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

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.