Encinitas is bounded by two of the last remaining coastal lagoons in Southern California: Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and San Elijo Lagoon to the south.[1] Between them lie the 37-acre San Diego Botanic Garden, the reef and kelp habitats off Swami's, and the trail network of Olivenhain.[2][3][4]
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
San Elijo Lagoon is one of the largest remaining coastal wetlands in San Diego County. Its reserve covers 915 acres at the southern end of Encinitas, bordered by Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe and the ocean, and it is the outlet of the 54,112-acre Escondido Creek watershed.[5] It contains six plant communities (coastal strand, salt marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub, freshwater marsh and mixed chaparral), more than 300 plant species, at least 23 fish species, 26 mammal species and about 300 bird species.[5]
People have used the lagoon for at least 8,500 years. The Portolá expedition named it San Alejo in 1769. Between 1880 and 1940, dikes and levees were built for duck hunting, salt harvesting and sewage ponds, and the railway (1887), Highway 101 (1891) and Interstate 5 (1965) all restricted tidal flow.[5] The North Coast Corridor project replaced the road and rail bridges and restored habitat. The reserve is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the County of San Diego and Nature Collective.[5]
Batiquitos Lagoon
Batiquitos Lagoon lies between southern Carlsbad and Encinitas. It covers 610 acres and drains a basin of about 55,000 acres fed by San Marcos Creek and Encinitas Creek.[6] Its name comes from batequi, a northwestern Mexican word for a watering hole dug in a stream bed. Human habitation around it goes back more than 9,000 years.[6]
A century of roads and building silted the lagoon into a largely freshwater system with only five fish species. Restoration that began in 1997 returned full tidal flow, and more than 65 fish species have since been recorded.[6] Part of the lagoon is the Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area. The nonprofit Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation runs a nature center that is open daily, and a 1.75-mile trail follows the north shore.[6]
San Diego Botanic Garden
The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas has more than 5,000 plant species and varieties in 15 world-region gardens and 12 demonstration gardens on 37 acres, plus the largest public bamboo collection in North America.[2] Ruth Baird Larabee donated her estate to the county in 1957; it opened as Quail Botanic Gardens in March 1970 and was renamed in 2009. Highlights include a maturing cork-oak forest and a corpse flower that bloomed in July 2023.[2]
Swami's marine habitat
The reef at Swami's supports grassy surf beds, rocky reefs and kelp forests. Fossils about 45 million years old are visible in level rocks, and intertidal life includes sea stars, urchins, anemones, octopus, sea hares and tidewater gobies.[3] Only shore-based hook-and-line fishing and spearfishing for white seabass and pelagic finfish are allowed.[3] The Self-Realization Fellowship meditation gardens above the reef, with flowers, koi ponds and small waterfalls, are open to visitors.[3]
Trails and open space
Olivenhain has an extensive network of trails for walkers and riders, and its Dark Sky Policy keeps nights dark.[4] Manchester Reserve is a popular spot for nature walks and light hiking.[1] The coastal bluffs and parks such as Swami's cliff-top park give ocean views, and Moonlight Beach has the city's most complete beach facilities.[3][7]
Common questions
- Can you walk around San Elijo Lagoon?
- Yes. The 915-acre reserve has public trails and is managed by state, county and Nature Collective partners.
- Is the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas?
- Yes. The 37-acre garden, formerly Quail Botanic Gardens, is on Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas.
See also
Notes and sources
- Encinitas, California. Wikipedia.
- San Diego Botanic Garden. Wikipedia.
- Swami's. Wikipedia.
- Olivenhain, Encinitas, California. Wikipedia.
- San Elijo Lagoon. Wikipedia.
- Batiquitos Lagoon. Wikipedia.
- Moonlight State Beach. Wikipedia.