The 400-acre Agua Hedionda Lagoon is a unique coastal wetland situated amidst residential and industrial growth along Carlsbad's coast.
The managed ecosystem is a vital habitat for hundreds of fish, amphibian, reptile, mammal, bird, plant and invertebrate species. The lagoon has a watershed that drains 135,000 acres.
The lagoon is unique in that it has many ongoing uses and this diversity brings together a variety of stakeholders invested in an important community resource. One such guardian is the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.
The nonprofit organization provides public education programs for children and adults, sponsors community tours of the lagoon and its facilities and organizes and promotes public stewardship and cleanup of the area. Founded in the '90s, the foundation serves as an advocate for the lagoon and is a strong supporter of public access, trails and recreational opportunities.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Eric Munoz, president of the foundation's board of directors, to discuss the nonprofit in more detail and its work to safeguard the lagoon for future generations.
CBJ: What is the foundation's mission?
Munoz: Our mission is to conserve, restore and enhance the environmental features of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, marsh, wetlands and watershed area to protect sensitive land through acquisition or other means and to promote balanced recreational and commercial uses consistent with present and future lagoon vitality.
CBJ: Why are the services the foundation provides needed?
Munoz: Many people drive past the lagoon every day. Many enjoy and admire it. The foundation's board members, staff and volunteers have deeply committed themselves to protect, restore and enhance the quality and beneficial uses of water, habitats and other natural resources of the lagoon. Their continued financial contributions, as well as gifts of time and talent, have ensured the health of the lagoon for all in our community to enjoy.
CBJ: How does your organization protect the lagoon?
Munoz: In June of 2000, the highly invasive alga Caulerpa Taxifolia was discovered in Agua Hedionda Lagoon. It was most likely dumped from a household aquarium and entered the lagoon via storm drain. The same invasive marine seaweed destroyed thousands of acres of the Mediterranean Sea. The eradication, funded through government grants, cost millions of dollars. To eliminate this killer seaweed, divers covered the colonies along the lagoon bottom with tarps and injected chlorine underneath. Caulerpa taxifolia was declared eradicated on July 12, 2006.
CBJ: How does the organization differ from other similar nonprofits?
Munoz: No other lagoon in the world can tell our story of trial, challenge and success regarding Caulerpa eradication. Although we work in partnerships with the other three lagoons as part of the Carlsbad Watershed Network, we are unique in that our lagoon embraces a variety of uses. These include recreation, such as kayaking and fishing, and commercial uses like our neighboring strawberry fields, Aqua farm and energy production facility, resource replenishment at the Hubbs Fish Hatchery and the desalination plant. Of course, we all work together to maintain a clean, healthy, eco-friendly environment so that our wildlife and natural resources can flourish in native habitats.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Munoz: By our ability to maintain the wellbeing of the lagoon through active partnerships with the city, community and our membership. Today, Agua Hedionda is now a very healthy lagoon with a wide range of fish, invertebrates, wildlife and native habitats.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Munoz: The foundation needs more members and community partners to make sure our lagoon remains healthy and vital from both an ecological and financial perspective. It provides many wonderful opportunities for teaching our children life lessons in natural settings that are close to home. We need new friends and supporters to ensure that our community's lagoon continues to thrive.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the foundation?
Munoz: We will work to promote lagoon stewardship in our community with a focus on our youth and business/corporate stakeholders. It is critical to reach children at a young age so they can understand the importance of preserving our watershed and coastal wetlands. We hope to expand programs to many more schools and also increase efforts on trail development, as well as actively monitoring lagoon maintenance and health.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Munoz: Yes, we are in a growth mode and welcome all to join our efforts with ideas, resources and membership. Having a name that translates from Spanish to mean “stinky water” is an interesting and historic introduction to our lagoon, which now features healthy, beautiful wetlands with abundant marine and wildlife that is smell-free. We invite the community to visit our Web site, or better yet, visit our Discovery Center and learn more about the exciting projects and programs that we have underway. Our new membership program features a Lagoon Discovery Pass that includes discounts at eco-friendly local merchants, a 2009 photo calendar of the lagoon and free lectures and special events throughout the year.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
(760) 804-1969
www.aguahedionda.org
The managed ecosystem is a vital habitat for hundreds of fish, amphibian, reptile, mammal, bird, plant and invertebrate species. The lagoon has a watershed that drains 135,000 acres.
The lagoon is unique in that it has many ongoing uses and this diversity brings together a variety of stakeholders invested in an important community resource. One such guardian is the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.
The nonprofit organization provides public education programs for children and adults, sponsors community tours of the lagoon and its facilities and organizes and promotes public stewardship and cleanup of the area. Founded in the '90s, the foundation serves as an advocate for the lagoon and is a strong supporter of public access, trails and recreational opportunities.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Eric Munoz, president of the foundation's board of directors, to discuss the nonprofit in more detail and its work to safeguard the lagoon for future generations.
CBJ: What is the foundation's mission?
Munoz: Our mission is to conserve, restore and enhance the environmental features of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, marsh, wetlands and watershed area to protect sensitive land through acquisition or other means and to promote balanced recreational and commercial uses consistent with present and future lagoon vitality.
CBJ: Why are the services the foundation provides needed?
Munoz: Many people drive past the lagoon every day. Many enjoy and admire it. The foundation's board members, staff and volunteers have deeply committed themselves to protect, restore and enhance the quality and beneficial uses of water, habitats and other natural resources of the lagoon. Their continued financial contributions, as well as gifts of time and talent, have ensured the health of the lagoon for all in our community to enjoy.
CBJ: How does your organization protect the lagoon?
Munoz: In June of 2000, the highly invasive alga Caulerpa Taxifolia was discovered in Agua Hedionda Lagoon. It was most likely dumped from a household aquarium and entered the lagoon via storm drain. The same invasive marine seaweed destroyed thousands of acres of the Mediterranean Sea. The eradication, funded through government grants, cost millions of dollars. To eliminate this killer seaweed, divers covered the colonies along the lagoon bottom with tarps and injected chlorine underneath. Caulerpa taxifolia was declared eradicated on July 12, 2006.
CBJ: How does the organization differ from other similar nonprofits?
Munoz: No other lagoon in the world can tell our story of trial, challenge and success regarding Caulerpa eradication. Although we work in partnerships with the other three lagoons as part of the Carlsbad Watershed Network, we are unique in that our lagoon embraces a variety of uses. These include recreation, such as kayaking and fishing, and commercial uses like our neighboring strawberry fields, Aqua farm and energy production facility, resource replenishment at the Hubbs Fish Hatchery and the desalination plant. Of course, we all work together to maintain a clean, healthy, eco-friendly environment so that our wildlife and natural resources can flourish in native habitats.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Munoz: By our ability to maintain the wellbeing of the lagoon through active partnerships with the city, community and our membership. Today, Agua Hedionda is now a very healthy lagoon with a wide range of fish, invertebrates, wildlife and native habitats.
CBJ: What needs does the organization have?
Munoz: The foundation needs more members and community partners to make sure our lagoon remains healthy and vital from both an ecological and financial perspective. It provides many wonderful opportunities for teaching our children life lessons in natural settings that are close to home. We need new friends and supporters to ensure that our community's lagoon continues to thrive.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the foundation?
Munoz: We will work to promote lagoon stewardship in our community with a focus on our youth and business/corporate stakeholders. It is critical to reach children at a young age so they can understand the importance of preserving our watershed and coastal wetlands. We hope to expand programs to many more schools and also increase efforts on trail development, as well as actively monitoring lagoon maintenance and health.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Munoz: Yes, we are in a growth mode and welcome all to join our efforts with ideas, resources and membership. Having a name that translates from Spanish to mean “stinky water” is an interesting and historic introduction to our lagoon, which now features healthy, beautiful wetlands with abundant marine and wildlife that is smell-free. We invite the community to visit our Web site, or better yet, visit our Discovery Center and learn more about the exciting projects and programs that we have underway. Our new membership program features a Lagoon Discovery Pass that includes discounts at eco-friendly local merchants, a 2009 photo calendar of the lagoon and free lectures and special events throughout the year.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
(760) 804-1969
www.aguahedionda.org