[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6457817,"mediaKeyId","5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f","parentId",5827573,"title","Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society revises restoration design; Coastal Commission provisionally approves revised approach","audioSeconds",444,"startMs",920000,"endMs",1364000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f&start=920&end=1364","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f/thumbnail_920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457817/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Buena-Vista-Lagoon-Audubon-Society-revises-restoration-design-Coastal-Commission-provisionally-approves-revised-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457817-a34f50d4bf502915551c35abbb9c80c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770626670&Signature=RCqJmRANeKyURggjYmSxSvepjTAdCIP~~SeFt0kR4zK8P3e7Cq2HH6GkA-P9aT0IHq4exOU5VZyMQuonqyIcFuZWopMzpFqrfRM4XmDMN9UkTbBpt9ChgjFiz1tDKhyXblRJuImF8tKLM1iOxGzgzme62R4~KruCGRatGqK-JG7hiCaHE6PzspVH2qaBzFqLxyebNAZpChxxvB6zbGjsOf~p8w8nrWlp-ht8HrkMP5t0F6h2BDq0vwRRuExuoe7z44rG~xny-xCV9fUTlbNQS~Thi4oqMZUbMX~hg2geLxci6W07WXVLAzwouwEyune0QbkgW1p8XmID6R0gYDPPpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Carlsbad","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee heard an update Sept. 25 from the Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society on its Wetlands Reserve Restoration Project and an alternative design developed after agency feedback.

Natalie Shapiro, representing the Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society, said the group received a certified California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination and a local coastal program permit from the City of Oceanside in January. “Back in January, we received a certified CEQA and local coastal program permit from the city of Oceanside,” Shapiro said. She told the committee the society subsequently met with resource agencies and adjusted plans to reduce graded open-water areas and increase wetland and transitional habitats so the design better accommodates future sea-level rise.

Shapiro said the Coastal Commission last week signaled it is “fairly happy” with the alternative design and the project can proceed with the revised approach. The revised plan reduces the extent of open water in the southern, state-owned portion of the site and increases tidal wetlands and meadow transitional habitat in areas to the north. The project footprint includes roughly 3.5 acres under Audubon ownership and about 2 acres of state-owned land managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife within Carlsbad.

She cautioned that the change could reduce the volume of sand available for export to Oceanside beaches. Shapiro said testing has not yet established how much of the excavated material is suitable beach-quality sand. The presentation showed total net export figures (cut versus fill) with an estimated net export of about 3,120 cubic yards, but Shapiro emphasized the sand fraction is not yet known and that the city’s sand-acceptance threshold (mentioned by staff) is generally 5,000 cubic yards or more.

Jamie Timberlake, coastal zone administrator for the City of Oceanside, participated in Q&A and will coordinate with the Audubon Society on next steps relating to sand testing and any subsequent planning commission filings. Shapiro said the society will proceed with permitting with the City of Carlsbad and continue agency coordination.

Committee members asked for clarification on plant species and habitat types; Shapiro identified a summer-blooming shrub (referred to by its Latin name in the slide deck) and described increases in salt marsh and transitional meadow habitat in the alternative design.

Members also noted tribal engagement: a committee member said the Santa Maria Band of Mission Indians attended a meeting where tribal members described plans to resume cultural harvesting and gatherings on restored lands.

Shapiro said next steps include working with Oceanside staff on sand testing and thresholds, submitting revised plans to the city planning commission if required by changes in the design, and continuing permitting with Carlsbad and resource agencies.

There was no public comment on the agenda item during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Carlsbad - Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society told the Joint Powers Committee Sept. 25 it has revised its wetlands restoration plan to reduce open-water grading and increase tidal and transitional wetlands after resource-agency feedback, and that the Coastal Commission has indicated conditional support for the revised approach.","taxTitle","Carlsbad, San Diego County, California","taxId",2843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6457822,"SANDAG reports 30% design complete for Buena Vista Lagoon enhancement; funding gap delays full design",224,222000,446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f&start=222&end=446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6457822/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/SANDAG-reports-30-design-complete-for-Buena-Vista-Lagoon-enhancement-funding-gap-delays-full-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457822-f0796631f16a6c36be24a18fd2284878/orig.mp4?Expires=1770626670&Signature=h~xlCYLjuiRGIR3WfXkqsmPfn7hUcIuNkW~2GZUMr5VkANZmYyHqOZjz-iXDpGGEToLqsrcv7Wuhig-JWC85sGX2GY65DMwUAwPHQmtGfp8LqEnryRnWZcno7Z7VzA1kalbBjczp6hv~gKmlkBcJMxFfv6RySqaTEw9kpFJUGvyvcs4A5oWc1G8lVVY6Y1GxHGpsQEMlUYEWXt9vo7UIUqb1hKo6b37IHEleOfqEH4zA-Nh~k0PvN4TJIcpWZv8yzHf6~EOv-1s4~58BoM4vJw8fQb9Cfi4E6r8Yd2vTBZl9DHJ2ShIWOYCWZ0Qcv22j~KEkXBF1uSonztTPyDawAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee heard an update Sept. 25 from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) on technical studies and design progress for the Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Project.

Lauren Lee, regional associate planner with SANDAG, told the committee the project team has completed technical investigations — including topography, geotechnical sampling and a 2022 vegetation update — and is finalizing 30% design work. “We are finalizing 30% currently,” Lee said, and the team is beginning work to refine inputs toward a 65% design.

The 65% design effort will incorporate feedback from landowners, resource agencies and the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad. Lee said refinements include adjusted habitat layouts in the Railroad and Coast Highway basins, maintaining offsets from private property, designing bridges to meet local standards and considering fish access in bridge designs. City staff have also asked the project team to consider drainage improvements along Carlsbad Boulevard and to avoid precluding existing or planned trails.

Project funding remains incomplete. Lee said SANDAG is pursuing a federal earmark and is pursuing state grant opportunities; she also said SANDAG staff are working on a proposal to the Wildlife Conservation Board (Proposition 4) and other grant sources. Lee described the remaining costs as: roughly $3 million needed to reach 65% design and about $6 million to reach full design and permitting, depending on the final scope. She said the team has received about $3 million so far (including roughly $1 million from California Department of Fish and Wildlife via Proposition 50) but that additional funding is needed.

Council member Shin asked whether a forthcoming federal earmark would be sufficient to reach 65% design. Lee said that would depend on the amount and terms of any award. She also said the project team is coordinating with Caltrans and North County Transit District on longer-term infrastructure questions, including an eventual I-5/State Route 78 interchange, but said timing and scope for those larger transportation projects are uncertain.

Committee members and staff noted the complexity of coordinating across many agencies. One committee member thanked Mayor Sanchez and SANDAG staff for organizing stakeholders and taking a lead on coordination. Lee cautioned that reaching 65% design does not itself make the project shovel-ready: further final design, permitting and funding would be needed to construct the project.

Next steps outlined by SANDAG include completing the remainder of the 30% materials, advancing a 65% design memo if funding is secured, and continuing coordination with cities, resource agencies and landowners.

Votes at the meeting did not directly affect the SANDAG project; the committee received the presentation as an informal report.","The Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee received an update Sept. 25 from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) reporting that 30% of design for the Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Project is complete but that funding is needed to advance to formal 65% and full design.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6457812,"Buena Vista Lagoon JPC approves May minutes; Carlsbad representative announces departure",36,56000,92000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f&start=56&end=92","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5827573-3dd84404f9f42290d66c362fc58da68f/thumbnail_56000.jpg","/articles/6457812/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Buena-Vista-Lagoon-JPC-approves-May-minutes-Carlsbad-representative-announces-departure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457812-52ffd31f75f73688e8ccb976cb64092e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770626670&Signature=b4-OFMsZjRYGEwUT9mwNc3O-dMAByCXa7MgsfiThRLurctuUSmdSLhQgZWcX255cwe2bPQVekkDYWaLFrdLR6KUrFlPOcRxITxkGFLtPYPsgReKbZpzLk6n49TM9MjaURoLs~M7IMGZBp9Eg5SZCFVl7-0mki2Ew8EQYqljWI9EKO6-~TMn-z6tWn1c6smspYSgM~yrjBWn2VOwPWWoAxsAUL8Q~OL089Awks5BKMbP09aEduNz3xZiPozAGJ~vtUZrp7vYOMY0rqgPXZij~AoSO0Xrs~St61fJ2NCX2SgUwKDhW7Dcjvj2gWGc-Dgu7Hjg-i4FppwWNiKmnfOW7wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee unanimously approved minutes from its May 22 meeting and heard a committee-member announcement Sept. 25 that a Carlsbad representative will not renew their appointment.

The committee moved and seconded approval of the May 22 minutes; the chair called the question and the minutes were approved unanimously, with no abstentions recorded.

During committee comments, the Carlsbad representative said this was their final meeting, that they had served approximately four years and would not seek reappointment, and that they planned to pursue other volunteer opportunities in health care and behavioral health. Committee members thanked them for their service and said the City of Carlsbad’s mayor will appoint a replacement.

The committee noted the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 26 and will be hosted by the City of Oceanside. The chair adjourned the meeting after confirming there were no further comments.","The Joint Powers Committee approved minutes from the May 22 meeting unanimously and a Carlsbad committee member announced this meeting was their final appearance; the committee tentatively set a February meeting date.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Buena Vista Lagoon Audubon Society revises restoration design; Coastal Commission provisionally approves revised approach

SANDAG reports 30% design complete for Buena Vista Lagoon enhancement; funding gap delays full design

Buena Vista Lagoon JPC approves May minutes; Carlsbad representative announces departure