Sometime on Saturday evening on March 31st, a 24inch ductile iron force main pipe owned by the cities of Vista and Carlsbad failed along the shoreline of Buena Vista Lagoon off of Jefferson Ave. in Carlsbad. An estimated 7.3 million gallons of raw sewage was discharged into the lagoon.  This was the first tragedy.  A second tragedy may soon be perpetrated on the citizens of North County.  Please read on. 

Due to a rapid response by the cities of Carlsbad and Vista, the damage to Buena Vista Lagoon was minimized.  The bigger problem is the overall condition of Buena Vista Lagoon, which is shallowing and dying.  A massive multi agency effort is currently underway to restore Buena Vista Lagoon.  It is at a critical stage.  The preliminary engineering work necessary to begin the preparation of an EIR has stalled due to lack of funding.  Cost overruns and extra studies have taken their toll.  Money for the EIR is available, but the $500,000.00 necessary to complete the engineering studies before beginning the EIR is nowhere to be found. 

A Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Diego oversees wastewater spills and fines the offending agencies.  The cities of Carlsbad and Vista, along with the agencies involved in the Lagoon restoration have fashioned a settlement, which includes the 500,000.00 to address the shortfall in the engineering fund.  The Water Quality Control Board staff agreed.  For unknown reasons, the Regional Water Quality Control Board disallowed the settlement and is going to have a hearing. 

Two possibilities remain open.  The settlement can be approved allowing the money to stay in our local area and be utilized to complete the studies, or a fine or settlement can be levied which will disappear into the black hole of Sacramento.  Environmentalists and politicians who are familiar with the workings of Sacramento, realize that fine or settlement money that goes to Northern California only rarely makes it back to Southern California. 

This is potentially the second great tragedy.

In its twenty seven year history the Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation has asked the public only twice for help.  In 1981, we called for help, the public responded, the Lagoon was dredged after a local delegation descended on Sacramento and money was appropriated. .  In the 90’s, we asked for help when the Buena Vista Landing was in danger of being deleted from future plans.  Hundreds of phone calls poured into the Carlsbad City Counsel, and the Buena Vista Landing was saved. 

We again need your help!  Please call, write, or email the Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Diego and make them know that our taxpayer money should not be sent to Sacramento, but needs to stay here to fix our beloved Lagoon.  Ask, demand, and yes, even beg that the fine or settlement money be spent on Buena Vista Lagoon.

Their address is: Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region
                            9174 Sky Park Court Suite 100
                            San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 1-858-467-2952
email: jrobertus@waterboards.ca.gov