Gateway Park Restoration Plans Begin

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy (SELC) — a prime piece of property that developers had been eyeing for 25 years.

Instead of being cleared to make room for another hotel or commercial development, that land is now the newest addition to the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve.

This month SELC staffers and volunteers have been taking inventory of the property, which is now called Gateway Park. 

“We hope to restore as much of the native habitat as possible while allowing the public access to view this up-close as a sort of urban walkway and viewing platform,” said Doug Gibson, executive director and principal scientist at SELC, in a news release. 

Because commercial development was once proposed here, a good chunk of the land has been graded of all plant life. Other parts of the property are home to the invasive Garland Daisy. That said, Gibson believes that with restoration work, the land will become a refugia for animals during storms and high tide periods, something that is crucial to the survival of lagoon wildlife.

“As the Gateway is situated on high ground, the concept of creating a buffer for the lagoon as refugia seems the perfect solution for this valuable piece of land,” added Elizabeth Venrick, a retired oceanographer who donates her time to the Conservancy as a docent and member of the Board of Directors.

“[Gateway Park] is just about the only place from which to view the west basin, giving people an elevated viewpoint or window into a portion of the reserve they don’t often get to see,” Venrick said. “Bird watching is excellent from that vantage point. One example is the Belding’s Savannah Sparrow (currently on the Endangered Species List) that has been thriving and quite healthy in the lagoon because of our efforts to preserve their natural habitat.” 

Another comeback species is the Clapper Rail, the long-legged water bird that thrives in the salt marsh (and attached to this story you can see a photo of one of these birds, which was shot by Encinitas local Chris Mayne). 

The San Elijo Lagoon is currently home to 23 species of fish, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, 26 species mammals and 300 species of birds. Of the latter, 65 have been documented as nesting and breeding in the reserve.

The public can now walk on seven miles of trails along all compass points of the lagoon that include the newly acquired Gateway Park.

The SELC was able to acquire Gateway Park thanks to a private $3.75 million loan. There is now a campaign to help SELC raise money to pay back that loan.

If you’d like to help, you can donate by visiting SELC’s fundraising page online. 

According to its website, your support for the Gateway Park will help:

• Conserve sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and San Elijo Lagoon along Coast Highway 101 in north Solana Beach
• Enhance San Elijo Lagoon, one of San Diego's largest coastal wetlands, with additional habitat and refuge for birds and other native plant and animal species. 
• Provide walking trails and resting areas for public enjoyment. 

For more information, visit sanelijo.org.

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