Carlsbad Watershed
From SDCK Watershed Wiki
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The Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit (HU) is approximately 210 square miles in area extending from the headwaters above Lake Wolhford in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and from Vista and Oceanside in the north to Solana Beach, Escondido, and the community of Rancho Santa Fe to the south. The cities of Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Encinitas are entirely within this HU. There are numerous important surface hydrologic features within the Carlsbad HU including four unique coastal lagoons, three major creeks, and two large water storage reservoirs. The HU contains four major, roughly parallel hydrologic areas (HAs). From north to south they are the Buena Vista (901.2), the Agua Hedionda (904.3), the Batiquitos (904.5), and the San Elijo (904.6) HAs. Two smaller HAs, the Loma Alta (904.1) and the Canyon de las Encinas (904.4) are also within the Carlsbad HU.
 | Watershed monitoring sites by San Diego Coastkeeper |
 | Formerly monitored sites by San Diego Coastkeeper |
 | Beach water monitoring sites by County DEH |
 | Beach water monitoring sites by wastewater agencies |
Monitoring Sites
San Diego Coastkeeper currently conducts monthly water quality monitoring at 9 sites in the Carlsbad watershed.
The Site codes and their locations are as follows:
BVC-015 : Bridge next to driving range, west bank
BVC-020 : Preserve Calavera restoration field
BVC-035 : Thunder Drive, West Side
BTQ-010 : Encinitas Creek near the Levante St Bridge (south side)
BTQ-020 : San Marcos Creek at Box Canyon Dam (downstream at bank)
EDC-010 : Escondido Creek at Santa Fe Road Overpass
EDC-020 : Escondido Creek at Camino Del Norte Bridge
EDC-030 : Elfin Forest Rd/ Harmony Grove Rd
SEL-030 : San Elijo Lagoon near Mira Costa College Rd
Previously Monitored Sites:
BVC-010 : Buena Vista Lagoon near intersection of Jefferson St and Marron Rd, off parking lot
BVC-030 : Buena Vista Creek near Lake Blvd and College Blvd
CBD.SEL.1 : San Elijo Lagoon at Cardiff Reef/Coast Hwy Bridge (close to Chesterfield Dr), south of inlet channel
CBD.SEL.2 : San Elijo Lagoon at Visitor Center, near first observation platform
CBD.EDC.4 : Escondido Creek at Elfin Forest Reserve, downstream of main Bridge
CBD.EDC.5 : Escondido Creek near intersection of Country Club Drive/Harmony Grove Road, near Bridge
Watershed Information
Hydrologic Areas in Carlsbad Watershed
Hydrologic Unit 904.10 - 904.63
Hydrologic Areas: Loma Alta 904.1 ; Buena Vista Creek 904.2 ; Agua Hedionda 904.3 ; Encinas 904.4 ; Lake San Marcos 904.5 ; Escondido Creek 904.6
Major Water Bodies: (i)Loma Alta Creek (ii)Buena Vista Creek (iii)Buena Vista Lagoon (iv)Agua Hedionda Creek (v)Agua Hedionda Lagoon (vi)San Marcos Creek (vii)Lake San Marcos (viii)Batiquitos Lagoon (ix)Escondido Creek (x)San Elijo Lagoon (xi)Lake Wolhford
Impaired Water Bodies in Carlsbad Watershed
CWA 303(d) List
| Waterbody | Pollutant/Stressor |
|---|---|
| Agua Hedionda Creek | Manganese, Selenium, Sulfates, Total Dissolved Solids |
| Agua Hedionda Lagoon | Indicator bacteria, Sedimentation/Siltation |
| Buena Creek | DDT, Nitrate and Nitrite, Phosphate |
| Buena Vista Creek | Sediment Toxicity |
| Buena Vista Lagoon | Indicator bacteria, Nutrients, Sedimentation/Siltation |
| Cottonwood Creek (San Marcos) | DDT, Phosphorus, Sediment Toxicity |
| Encinitas Creek | Phosphorus |
| Escondido Creek | DDT, Manganese, Phosphate, Selenium, Sulfates, Total Dissolved Solids |
| Loma Alta Slough | Eutrophic, Indicator bacteria |
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Buena Vista Creek | Indicator bacteria |
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Escondido Creek | Indicator bacteria |
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Loma Alta | Indicator bacteria |
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline, San Marcos | Indicator bacteria |
| Reidy Canyon Creek | Phosphorus |
| San Elijo Lagoon | Eutrophic, Indicator bacteria, Sedimentation/Siltation |
| San Marcos Creek | DDE, Phosphorus, Sediment Toxicity |
| San Marcos Lake | Ammonia as Nitrogen, Nutrients, Phosphorus |
Watershed Land Use
Land Use by type
| Type | Share of Watershed |
|---|---|
| Residential | 37.0% |
| Commercial | 20.0% |
| Parks & Open Spaces | 31.0% |
| Golf Course | 2.1% |
| Agriculture | 6.3% |
| Under Construction | 0.2% |
| Industry | 1.6% |
Watershed Captains in Carlsbad Watershed
BVC: Kasey Cinciarelli
BTQ: Jim Brown
ESC: Karen Waggoner
SEL: Bruce Hendershot & Beth Hendershot
Watershed Studies and Reports
Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Report on the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit - 2007
Carlsbad Watershed Urban Runoff Management Program 2005 - 2006
Watershed Resources
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy (SELC)
The Escondido Creek Conservancy(TECC)
Data Interpretations
Water Quality at Buena Vista Creek Sites in 2009:
Water Quality at Batiquitos Lagoon Vicinity Sites in 2009:
Water Quality at Escondido Creek Sites in 2009:
Water Quality at San Elijo Lagoon Sites in 2009:
