San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy Receives Stewardship Award

The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, a consortium and voice for wetlands conservation, recently awarded San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s habitat management team with a Stewardship Development Award. This honor is bestowed to a program grantee. It recognizes outstanding service in fostering wetland stewards through youth education and participation.

“We are honored to be recognized for our leadership in community conservation with our Lagoon Platoon program,” said Doug Gibson, conservancy executive director and principal scientist. “We’re transforming habitat. Even more, we’re inspiring volunteers with knowledge and skills in wetlands restoration that lead to environmental careers.”

Nearly 1,000 volunteers this year have worked alongside conservancy biologists. Shovel by shovel, once-degraded sites in the 979-acre San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve are being restored with native plants that strengthen habitats and community connections with nature.

Volunteers come together monthly for Lagoon Platoon events. Native plants are installed. Invasive plant species and trailside debris are removed. Working with county rangers at the reserve, the program also revitalizes trails and signage. Those with a passion to learn more about wetland restoration move on to become Stewards and work weekly to prepare and nurture sites. Exceptional Stewards have been offered internships that supplement restoration efforts. In a few cases, interns have joined as staff in the habitat management program.

For more information or to volunteer in Lagoon Platoon, visit SanElijo.org/restoration-events or email platoon@sanelijo.org

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, founded in 1987, is the nonprofit land trust for San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The 979-acre reserve is managed by the Conservancy, County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.