San Elijo Lagoon

California lagoons were formed in the ice age.Thousands of years ago, the sea level was much lower because most of itwas frozen, so the sea level was miles to the west. When it got warmer,the ice melted, the sea level rose, and flooded the river valleys. Theynow form our lagoons. Right now, San Elijo Lagoon is fed by the ocean andthe Escondido Creek. Upriver of the lagoon is a watershed. After a storm,soil erosion from upriver flows into the lagoon. When farms and structuresare built on the watershed area, more soil erosion flows down river, andclogs the lagoon's ocean mouth.
History of San Elijo Lagoon
Native Americans lived near the lagoon for thousands of years.The lagoon was named by the explorers who found it in 1769.The explorersmade some Big changesin the lagoon's wetland.The explorers put in a bridge for the Santa Fe Railroad,and they also built dams.Interstate 5 was built across the middle of thelagoon in 1965. The Fish and Game Department was using the area to helpprotect endangered birds and animals in 1981.
Now, people are working together to keep the lagoon'smouth open. Without the lagoon's mouth open, the water in the lagoon willloose its oxygen. This will happen because when the water circulates, itforces the oxygen bubbles into the water.The fish will start to die becausethere is no oxygen in the water. When the fish die, they won't be able toeat the larvae of insects that are bad for the lagoon environment. If thishappens, the insects will hatch, then food for the birds is lost. Afterthat, an important lagoon and bird stopping area will be lost. Over allthe San Diego coastline, 75% of wetlands are destroyed. You can makea big difference in San Elijo Lagoon's progress.

San Elijo Lagoon

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California lagoons were formed in the ice age.Thousands of years ago, the sea level was much lower because most of itwas frozen, so the sea level was miles to the west. When it got warmer,the ice melted, the sea level rose, and flooded the river valleys. Theynow form our lagoons. Right now, San Elijo Lagoon is fed by the ocean andthe Escondido Creek. Upriver of the lagoon is a watershed. After a storm,soil erosion from upriver flows into the lagoon. When farms and structuresare built on the watershed area, more soil erosion flows down river, andclogs the lagoon's ocean mouth.
History of San Elijo Lagoon
Native Americans lived near the lagoon for thousands of years.The lagoon was named by the explorers who found it in 1769.The explorersmade some Big changesin the lagoon's wetland.The explorers put in a bridge for the Santa Fe Railroad,and they also built dams.Interstate 5 was built across the middle of thelagoon in 1965. The Fish and Game Department was using the area to helpprotect endangered birds and animals in 1981.
Now, people are working together to keep the lagoon'smouth open. Without the lagoon's mouth open, the water in the lagoon willloose its oxygen. This will happen because when the water circulates, itforces the oxygen bubbles into the water.The fish will start to die becausethere is no oxygen in the water. When the fish die, they won't be able toeat the larvae of insects that are bad for the lagoon environment. If thishappens, the insects will hatch, then food for the birds is lost. Afterthat, an important lagoon and bird stopping area will be lost. Over allthe San Diego coastline, 75% of wetlands are destroyed. You can makea big difference in San Elijo Lagoon's progress.