MALIBU LAGOON VEGETATION COMMUNITIES AND WETLAND DELINEATION

Prepared for:

Moffatt & Nichol 250 West Wardlow Long Beach, CA 90807 Attention: Mr. Chris Webb

Prepared by: Merkel & Associates, Inc. 5434 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 92123 Contact: Ms. Rachel A. Woodfield Phone: (858) 560-5465 Fax: (858) 560-7779

October 14, 2004

Keith W. Merkel, Principal Consultant

Rachel A. Woodfield, Senior Biologist Malibu Lagoon – Vegetation Communities and Wetlands October 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...... 2

METHODS ...... 2

WETLAND DELINEATION...... 2 Wetland Parameters...... 4 Jurisdiction of Wetlands and Waterways ...... 4 RESULTS ...... 6

VEGETATION COMMUNITIES...... 6 Southern Willow Scrub...... 9 Atriplex Scrub...... 9 Baccharis Scrub...... 9 Mule Fat Scrub ...... 10 Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub...... 10 Mixed Scrub...... 10 Southern Coastal Salt Marsh...... 11 Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh ...... 12 Brackish Marsh ...... 12 Southern Sycamore-Alder Riparian Woodland...... 12 Disturbed Coastal Dunes ...... 12 Non-native Grassland...... 12 Disturbed Habitat ...... 12 Mud flat ...... 13 Sand Beach/Sand Bar...... 13 Open Water ...... 13 Urban/Developed ...... 13 WETLANDS AND JURISDICTIONAL NON-WETLAND RESOURCES...... 14 Wetlands Functions and Values...... 15

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Acreage summary of vegetation communities within the study area...... 7 Table 2. Summary of Jurisdictional Wetlands and Non-wetland Waters/Streambed On-site ...... 14

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Locator Map ...... 3 Figure 2. Malibu Lagoon Vegetation Communities – June 2004...... 8 Figure 3. Malibu Lagoon Wetland Delineation – June 2004...... 16

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MALIBU CREEK RESTORATION FEASIBILITY STUDY VEGETATION COMMUNITIES AND WETLAND DELINEATION Merkel & Associates, Inc. October 2004

INTRODUCTION

In support of the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Feasibility Study, Merkel & Associates, Inc. (M&A) conducted vegetation mapping and a jurisdictional wetland delineation at Malibu Lagoon in June 2004. From data collected, a map of existing vegetation communities was prepared, as well as a map indicating the jurisdictional wetland boundaries. Malibu Creek is located in the city of Malibu, at the mouth of Malibu Creek. The surveyed area was bounded by Pacific Coast Highway on the north, the ocean on the south, and private property to the east and west (Figure 1).

METHODS

Vegetation mapping and a jurisdictional wetland delineation were conducted at Malibu Lagoon on June 8 and 9, 2004 by M&A biologists Rachel A. Woodfield, Adam H. Behle, and Kyle L. Ince. Each vegetation type was identified and delineated on aerial photographs in the field and later transferred to a GIS database using ArcView? for use in analyses of restoration alternatives.

A limitation to the mapping effort arose from the variation between the hydrologic conditions pictured in the aerial photographs and the lagoon condition at the time of the survey. The images show the lagoon inundated with the sand berm allowing only a small flow out to the ocean. At the time of the survey the berm had been recently breached, causing the majority of the lagoon to drain, exposing large expanses of mud flat and sand bar. The maps generated as a result of the June 2004 surveys reflect the conditions present at the time of the survey, and may not necessarily correspond to the conditions visible in the underlying aerial image.

WETLAND DELINEATION

A jurisdictional wetland delineation of the site was performed using the routine on-site determination methods noted in the 1987 Army Corps of Engineers’ (ACOE) Wetland Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987). In addition, the delineation effort identified non-wetland waters under federal jurisdiction and streambeds under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the California Coastal Commission (CCC). Wetlands and other jurisdictional waterways within the survey area were also plotted on aerial photographs of the project site. The mapped wetlands were also transferred to the GIS database using ArcView? to provide true jurisdictional dimensions. Evidence supporting jurisdictional determinations was recorded on wetland field data forms and depicted in photographs of the project site.

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Wetland Parameters

The following text describes the three parameters used to determine the presence of wetlands and Non-wetland Waters of the U.S./Streambeds occurring at Malibu Lagoon. Additional information on the overall delineation process and regulatory jurisdictions may be found in the federal delineation manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987), local, state, and federal enacting legislation, or through guidance provided by judicial interpretation, solicitors opinions, and regulatory guidance issued to District ACOE offices and CDFG field staff.

Vegetation

Vegetation communities which meet the criteria of wetland-associated vegetation are dominated by a preponderance (>50%) of species classified as obligate wetland plants (OBL), facultative wetland plants (FACW), or facultative plants (FAC) based on the National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1988). Obligate wetland plants are defined as occurring almost always in wetlands (estimated probability >99%) under natural conditions. Facultative wetland plants are defined as occurring usually in wetlands (estimated probability 67% to 99%). Facultative plants are defined as having a similar likelihood of occurring in both wetlands and non- wetlands (estimated probability 33% to 67%).

Hydrology

Wetland hydrology was indicated by the presence of surficial characteristics or sub-surficial hydric characteristics. Surficial hydrology was determined through visual observation of surface flow, drainage patterns, watermarks, and/or drift lines. Sub-surficial characteristics included saturated soils or presence of free water in the test pit.

Although Non-wetland Waters of the U.S/Streambeds lack wetland vegetation, they do exhibit wetland hydrologic characteristics.

Soils

To confirm the presence of hydric soils, samples taken from various depths were examined for physical and chemical evidence of hydric conditions. The color of excavated soils was evaluated using the chroma index from the Munsell Soil Color Charts (Munsell Color 2000). Low-chroma color or gleyed soils are indicators of hydric soils under normal conditions. Additional indicators of hydric soils such as vertical streaking, high organic matter content in the surface horizon, mottling, and sulfidic odor were also evaluated during the delineation.

Jurisdiction of Wetlands and Waterways

At Malibu Lagoon, wetlands and jurisdictional waters fall under one, two, or all of the following jurisdictions: ACOE, CDFG, and the CCC. Each agency has a slightly different definition of “wetlands”; therefore, the extent of each agency’s jurisdiction can vary. During the delineation, jurisdictional wetland boundaries were determined by each agency’s definition of a wetland, and this information was mapped accordingly, which is why there may be different jurisdictional acreage calculations for each wetland habitat. The following text describes each agency’s jurisdiction.

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, ACOE has regulatory authority over the discharge of dredged or fill materials into the waters of the United States (1344 USC). The term “waters of the United States” is defined in 33 CFR Part 328(a) and includes: (1) all navigable waters (including all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide); (2) all interstate waters and wetlands; (3) all other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams, (including intermittent streams), mudflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds, the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce; (4) all impoundments of water mentioned above; (5) all tributaries to waters mentioned above; (6) the territorial seas; and, (7) all wetlands adjacent to waters mentioned above. Judicial interpretation under the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the case of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has narrowed the historic reading of jurisdiction under 33CFR 328(a)(3).

For the ACOE, wetlands are defined at 33 CFR 328.3(b) as “those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support ... a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions”. To be considered a jurisdictional wetland under the ACOE, all three parameters (vegetation, hydrology and soils) must be met.

Non-isolated drainages or streams that lack one or two of the wetland parameters are still jurisdictional under ACOE as Non-wetland Waters of the U.S. In the absence of wetlands and non- tidal waters, the limits of ACOE jurisdiction in drainages and streams extend to the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) which is defined at 33 CFR 328.3(e) as, “that line on the shore established by the fluctuation of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as clear, natural line impressed on the bank, shelving, changes in the character of soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas”.

California Department of Fish and Game

The CDFG has regulatory authority over actions that would “divert, obstruct or change the natural flow or bed, channel or bank of any river, stream or lake designated by the Department,” pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code (Division 2, Chapter 6). The breadth of jurisdiction under the CDFG differs from the ACOE in that a “streambed” is not limited to the OHWM, but rather encompasses the entire width of the streambed, from bank to bank, regardless of the water level. In addition, jurisdictional wetlands under the CDFG only require that one wetland parameter is met, but the wetlands must be associated, within or adjacent to, a streambed. Furthermore, CDFG jurisdiction extends over “adjacent riparian habitat,” including all riparian habitat supported by a river, stream or lake, even if the riparian area does not necessarily meet the hydrophytic vegetation criteria as defined by the ACOE.

California Coastal Commission

The CCC regulates wetlands occurring throughout the California coastal zone, which includes Malibu Lagoon through the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Process. The California Coastal Act defines “wetland” in Section 30121 of the California Coastal Act as follows:

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Wetland means lands within the coastal zone that may be covered periodically or permanently with shallow water and include saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish water marshes, swamps, mudflats and fens.

The CCC uses the same three-criteria system for defining wetlands as the ACOE, and like the CDFG, only one of the three criteria need to be present for an area to be classified as a wetland. Unlike the CDFG, the CCC’s jurisdiction extends beyond streambeds to include all tidal areas; however, jurisdiction is limited to areas within the coastal zone.

RESULTS

VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

The increasing human population and urban development have subjected Malibu Lagoon and the surrounding wetlands to considerable disturbance. While this has generally resulted in ecological degradation of the wetland, there has also been human intervention aiming to restore some of the damage. In addition to expanding the functional area of the lagoon, past restoration efforts have included several revegetation efforts. While the success of many restoration efforts at Malibu Lagoon is evidenced by their continued persistence, the resulting mosaic of vegetation communities is often difficult to describe using common habitat classification systems (such as Holland or Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf). For example, frequent occurrence of monotypically vegetated areas led to considerable micro-mapping during this vegetation survey, breaking areas into numerous small vegetation patches, although they may be functionally quite similar. In addition, some areas contained an atypical mix of both wetland and non-wetland indicator plants, a condition likely explained both by the evidence of irrigation piping that may have been used during the establishment of the restoration sites, as well as the seasonal inundation and dewatering of the Lagoon area above ordinary high tide levels.

Seventeen vegetation communities and habitats were mapped at Malibu Lagoon: southern willow scrub, Atriplex scrub, Baccharis scrub, mule fat scrub, Venturan coastal sage scrub, mixed scrub, southern coastal salt marsh, coastal and valley freshwater marsh, brackish marsh, southern sycamore- alder riparian woodland, disturbed coastal dunes, non-native grassland, disturbed habitat, mud flat, sand beach/sand bar, open water and urban/developed land. Table 1 summarizes the acreage of each and Figure 2 shows the vegetation communities mapped on-site. Each vegetation community mapped at Malibu Lagoon is discussed below.

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Table 1. Acreage summary of vegetation communities within the study area

Vegetation Community Acreage Southern willow scrub 0.52 Atriplex scrub 1.54 Baccharis scrub 0.54 Mule fat scrub 1.40 Venturan coastal sage scrub 0.04 Mixed scrub 0.58 Southern coastal salt marsh 4.98 Brackish marsh 0.22 Coastal and valley freshwater marsh 0.83 Southern sycamore-alder riparian woodland 0.16 Disturbed coastal dunes 0.06 Non-native grassland 0.12 Disturbed habitat 0.01 Mud flat 3.96 Sand beach/sand bar 7.27 Open water 11.65 Urban/developed land 2.49

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Southern Willow Scrub

Southern willow scrub was mapped in the northwestern portion of the study site, near the State Beach parking lot. This habitat generally consisted of mature arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis), with occasional mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), and quail saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis ssp. lentiformis). The southern willow scrub immediately adjacent to the parking lot entrance may have been planted and sustained by irrigation or runoff from Pacific Coast Highway, rather than by Malibu Lagoon. This distinction is important when determining jurisdictional wetland boundaries.

Atriplex Scrub

This habitat was found primarily along the trails leading from the parking lot to the beach and is composed predominantly of quail saltbush, with occasional coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), mule fat, toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and elderberry (Sambucus mexicana). Also occurring were giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) and showy island snapdragon (Galvesia speciosa), species naturally occurring on the Channel Islands, but frequently included in revegetation programs. Non-native elements included Myoporum (Myoporum laetum), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis). The quail saltbush generally formed dense shrubs, several meters in height and width, and occurred in drier, high areas fringing the marsh and access trails. The large area of Atriplex scrub occurred in sandy soils immediately north of the beach, on the south side of the lagoon. The quail saltbush was very tall, occasionally interspersed by California sagebrush and coyote brush.

Atriplex Scrub

Baccharis Scrub

This upland vegetation community was mapped along the western edge of the study site, to the east of the access road that skirts the Lagoon. The habitat was dominated by coyote brush, and also included mule fat, quail saltbush, and St. Catherine’s lace (Eriogonum giganteum). St. Catherine’s Lace is native to the Channel Islands and was likely planted at Malibu Lagoon as part of previous revegetation efforts.

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Mule Fat Scrub

Areas dominated by mule fat scrub occurred on the margins of the lagoon in between areas of southern willow scrub, Baccharis scrub, and Atriplex scrub. The mule fat was occasionally interspersed with quail saltbush and coyote brush. There is also a large area of mule fat scrub along the trail leading from the parking lot to the beach. This may have been part of earlier revegetation efforts. The mule fat scrub mapped north of the parking lot entrance may have been planted and may be the sustained by irrigation or runoff from Pacific Coast Highway, rather than by Malibu Lagoon.

Southern Willow Scrub Mule Fat Scrub Atriplex Scrub

Southern Coastal Salt Marsh

Mud Flat

Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub

This vegetation type occurred only in very small amounts, primarily along the trail leading to the beach. These areas were likely planted as part of past restoration efforts. Dominant species included California sagebrush and St. Catherine’s lace. Mixed in were giant coreopsis and showy island snapdragon. North of the parking lot was another small area of coastal sage scrub composed nearly entirely of laurel sumac (Malosma laurina).

Mixed Scrub

This vegetation type was used to map slightly atypical areas north of the access road on the southwest side of the lagoon. This area contained a variable mix of predominantly native species, with elements of at least four of the habitat types described above. The two dominant species were coyote brush and mule fat, with quail saltbush being the next most abundant shrub. Also regularly

Merkel & Associates, Inc. # 03-110-02 10 Malibu Creek – Vegetation Communities and Wetland Delineation October 2004 occurring were St. Catherine’s Lace, lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) and California sagebrush. This variety of co-occurring species (such as mule fat, which is a wetland indicator species, and coastal sage scrub elements, an upland habitat) again suggests that this may be the site of past restoration efforts. Degraded fencing and irrigation materials were also evident in these areas.

Southern Coastal Salt Marsh

Southern coastal salt marsh was the most abundant, vegetated habitat within Malibu Lagoon. This habitat was dominated by salt grass (Distichlis spicata), pickleweed (Salicornia virginica,) and marsh jaumea (Jaumea carnosa). Other common species included salt marsh dodder (Cuscuta californica) and alkali heath (Frankenia salina). This vegetation type occurred at the lowest elevations, generally fringing the mudflat. This habitat likely expands and contracts over time with seasonal inundation and dewatering of the lagoon. Slightly higher portions of the coastal salt marsh that would more rarely experience inundation also supported areas of quail saltbush shrubs. The coastal salt marsh vegetation persisted as an understory however, so these areas were also mapped as coastal salt marsh.

In many places the coastal salt marsh was also infested by invasive exotics, primarily perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Perennial pepperweed is highly invasive and difficult to control. It is, however, intolerant of prolonged periods of inundation during the growing season; perhaps restoration of the lagoon to more natural hydrologic conditions will assist in controlling this weed. The marsh also supported occasional patches of the invasive exotic hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis), black mustard (Brassica nigra), and giant reed (Arundo donax).

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)

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Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh

Coastal and valley freshwater marsh occurred primarily in a large area south of the parking lot, fringing pools of open freshwater. This vegetation type was predominantly composed of two species of bulrush (Scirpus californicus and Scirpus acutus) and formed tall dense stands of vegetation. This vegetation had expanded into areas of open water visible in the aerial photograph used in the field and in Figure 2. A few additional small areas of freshwater marsh were also mapped near freshwater sources, such as the drain outlet in the southwest corner of the lagoon.

Brackish Marsh

Brackish marsh was mapped on the east shore of the lagoon, immediately above the mudflat. The mixure of salt marsh and freshwater marsh species reflects the variable salinities that occur in the lagoon as a result of variable hydrological conditions. This area was dominated by salt grass, regularly interspersed with bulrush. Also mixed in were marsh jaumea, pickleweed, salt marsh dodder, and mulefat. A patch of salt cedar (Monanthochloe littoralis), an invasive exotic, was found adjacent to the fence bordering the lagoon. Perennial pepperweed also occurred in the brackish marsh.

Southern Sycamore-Alder Riparian Woodland

This vegetation type was mapped immediately south of the parking lot and made up a very small portion of the study site. This area featured large, mature trees, primarily sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and occasional California black walnut (Juglans californica) and white alder (Alnus rhombifolia). This area was likely planted using species found in the riparian forest upstream, and may receive supplemental water from irrigation or parking lot runoff.

Disturbed Coastal Dunes

A small area of disturbed coastal sand dune was mapped at the far eastern edge of the survey site, above the exposed mud flat. Pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata) was mixed with silver beach bur (Ambrosia chamiissonis), but was also mixed with non-native hottentot fig and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon).

Non-native Grassland

Non-native grassland was mapped in a very small area near the edge of the trail south of the parking lot. This was a highly disturbed corner vegetated predominantly by weedy bromes (Bromus madritensis L. ssp. rubens, B. diandrus, and B. hordeaceus), as well as wild oat (Avena fatua). A small number of western ragweed were also mixed with the grasses.

Disturbed Habitat

This descriptor was used to characterize a small patch of bare ground immediately south of the parking lot entrance road. It was predominantly bare ground supporting no distinct vegetation community.

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Mud flat

Due to the recent breach of the sand berm at the mouth of Malibu Lagoon, the majority of areas previously inundated were exposed mud flat at the time of the survey. Areas mapped as mud flat were unvegetated. While mud flats are typically characterized by finer grained, less mobile sediment particles, in this instance the exact location where mud flat transitioned into sand bar and sand beach was difficult to pinpoint. Therefore, in general, all areas that had been previously inundated and were unvegetated were mapped at mudflat, regardless of their constituent grain size.

Sand Beach/Sand Bar

Areas that were clearly composed of coarser grained particles, resulting from higher energy transport of sand near the mouth of the lagoon, were mapped as sand bar. Large, unvegetated areas of open beach were mapped as sand beach.

Open Water

Open water was mapped in all unvegetated areas that had not been de-watered by the breach of the sand berm. Open water was generally very shallow and persisted only in the deeper channels of the lagoon basins. Although this habitat accounted for the largest acreage in the survey area, this area will fluctuate significantly based on hydrological conditions. Loss of open water through drainage will be balanced by an increase in mud flat.

Sand Bar

Southern Coastal Salt Marsh Open Water

Mud Flat

Urban/Developed

The areas designated at Urban/Developed are comprised of the paved parking lot, access roads, access trails, and the grassy park area off the parking lot.

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WETLANDS AND JURISDICTIONAL NON-WETLAND RESOURCES

ACOE, CDFG, and CCC jurisdictional wetlands and waterways delineated for the study area are shown in Figure 3. Table 2 quantifies the jurisdictional resources. The jurisdictional boundaries are similar between ACOE, CDFG, and CCC, overlapping for the majority of the study area.

Table 2. Summary of Jurisdictional Wetlands and Non-wetland Waters/Streambed On-site ACOE, CDFG CCC Wetland Habitat Type Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Jurisdiction (acre) (acre) (acre) Southern willow scrub 0.42 0.42 0.51 Atriplex scrub 0.54 0.33 0.20 Baccharis scrub 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mule fat scrub 0.98 1.09 1.39 Venturan coastal sage scrub 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mixed scrub 0.00 0.00 0.00 Southern coastal salt marsh 4.95 4.98 4.98 Brackish marsh 0.22 0.22 0.22 Coastal and valley freshwater marsh 0.83 0.83 0.83 Southern sycamore-alder riparian woodland 0.00 0.16 0.16 Disturbed coastal dunes 0.00 0.00 0.00 Non-native grassland 0.00 0.00 0.00 Disturbed habitat 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mud flat 3.96 3.96 3.96 Sand beach/sand bar 7.27 2.75 7.27 Open water 11.65 11.09 11.65 Urban/developed land 0.09 0.03 0.09 Total Jurisdictional Waters/Streambed 30.9 26.11 31.60

In general the jurisdictional wetlands include all areas mapped as southern willow scrub, mule fat scrub, southern coastal salt marsh, coastal and valley freshwater marsh, brackish marsh, and southern sycamore-alder riparian woodland, with the exceptions noted below.

CCC and CDFG jurisdictional boundaries have the most overlap, with deviations only at the mouth of the lagoon and near the State Park parking lot. Although CCC follows the same requirement as CDFG, needing only one of the three criteria for an area to be classified as a wetland, the CCC’s jurisdiction extends beyond streambed to include areas of wetland vegetation that are not necessarily dependent on the streambed or adjacent riparian area. Therefore the areas vegetated by mule fat scrub and southern willow scrub north of the parking lot (likely supported by runoff or irrigation rather than Malibu Lagoon) are within CCC jurisdiction only. The other variation in jurisdiction between CDFG and CCC is at the mouth of the lagoon, where CCC continues seaward while CDFG is limited to non-tidal waters.

The ACOE jurisdiction deviates from the CDFG and CCC boundary in areas where all three criteria were not met. In the western portion of the lagoon there were areas dominated by wetland indictor species such as mule fat or western sycamores, however they did not meet the hydric soils criterion.

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The areas identified to exhibit wetland hydrologic characteristics but that were lacking in wetland vegetation were mapped as Non-wetland Waters of the U.S/Streambeds and are indicated by cross- hatching. These were the portions of the site mapped as mud flat, sand beach/sand bar, and open water.

Wetlands Functions and Values

Malibu Lagoon presents a complex situation relative to the assessment of functions and values of wetland habitats. While the system is highly degraded predominantly due to eutrophication, sedimentation of finger channels, and considerable hydrologic modification, it continues to provide considerable value to wildlife resources including a rich avian community, local native mammals, and two sensitive species of fish, the tidewater goby and the southern steelhead.

The principal factor responsible for the current degraded state of the lagoon is seasonal eutrophication manifested as summer algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen conditions, and intermittent fish and aquatic organism die-offs. The dramatic physical seasonality of the Malibu Lagoon has a strong influence on the existing water quality and substrate (grain size); problems identified throughout Malibu Lagoon Restoration Feasibility Study. Both the chemical and physical seasonal fluctuations result in highly variable biogeochemical conditions in the lagoon, with the closed summer lagoon experiencing the most impaired water quality due to eutrophication and high bacterial loads.

As one of only a few coastal waterbodies in the region, the lagoon supports a relatively diverse community of resident and migratory avifauna and it has been recognized as an important habitat for birds as well as an important recreational area for nature lovers and bird watchers. While physical water contact is discouraged at the lagoon, the lagoon offers considerable passive recreation use and is an important educational feature on the coastline.

Given the benefits the lagoon offers to existing wildlife resources as well as the general public, it is important to design the restoration efforts to minimize short-term adverse impacts to the existing lagoon values, developing a plan for restoration that is protective of these existing resources.

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