoon.
The city had no choice but to issue the permit. Conservation groups again protested any
development.
1971 No major
changes occurred. Various land
projects were examined and negotiations involving carious agencies
continued. The water level in the
lagoon was a concern during the summer of 1971.
1972 Early
this year land fills were made in the marsh area northeast of Jefferson Street
and southwest of the train tracks.
The Deparment of Fish and Game took legal action to stop the fill and
required landowners to comply with Fish and Game laws.
Improvements
were made on Jefferson Street along with the major highway development on Route
78. With increased development
northeast of Jefferson more marsh property was filled for construction of a
shopping center. In all about 100
acres of valuable habitat were lost.
In
April the Wildlife Conservation Board contacted Bernard Citron for discussion
of acquisition of the property in the northeast end of the lagoon.
The
Department of Fish and Game sought ways for property owners to mitigate for a
portion of marsh area that was filled east of Jefferson Street and a small area
filled by the State Division of Highways.
The concept of placing small bird islands in the lagoon was refined from
a suggestion first put forth by the Buena Vista Lagoon State Park Committee. Check
weirs were to be located in the remaining water channel entering the lagoon.
The
Association, Nature Conservancy, and the two cities were contacted regarding an
overall management plan for the lagoon.
On
December 20 the Wildlife Conservation Board purchased 23 acres of the north end
of the lagoon west of Jefferson.
The property owner also paid $25,000 for development of 3.5 acres of
marsh islands in settlement of a state suit for filling a marsh area east of
Jefferson Street.
1973 On
January 9 the Wildlife Conservation Board purchased 33 acres of Buena Vista,
Ltd., property adjacent to Conservancy property at the north end of the lagoon.
In
May the two cities met with the Department of Fish and Game regarding
management coordination. The
cities were to provide trash containers and help keep the lagoon clean. The Department was to post the area.
1974 In July
The Nature Conservancy deeded 74 acres of island over to the Wildlife
Conservation Board. This
significant gift was appraised at $462,000 and made up 39 percent of the
Ecological Reserve. This completed
the current acquisition program of the Wildlife Conservation Board. A total of 190 acres is under State
Department of Fish and Game control.
The Wildlife Conservation Board has paid $798,500 for lagoon
property. The Buureau of Outdoor
Recreation in matching funds from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund
provided $652,926 to the Wildlife Conservation Board as its part in preserving
the Buena Vista Lagoon.
In
December the Department of Fish and Game began management of the lagoon and
development of a long-term plan.
1975 In
February the Department of Fish and Game examined methods to control water
level in the lagoon plus possible pollution problems. State and local health
departments were to conduct larvae and adult midge surveillance.
On
May 30 the Fish and Game Commission classified the last 110 acres as an
Ecological Reserve. The Buena
Vista Lagoon now totaled 190 acres.
1976 In June
the Department of Health reported to Senator Stull on the midge problem. Solutions under consideration
were: biological control through
fish management; changing the quality of the water through tidal flushing; removal
of bottom ooze breeding media originating from past sewage effluent discharges;
reducing the attracting of adult midges to homes by manipulating artificial
light sources; the use of insecticides for controlling midge larvae in the
lagoon; maintenance of the present ecosystem without change; or combinations of
these methods.
On
July 12 the Department of Fish and Game approved the use of Baytex to control
mosquitoes. The use was granted
under a strict control situation.
The San Diego County Vector Control Agency was asked to minimize any
adverse impact on the reserve and the Department of Fish and Game would work
with their staff in resolving this problem.
1978 In
September, 2.6 acres of land were added to the Ecological Reserve. The land was previously owned by the
California Department of Transportation.
1979-80 Winter storms inundated the
upper lagoon with sediments washed down from the watershed. The governor proclaimed San Diego
County in a state of emergency because of these storms. As a result of this damage, application
was made to the federal government for funds to restore and repair the
lagoon. This request and a
subsequent appeal were denied.
Upon
the encouragement of the City of Carlsbad and others a Buena Vista Lagoon
Action Committee was formed chaired by Mr. Anthony Skotnicki. The committee was made up of appointed
citizens, City Council liaison people, and representatives from various
organizations within the Tri-City area (Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Vista). The basic goal of the committee was to
investigate means to obtain money for lagoon restoration.
1981 The Department
of Fish and Game began to investigate and document current erosion control
practices in the Buena Vista Lagoon watershed. This effort was undertaken to encourage the cities of
Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista to strengthen and enforce grading ordinances in
an attempt to lessen damage to the lagoon due to unwanted sedimentation.
One
million dollars was appropriated for a lagoon repair and restoration
project. One half of the money
came from the Department of Fish and Game budget (Energy Resources Fund) and
the other one half came from Senate Bill 13 (Craven).
As
a result of this funding, Department personnel embarked on a course of action
to repair and restore the lagoon.
Preparation of conceptual plans, soil analysis, and application for
necessary permits were among the tasks begun. Additionally, the decision was made to enter into a
cooperative agreement with the City of Carlsbad. Via this agreement the Department would provide the money
for the project and the City would prepare final project plans and
specifications, and administer the contract.
The
California Coastal Conservancy began staff work concerning the Buena Vista
Lagoon. The main thrust of this
work was to ascertain whether or not the Conservancy could be of assistance in
planning and funding for a watershed-wide management effort for the
lagoon.
The
size of the Ecological Reserve was expanded by approximately 4.6 acres with the
dedication of a parcel of land owned by John Zanderson. The parcel was made into a passive-type
park with a kiosk containing wildlife information and was part of a mitigation
package for adjacent development.
A
Buena Vista Lagoon Tri-City Advisory Committee was formed. The members of the committee are one
Council member and one staff member from each of the cities of Carlsbad,
Oceanside and Vista. The committee
will review and investigate a wide range of matters such as ordinances, other
organization actions, and other occurrences within the watershed affecting the
Buena Vista Lagoon.
Recommendations will be made to each City Council as appropriate.
1982 The
Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation was formed.
The purpose of the non-profit organization is to work to conserve and
restore the Buena Vista Lagoon. To
create greater public awareness and promote the educational potential of the
lagoon are also key goals of the Foundation.
The
State Coastal Conservancy allotted $40,000 to develop a watershed enhancement
plan for the Buena Vista Lagoon watershed.
Continued by the Buena Vista Lagoon
Foundation
Plants of Buena Vista Lagoon
Species Common
Name Basin Location Native/Exotic
Agrostis
stotonifera European
Redtop Central Exotic
Acacia
longifoliva Golden
wattle East Exotic
Aeonium arboreum