Wetland Revived | The Natural Observer

Monitoring the Success of San Elijo Lagoon Restoration is Underway

Imagine the year 2070: what will sea level rise look like? Did we create enough space for plants and animals to migrate? Did restoration work?

Our 50-year monitoring of San Elijo Lagoon Restoration is underway. Short-term, it’s our job to make sure that everything we designed and planned to do is working out.

Above: two bridge connections make a continuous journey through lagoon trails a realization. Bridging coastal communities established 2020.

We continue to take daily oxygen level readings across the lagoon and ocean connection to measure water quality, as we did before and during restoration. We are studying the total abundance and diversity of both fish and mudflat invertebrates. California cord grass the preferred habitat of the endangered Ridgway’s Rail, is measured for height, density and extent. 

Check out our video with latest restoration monitoring updates. Have you seen the beautiful blooms of color on the Pole Trail?

Additionally, we will compare San Elijo Lagoon’s health to the three most natural wetlands in Southern California, those least impacted by people — Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Point Magu Lagoon and Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve.

Why did we revive these wetlands? The answer lies in our work that improves nature and community health. As a team of scientists and nature enthusiasts, all of us, together, are helping to preserve San Elijo Lagoon and San Diegan lands.

Today, we invite you to come out and enjoy the more vibrant ecosystem. It’s our journey, all species.