By: ANDY MAURO
What should be done with the Buena Vista Lagoon? The conservation mission of Buena Vista Audubon Society, as well as the location of our nature center on the edge of Buena Vista Lagoon, dictates a keen interest in any restoration plan ultimately approved for the lagoon.
The study shows that returning the wetlands to a saltwater estuary and marsh would best meet the habitat and wildlife preservation goals of an ecological reserve. The saltwater alternative would maximize species diversity, overall habitat value, and protection of endangered species. It would re-create one of the most critically impacted habitats in California , the coastal salt marsh. And as Audubon members, we can attest that existing waterfowl would readily accept the conversion of the lagoon to a saltwater estuary.
The saltwater alternative would also best meet several other stated goals of the community at large. These include mosquito abatement, reed reduction and beach sand replenishment.
The study states a saltwater alternative would provide the greatest gain in habitat value per dollar of expenditure. Extra cost to keep the mouth of the lagoon open to the ocean would be largely offset by the significant economic and recreational value of the dredged sand. The annual dredge spoils would provide a regular natural source of sand replenishment for local beaches.
Historically, Buena Vista Lagoon was a natural estuary where the fresh water of Buena Vista Creek met and mixed with the salt water of the ocean. This natural connection to the ocean allowed for the cleansing effect of regular tidal flushing of the lagoon, the movement of sand downstream for deposit on our beaches, and the use of the lagoon by a multitude of ocean organisms that rely upon the estuary for a portion of their life cycle. Many years ago, a decision was made to dam off the lagoon from the ocean and turn it into a freshwater reservoir.
Over 90 percent of coastal wetlands have been lost in California . All of the plants and animals that rely on this habitat are now relegated to the small amount of saltwater marsh that remains. While freshwater lakes are relatively easy to replicate, a coastal salt marsh is a limited resource that can exist only in proximity to the ocean.
A restored saltwater estuary would have great visual appeal to the general public. Residences overlooking existing coastal salt-marsh land are among the most sought-after properties in the state. A dredged-out central channel would provide an open-water view over much of the lagoon.
Finally, we believe mitigation funding most likely would be available only for a project that restored a saltwater estuary and marsh at Buena Vista Lagoon. The selection of either of the other project alternatives would run the risk of not being able to move forward for lack of adequate funds.
For these reasons, we strongly endorse the selection of the saltwater alternative for the proposed restoration of the lagoon. Let's recapture a bit of our natural heritage by reconnecting our lagoon to the ocean.
NC Times Community Forum
4-22-04