No. 17 - Coastal Saltmarsh

Between the trail and the water's edge is an example of a coastal saltmarsh community. The dominant salt-tolerant plant found at the lagoon is Pickleweed. Early settlers ate the foliage and likened it to pickles. The plant has a high alkaline salt content so it has been used for making soap and glass. Pickleweed is easily identified by its fleshy leaves, which look like a string of pickles. The dense low growth provides nesting habitat for the endangered Belding’s Savannah Sparrow.

Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
www.batiquitoslagoon.org

Preserve, Protect, and Enhance Batiquitos Lagoon

Phone: (442) 320-7009

Address: P.O. Box 131741, Carlsbad, CA 92013
PLEASE—NO COLLECTING!

ABOUT THE LAGOON

Batiquitos Lagoon is located on the coast about 30 miles north of San Diego. It is in the city of Carlsbad and just north of the city of Encinitas.

The lagoon can be seen and experienced from a nature trail on the north side. The public walking and hiking trail is about two miles long.

It starts just east of Interstate 5 at the end of Gabbiano Lane and goes most of the way to El Camino Real on the east end of the lagoon.

There are five public parking lots providing access to the trail, one by the Nature Center and four on Batiquitos Drive.