SANDAG: Buena Vista Lagoon design stalled by funding gap; $1M federal earmark aids next steps

SANDAG project staff told the Carlsbad–Oceanside joint committee that efforts to restore Buena Vista Lagoon are in the design phase but remain short of funds needed to finish 65% design, permitting and final engineering.

"We need a total of about $3,200,000 to bring the project up through 65% design," said Kim Smith of SANDAG, who outlined prior grant awards and next steps. Smith said SANDAG completed environmental review in May 2020, secured $4,000,000 in state grant funding in late 2021 and has completed about 30% of design work, with a 65% basis-of-design report in progress.

Smith said SANDAG also obtained "a little over $1,000,000" through a congressional earmark that will be administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "This funding is being distributed through NOAA ... and is going to be used to help advance certain components of the project," Smith said, citing channel guide and bridge design as likely uses. She added that SANDAG must submit materials and work through NOAA to secure the earmark funds, and that the agency expects to receive the award after NOAA's process concludes (SANDAG said it had submitted the required proposal and was targeting award/administration by the end of September, subject to NOAA procedures).

Committee members pressed on timing and ownership. One member asked whether the state — which SANDAG described as owning "about 98% of the lagoon" — would ultimately be the permit holder. Smith said the state being the majority landowner makes it a logical permit holder, but that roles and responsibilities should be defined as permitting advances and that SANDAG will seek an agreement among partners.

Asked how long full delivery would take with ample funding, Smith estimated "between 3 and 4 years" to get design and permitting (including any NEPA work) completed to a shovel-ready state, followed by roughly "2 and a half years" of construction.

The presentation outlined next steps: reengage California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff at a planned June meeting to define roles, pursue additional state and federal funding (including potential state Proposition funding), coordinate with the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Group on funding and permitting strategies, and return to the cities to request letters of support.

Committee discussion included a cautionary note from Carlsbad Mayor Blackburn that prior efforts stalled when agency personnel changed; Blackburn urged exploring a formal agreement to prevent repeated restarts. Smith agreed that an MOU or similar agreement could help lock in responsibilities across partners.

The committee did not take a formal action on the restoration plan at the meeting. The agenda item closed with staff planning to pursue the recommended outreach and funding steps and to return with more information.