Audubon says redesigned 3.5‑acre reserve will expand habitat and protect sensitive species; construction targeted for 2028
May 28, 2026 | Carlsbad, San Diego County, California
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Natalie Shapiro of the Audubon Society updated the committee on restoration plans for a 3.5‑acre wetland reserve adjacent to the north shore of Buena Vista Lagoon.
"We acquired the 3.5 acre wetland reserve in 2016," Shapiro said, and described the site as degraded by invasive plants, erosion and historic imported fill. Audubon completed a CEQA review that was approved in 2025 and then worked with resource agencies that suggested redesigning the plan to reduce open water and grading.
Shapiro said the redesign scales back open-water areas and grading to limit impacts while maintaining community benefits such as trails, water-quality features and an indigenous gathering area. She noted that the project must include protections for sensitive species, identifying the southwest spiny rush and the light-footed Ridgway's rail as species of concern in the area, and that the project team will incorporate protective measures during construction.
On schedule, Shapiro said Audubon delivered a first round of permitting documents in March, received agency comments, submitted a second round of documents, and is working through interdependent permit timelines (Carlsbad permitting precedes some coastal commission steps). She told the committee the group expects to be shovel-ready around 2028 and is writing grants to cover final design and construction costs.
Committee members asked how the reserve will be used by the public. Shapiro said the design favors "birding and slow recreation," will be ADA-compliant, and will discourage high-speed bicycle use with chicane-style entry gates while keeping the reserve publicly accessible. She said Audubon will assume maintenance responsibility, will build maintenance commitments into permitting documents (including showing several years of maintenance capacity), and plans to use volunteers and grant funding for long-term upkeep.
No formal city action was taken; Audubon said it will continue permitting and funding work and return with updates.
"We acquired the 3.5 acre wetland reserve in 2016," Shapiro said, and described the site as degraded by invasive plants, erosion and historic imported fill. Audubon completed a CEQA review that was approved in 2025 and then worked with resource agencies that suggested redesigning the plan to reduce open water and grading.
Shapiro said the redesign scales back open-water areas and grading to limit impacts while maintaining community benefits such as trails, water-quality features and an indigenous gathering area. She noted that the project must include protections for sensitive species, identifying the southwest spiny rush and the light-footed Ridgway's rail as species of concern in the area, and that the project team will incorporate protective measures during construction.
On schedule, Shapiro said Audubon delivered a first round of permitting documents in March, received agency comments, submitted a second round of documents, and is working through interdependent permit timelines (Carlsbad permitting precedes some coastal commission steps). She told the committee the group expects to be shovel-ready around 2028 and is writing grants to cover final design and construction costs.
Committee members asked how the reserve will be used by the public. Shapiro said the design favors "birding and slow recreation," will be ADA-compliant, and will discourage high-speed bicycle use with chicane-style entry gates while keeping the reserve publicly accessible. She said Audubon will assume maintenance responsibility, will build maintenance commitments into permitting documents (including showing several years of maintenance capacity), and plans to use volunteers and grant funding for long-term upkeep.
No formal city action was taken; Audubon said it will continue permitting and funding work and return with updates.
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