Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
Mission
To preserve, protect and enhance Batiquitos Lagoon and its’ associated
watershed (e.g., San Marcos Creek/Encinitas Creek sub-watersheds with
the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit) in San Diego County, Carlsbad, California.
History
The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation (BLF) was founded in 1982 with a mission
to preserve, protect and enhance Batiquitos Lagoon and its’ associated
watershed in San Diego County, Carlsbad, California. The Foundation
has been classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a not-for-profit
501(C)(3) organization, and is managed by an elected nine-member board
of directors, with a President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board of Directors is lead by
a Chairman of the Board. The Foundation maintains a presence at Batiquitos
Lagoon by operating a nature center, providing docent-lead public and
private walks and talks, and leading and sponsoring groups of volunteers
who assist in maintaining and restoring the Lagoon's habitat and public
trail system. It also has and continues to propose, lead and participate
in various habitat restoration and conservation projects supporting
the watershed.
Who is involved?
The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation has a membership approaching 200. We
have approximately 130 active volunteers. Our Nature Center is hosted
by volunteers and is open to the public Wednesday through Friday from
Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
We support both the local community and the region. From a tourism
perspective, we routinely give walks and talks to groups from other
states and foreign countries. Visitors to our Nature Center are typically
from Carlsbad and San Diego County, but increasingly from other California
counties, states and foreign countries.
We are currently expanding our speaker’s bureau by offering presentations
for local and regional organizations (e.g., garden clubs, Rotary, Chamber
of Commerce, local hotels, resorts and spa’s).
We are support local schools (e.g., Aviara Oaks Elementary and Middle
School, La Costa Canyon High School, Carlsbad High School, Pacific Rim
Middle School), and colleges/universities (e.g., California State University,
San Marcos, Palomar College, Mira Costa College). We typically provide
educational programs to over 600 students each year. We have a number
of active Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Projects from area troops.
We routinely provide educational programs for Brownies, Cub Scouts and
Boy Scouts.
We are part of the City of Carlsbad Public Trails Program, and two
of our Foundation members serve as “Trail Master” and “Assistant
Trail Master” for the city’s Southwest Quadrant. Our Batiquitos
North Shore Trail is part of the City of Carlsbad’s Trail System.
The Foundation maintains and manages this trail in concert with California’s
Department of Fish and Game, which manages the Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological
Reserve.
Projects
• On average, we give two to three docent-led walks/talks each
month. Theses events are “theme oriented”, taking advantage
of opportunities that exist along the Batiquitos Lagoon trail system
and ocean beach areas. We have a core group of approximately 8 to 10
docents who provide this service to the public.
• The first Saturday of every month throughout the year, we host a “Trail
Maintenance/habitat restoration” event from 9 AM to Noon. We have
a core group of approximately four volunteers who lead this event, and
typically have between 10 and 35 general public/student volunteers who
participate. Volunteers from throughout San Diego County, and as far
away as Riverside and Orange Counties routinely participate in our work
projects. Local college and universities encourage their environmental
science students to participate by giving them extra credit for their
work around the Lagoon.
• Our Nature Center is hosted by a group of approximately 10
volunteers and is open five days a week. Wednesday through Friday, we
are open from Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2
PM. We are currently in the process of expanding our weekend hours due
to increased interest and demand from the general public.
• We are in the final months of a restoration project sponsored
by the Southern California Coastal Conservancy’s Wetlands Recovery
Project Small Grants Program, restoring a one-acre area at Aviara Cove.
This project also includes installation of a “rope fence”
to discourage people from venturing onto the adjacent salt marsh and
uplands habitat. The project is managed by two foundation members and
the services of a habitat restoration specialist. We typically have
between 15 and 30 volunteers support this project. This project will
serve as a model for further restoration efforts along Batiquitos Lagoon
in the future.
• Working with the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas, and Palomar
College, California State University at San Marcos, our Foundation has
established a water quality monitoring program for the San Marcos Creek/Encinitas
Creek/Batiquitos Lagoon sub-watershed. We have a committee with representatives
from the two cities, colleges and universities, the Carlsbad Watershed
Network, the San Diego Stream Team, and Foundation members who are leading
this project. The goal is to establish testing sites in the sub-watershed
and to collect baseline data and maintain it using established sampling
protocols. Our committee consists of approximately 8 volunteers.
• Working with representatives from Agua Hedionda Lagoon and
Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation’s, supported by the Carlsbad Watershed
Network, we are developing a “Three Lagoon” presentation
and eventually a DVD. This presentation is to portray the value of Carlsbad’s
three lagoons to the city and general public, and to provide an overview
as to why this is so important. We have two Foundation members who are
spearheading this project.
• We are developing a project to create a San Marcos Creek/Encinitas
Creek/Batiquitos Lagoon sub-watershed “Tracking Team” to
study and collect wildlife data and map wildlife corridors. The San
Diego Tracking Team is expected to play a significant role in team development
and support for this project.
• In an effort to provide natural defense against the spread
of the West Nile Virus, we have a project to install bat boxes in the
sub-watershed to encourage our indigenous bat population to expand their
colonies. Bat Rescue, the City of Carlsbad and California’s Department
of Fish and Game are supporting this project. We are encouraging local
Boy Scout Troops to support this effort through Eagle Scout projects
and volunteers.
• Our Foundation has an active project underway to acquire land
and easements that will lead to completing a trail system around Batiquitos
Lagoon. Two gaps exist at the northeastern end of the Lagoon. Plans
are also underway to complete the trail system under I-5, that will
eventually enable the public to walk to the beach.
• Since our existing Nature Center is housed at a temporary location
in a portable trailer, plans are underway to locate a site and build
a permanent center. The Foundation has a committee of approximately
five volunteers who are currently developing a plan.
• Working in concert with Miami University, Oxford, Ohio’s
School of Engineering and Applied Science, Computer Science/Systems
Analysis Department, and California State University at San Marcos,
the Foundation is supporting teams of students in the development of
an automated web-based non-profit computer system to support management
of various Foundation activities. The first phase includes development
of volunteer and membership resource management system. This application
is expected to be implemented in the fall of 2004. During the fall 2004/Spring
2005 semesters, we expect to expand the application to include online
credit card processing of membership fees/donations and support for
the sale of various Foundation-sponsored products. The latter will include
management, tracking and reporting of California State Sales Tax information.
A committee of approximately five volunteers is currently supporting
this project. Student team members have the optional opportunity to
travel to the Carlsbad area, hosted by Foundation volunteers, and meet
with key project representatives to further the project. Informal mini-seminars
are also provided to the students.
• To maintain a steady stream of volunteers who support the Foundation,
and to educate the public on various environmental topics, we offer
an annual Volunteer Training Program each year in the January-March
timeframe. This eight-week program is given on consecutive Saturday
mornings and includes presentations at our Nature Center and field trips
along the North Shore Trail. From a modest beginning of 18 students,
our program has expanded to 30 students. Within two days of general
advertisement, our 2004 Program “sold out”! A core group
of approximately five volunteers plan the event, with eight to ten speakers
providing subject area expertise. A group of approximately five volunteers
provide food and refreshments for each training session.
• A group of approximately five volunteers are working to establish
and maintain a native plant garden at our Nature Center. Our volunteers
not only plant and maintain the garden, they are working with local
organizations to provide plaques that include: the plants common and
scientific name where appropriate, the Native American name; and brief
notes pertaining to its use or value to the environment.
• Each year, working with the City of Carlsbad’s Arts Council,
the Foundation sponsors and conducts “Club Pelican”, a day
camp for children. This year, we are conducting three 5-day sessions
at our Nature Center. The sessions are supported by our Foundation docents
and Arts Council representatives, and host up to 30 children per session.
The program theme is art and the environment, and has, over the years
been a local hit. Each year, the event sells out shortly after being
announced.
Goals
• We have Public Trails Program – Conceptual Planning Study
that forms the long-range basis for the Batiquitos Lagoon trail system.
• We have the Batiquitos Lagoon North Shore Restoration Plan which forms
the basis for the Foundation’s habitat restoration efforts in
the Lagoon area. It includes appropriate native plant pallets for each
location.
• We are in the process of developing an integrated rolling Five-year
Foundation Strategic Plan. This document will include acquiring land
and building a permanent nature center in the area, and describe various
programs such as water quality testing and monitoring, wildlife tracking,
public outreach and education, trail system expansion and maintenance,
habitat restoration volunteer and youth programs, volunteer training,
financial sustainability and fund-raising, membership building, and
overall land acquisition and stewardship.
Why we joined the Conservation Resources Network
• To increase our opportunities to continue to evolve as an organization
and to expand our resource opportunities in support of our programs;
and
• To advance, participate in, and contribute with others our common interest
in environmental issues facing all of us in Southern California.
How are we unique?
• We are the main voice representing the interests of the Batiquitos
Lagoon Ecological Reserve and the San Marcos Creek/Encinitas Creek sub-watershed;
• We feel one of our strengths is our broad volunteer and educational
programs that address a broad spectrum of environmental topics and issues
facing our area;
• Our ongoing programs are addressing the issues on a board front
from public outreach and education through scientific endeavors including
water quality monitoring, natural control for problems like the West
Nile virus through native Americans that inhabited the area to habitat
restoration; and
• Through our effort to build a permanent nature, we are planning
to have a unique theme that focus on our Native American heritage in
Batiquitos Lagoon and their use of the environment (plants, animals,
marine life) in their daily living.
Business Partnerships?
We have informal relationships with a number of area resorts.
We are currently working to expand our corporate and business “partnership
base”.
Education Partnerships?
We routinely provide focused educational programs for schools throughout
San Diego County. In a typical year, we host over 600 elementary, middle,
and high school students and teachers in such programs. We have a volunteer
school coordinator who works with teachers to plan for and schedule
their visit to Batiquitos Lagoon.
We are actively working to expand our school educational program opportunities
by increasing our pool of volunteer educational specialists and mounting
a more aggressive marketing strategy. We are also looking into partnering
with other organizations such as Agua Hedionda and Buena Vista Lagoon
Foundations, the City of Carlsbad, and the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.
Internship Opportunities:
We presently offer “no cost” internships, where individuals
who want to use our environment to work on projects, perform scientific
research, or simply interested in volunteering to help with routine
Foundation activities can use our facilities and resources. We are,
at the same time, continuing to look for opportunities to provide some
funding support for such interns, but that effort is in a “work
in process” status.
We currently are sponsoring computer science/systems analysis teams from Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio’s School of Engineering and Applied Science,
in the development of an online/interactive web-based automated system
that supports our Foundation. This program will continue for the fall
and spring 2004-2005 semesters. Volunteers support team representatives
during an optional local visit to Carlsbad over the Christmas break.
During their visit, they get to see the Lagoon area, visit with Foundation
volunteers, visit with some local business representatives associated
with the project, participate in some “mini-seminars”, and
do some local site-seeing.
Wish List
• Acquisition and management support for land acquisition and
easements to preserve and protect the Batiquitos Lagoon, San Marcos
Creek and Encinitas Creek sub-watersheds.
• Assistance in building a permanent Foundation nature center to support
our public educational programs, and expand our facilities to support
scientific research and environmental monitoring for our sub-watersheds.
Our existing nature center is in a portable trailer. As part of our
City of Carlsbad Conditional Use Permit/Coastal Development Permit,
we must work towards moving to a new location. We currently have a committee
working on this effort.
• Support for our habitat restoration projects for the sub-watershed.
This would include helping identify and secure funding support through
grants, donations, donations, and sponsorship, as well as assistance
in expanding our pool of volunteer resources. Support for providing
tools and equipment (e.g., that can be bought and/or shared) would also
be welcomed.
• Assistance by providing access to data to support our various
environmentally focused projects (e.g., GIS data; property ownership
data; cultural, historical and archeological data; local, county, state
and federal plans, studies and official documents).
• Educational opportunities for our volunteers to become more
conversant in topics like grant writing, permitting, wildlife tracking,
water quality monitoring, GPS/GIS technology and techniques, fund-raising,
and land acquisition and management.
• Ongoing operations and maintenance support for the Foundation.
Contact for more information:
Fred Sandquist, Executive Vice President and Board Member
6408 Crossbill Court
Carlsbad, CA 92009-2783
Tel: (760) 918-2408
E-mail: sandquist2@earthlink.net
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
P.O. Box 130491
Carlsbad, CA 92013-0491
Tel: (760) 931-0800
Fax: (760) 603-6901
Website: www.batiquitosfoundation.org
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
Nature Center
7380 Gabbiano Lane
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Tel: (760) 931-0800
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