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CDFW: Batiquitos Lagoon dredging pushed to 2025–26; permits, costs and environmental safeguards guide timing
Summary
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife told Carlsbad’s legislative subcommittee the planned Batiquitos Lagoon dredging has been delayed to 2025–26 to coordinate with regional transit work; CDFW outlined permit requirements, environmental safeguards and rising project costs.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife told the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee that dredging at Batiquitos Lagoon — previously planned for fall 2024–spring 2025 — is being pushed into 2025–26 after coordination with the North County Transit District and SANDAG.
Gabriel Pleniflor, reserve manager for Batiquitos Lagoon, described the environmental and procedural constraints governing any dredging event: federal and state permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, State Parks, and the State Lands Commission; pre‑dredge surveys for invasive species and eelgrass; grain‑size analysis to ensure sand is beach‑worthy; and surf monitoring requested by the Coastal Commission.
Pleniflor said the lagoon has been dredged four times since a major restoration in 1997 (2002, 2006, 2011 and 2019). The department is permitted to remove up to 118,000 cubic yards per year and the last dredging event cost approximately $1,400,000. He also explained operational constraints — a minimum pipeline size of 10 inches is preferred to meet seasonal windows (September–March) and avoid impacts to nesting birds.
Council members pressed CDFW about stakeholder engagement and scheduling. Council members told the department they had not been included in meetings with SANDAG and NCTD that led to the timing change and asked staff to ensure Carlsbad is at the table going forward. Pleniflor said SANDAG and NCTD requested a phased approach to lessen impacts to beachgoers and habitat, and the department agreed to align with that schedule.
The department also noted concerns about a declining nesting area at the W2 California least tern nesting site in the lagoon and said restoration work is being coordinated with NCTD’s double‑tracking project to expand the nesting site.
Next steps: CDFW will continue coordinating permits and schedules with SANDAG, NCTD and state partners; staff and council asked for improved transparency and for the city to be included in stakeholder planning ahead of the rescheduled 2025 dredging work.
