San Elijo Lagoon facts for kids
The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is one of the biggest coastal wetlands left in San Diego County, California, United States. It's a special place where the land meets the ocean, full of amazing plants and animals.
Contents
History of San Elijo Lagoon
People have lived near San Elijo Lagoon for a very long time.
Early Inhabitants and Native Americans
Native American tribes hunted and gathered food along the lagoon's shores for at least 8,500 years. They left behind piles of shells, showing they ate lots of seafood like scallops, clams, and abalone. The Kumeyaay people later lived here, moving with the seasons to find food along the coast and inland.
European Settlers Arrive
In 1769, explorers from the Portolá expedition named the area San Alejo after Saint Alexius. In the early 1800s, Europeans settled here and started cattle ranches. The California Gold Rush brought even more people. Farmers began to plow and plant crops near the lagoon, which changed the land and plants around it for the first time. Some new plants they brought were not native and later spread too much.
Changes to the Lagoon Over Time
Between 1880 and 1940, people built walls and raised areas (called dikes and levees) for duck hunting, salt harvesting, and even sewage ponds. The biggest changes came from building roads and railways. The Santa Fe Railroad was built in 1887, followed by Pacific Coast Highway 101 in 1891, and Interstate 5 in 1965. These projects needed large dirt mounds (berms) that blocked the natural flow of ocean water into the lagoon.
In 2016, as part of a big project called the North Coast Corridor, plans were made to replace the road and rail bridges over the lagoon by 2021. This project also included restoring the lagoon's environment and adding more protected land.
Geography and Natural Features
The San Elijo Lagoon is located in the southern part of Encinitas. It's next to Solana Beach to the south, Rancho Santa Fe inland, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Reserve covers about 915 acres (about 3.7 square kilometers).
The Escondido Creek Watershed
The lagoon is where the Escondido Creek watershed ends. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river, lake, or, in this case, a lagoon. This watershed is very large, covering about 54,112 acres (about 219 square kilometers). The water in the lagoon comes from both the Escondido Creek watershed and the Pacific Ocean.
The Reserve is looked after by the California Department of Fish and Game, the County of San Diego, and the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.
Habitat and Wildlife
The San Elijo Lagoon is home to many different types of plants and animals.
Plant Communities and Species
Within its 915 acres, the Reserve has six main types of plant communities:
- Coastal strand (plants near the beach)
- Salt marsh (plants that can grow in salty water)
- Riparian scrub (plants along riverbanks)
- Coastal sage scrub (plants that like dry, coastal areas)
- Freshwater marsh (plants that grow in fresh water)
- Mixed chaparral (dense shrubs)
There are over 300 different kinds of plants here!
Animal Life and Endangered Species
The lagoon is also a home or stopping point for many animals:
- At least 23 types of fish
- 26 different mammal species
- 20 kinds of reptiles and amphibians
- Over 80 types of invertebrates (like insects and crabs)
- A huge number of birds – 300 different species!
The San Elijo Lagoon is part of the larger Escondido Creek Watershed. This area has some of the last remaining coastal scrub habitat, which is very important for connecting natural areas in San Diego County. This habitat helps protect some of Southern California's most endangered species, many of which live nowhere else in the world.
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center
Visitors can start exploring the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. This center is a great example of "green" building. The 5,600 square foot building has a special Platinum-Certified rating for being environmentally friendly.
Green Building Features
The two-story building is made from recycled materials and uses solar energy for power. It also uses natural light and air flow to stay cool and bright. Visitors can see the solar panels and plants growing on the roof, which help with insulation. Recycled water is used to water the plants around the center. The new Nature Center opened in Spring 2009, replacing an older one from 1988.
Exhibits and Information
Inside the Nature Center, you'll find exhibits about the lagoon's plants and animals, the history of Native Americans in the area, and how nature and people affect this sensitive ecosystem. The San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center is owned and run by San Diego County. Rangers are there every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, except on Christmas Day. Parking is free!
Recreation at the Lagoon
There are 8 miles of trails at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, open from sunrise to sunset. These trails wind through the different plant communities.
Hiking and Jogging Trails
A short, easy hike to see the wetlands starts at the Nature Center. It's a 1/4 mile loop with great views of the lagoon and salt marsh, where you might spot animals. Other trails can take about 1.5 hours to complete. Most trails are considered easy to moderate for hiking and jogging. There are no restrooms directly on the trails. Dogs are allowed on leashes. Remember, all wildlife and natural resources in this California state and county reserve are fully protected.
Scientific Monitoring and Protection
Many groups, including the County of San Diego, the State of California, and the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, work hard to protect and improve the lagoon. Their efforts have made the water cleaner, improved habitats, and increased the number of different species living there.
Water Quality Testing
Scientists continuously measure the lagoon's water quality every week. They check things like dissolved oxygen, temperature, saltiness (salinity), chlorophyll, and pH levels. These measurements help them understand how healthy the ecosystem is and when the lagoon's mouth (where it meets the ocean) needs to be reopened. The lagoon's mouth, located at Cardiff State Beach, is usually dug open each spring after the last winter storm. Opening it allows ocean tides to flow in and out, which keeps the ecosystem healthier.
Habitat Restoration and Plant Management
Restoring native plants and removing invasive species (plants that spread quickly and harm native ones) is very important. Many organisms rely on native plants for food and shelter. Invasive plants can take over and push out the native vegetation. These unwanted plants are removed by spraying special herbicides or by pulling them out by hand. Then, native plants are replanted to help the habitat recover.
Bird Counts
Bird counts are done every month at the lagoon. Amazingly, about 40% of all bird species found in North America have been seen here! Counting the birds helps scientists keep track of how well threatened and endangered bird species are doing.
Images for kids
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San Elijo Lagoon, 2015
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San Elijo Lagoon as seen from a helicopter, 2011
