San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids

The San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area. It's located near Del Mar in San Diego County, California. This area helps protect marine life along California's south coast.

What is the San Dieguito Lagoon SMCA?

The SMCA covers a small part of the coast and the lagoon. It helps keep marine animals and plants safe. Most activities that remove sea life are not allowed here.

You can fish for finfish with a hook and line from the shore. You can also fish from the Grand Avenue bridge. But other activities like boating, swimming, wading, and diving are not allowed inside this special area.

There is a special island for California least terns to nest. Only certain people, like park staff, can go on this island. This helps protect the birds. Also, the conservation area is closed between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Local officials work to manage the area. They make sure the fish and wildlife are healthy. They also help control floods and insects. This can include managing vegetation and water levels.

Scientists can collect samples of fish, wildlife, water, and soil. This helps them study the area. It also helps them check water quality.

How the SMCA Started

The San Dieguito Lagoon SMCA is one of many new marine protected areas. These areas were created in December 2010. This was part of a big plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.

This plan aimed to create a network of protected areas. These areas stretch along California’s entire coastline. Local experts helped design these new protected areas. They included divers, fishermen, and scientists.

Their goal was to protect sensitive sea life and their homes. They also wanted to create places for recreation, study, and education. The new marine protected areas in Southern California officially started in 2012.

Where is the Lagoon Located?

The San Dieguito Lagoon SMCA is found near Del Mar, California. This protected area includes the waters below the high tide line. These waters are part of the San Dieguito Lagoon Ecological Reserve.

Animals and Their Homes

This special area protects the lagoon habitat. A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from the ocean. It is a mix of fresh and saltwater. Many different kinds of animals and plants live here. They depend on this unique environment to survive.

Studying the Ocean's Health

Scientists are watching marine protected areas like this one. They want to see how well they are working. This helps them learn more about the health of our oceans. Studies in other protected areas, like those near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, have shown good results. They have seen fish grow bigger and their numbers increase over time.