|
  ar from news,
estuaries have been under attack since the railroad came to town
at the turn of the century. This latest insult pales in comparison
to the one that put the first earthen berm, from Oceanside to
Del Mar, at the mouth of every estuarine system, forever altering
them in the process. Human encroachment is now threatening these
native habitats as never before.
 As if
the power plant and mussel farms weren't invasive enough, some
clueless monkey has introduced a killer algae known as Caulerpa
taxifola. Like its human counterparts on land, this tropical
species is capable of eradicating native flora and fauna. Spreading
like a cancer, in an already fractured ecosystem, this invasive
exotic could choke the Encina intake "lagoon" and spread
offshore.
In the North
County Times, it was reported that plans are afoot in Carlsbad
to lengthen the two jetties making up the north inlet to the
Aqua Hedionda Estuary. The reason being given for this anti-environmental
proposal is to keep sediments from building up in the artificial
lagoon, created to supply water for the Encina power plant.
Requesting
this extension, Cabrillo Power, the power plant's new owner,
seems to be experiencing a case of buyers remorse. Faced with
an increase in sediment buildup sometime in the future, Cabrillo
wants to prevent sand from clogging their private enterprise,
and is willing to starve beaches to the south in order to protect
their bottom line.
It's hard
to imagine this purchase would have gone through if the buyer
had not been given assurances that jetty expansion was possible.
True to form, Carlsbad City Councilwoman Ann Kulchin, wearing
the chairman hat of San Diego Association Government regional
Shoreline Erosion Committee, is mouthing words of caution. At
the same time, the City of Carlsbad is negotiating to include
Cabrillo property in a proposed redevelopment district.
Not only will
these two parties benefit from blocking the "lagoon's"
mouth, the jetty expansion will also allow sand to build up on
Carlsbad's beaches, to the detriment of Encinitas, Solana Beach,
and Del Mar. These wide beaches will be used to promote tourism,
and tourists that will be spending money in the new redevelopment
district. It's a win-win situation for the money changers at
Carlsbad City Hall.
Aqua Hedionda
will never be restored to it's original state because it is not
in the best interest of those who profit from activities hastening
ecosystem demise. Ringed by homes and extensive agriculture,
human activity is adding more sediment to the "lagoon"
than the wave action can place on beaches to the south. This
due to the dam currently supporting Coast Highway 101, the railroad,
and Interstate 5. Carlsbad's Snug Harbor Marina also requires
Agua Hedionda to remain in a highly dredged state to continue
profiting from pollution.
Yes ladies
and gentlemen, the California Dream is an environmental nightmare.
Threatened by sedimentation and invasive non-native species,
Buena Vista lagoon is also being strangled by a tangle of reeds
that are crowding out natives and harboring mosquitos, all because
no one is willing to make the tough decisions and open up that
lagoon to tidal flushing. And as if trying to balance out environmental
mayhem, Carlsbad will dredge Batisquitos lagoon until any semblance
to a healthy biotic community is purely accidental.
Encroachment
is such an ominous word, yet perfect for describing Carlsbad
and it's uncontrolled growth. As a form of environmental degradation,
humanity has been a biological bulldozer claiming all that stands
in its way. Carlsbad just happens to be an over-achiever in that
regard. 
|
