The Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee held a special meeting on September 25, 2025, to discuss the Wetlands Reserve Restoration Project, presented by the Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society. The meeting highlighted significant progress in the restoration efforts aimed at improving native habitats and water quality while enhancing public access to the lagoon.

Natalie, a representative from the Audubon Society, provided an update on the project, which is located at the North Shore of Buena Vista Lagoon in South Oceanside. She outlined the project's goals, which include restoring native habitats, improving water quality, and reconnecting local communities to the wetland reserve. The area has faced challenges such as soil erosion, invasive species, and unmaintained trails, with historic wetlands previously filled for development.

In January, the project received a certified California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and local coastal program permit from the city of Oceanside. The next step involved obtaining permits from the city of Carlsbad and relevant resource agencies. During discussions with these agencies, suggestions were made to reduce grading and minimize open water areas to better accommodate sea level rise and facilitate wetland migration.

Following these recommendations, the Audubon Society developed an alternative design for the project, which has been under review since March. Recently, the Coastal Commission expressed satisfaction with the revised design, allowing the project to move forward.

The meeting concluded with a visual presentation of the project area, illustrating the current state of the lagoon, which is heavily impacted by invasive plants. The ongoing restoration efforts aim to revitalize this important ecological site and enhance its accessibility for the community.