Tidal Cycle
This animated graphic shows the tidal cycle at Batiquitos Lagoon after completion of the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project. The oceanic tides range from +7 MLLW to -2 MLLW; however, because of the restricted flows at the mouth of the lagoon, the railroad trestle, and the Interstate 5 bridge, tidal conditions in the Batiquitos Lagoon system are somewhat altered. Tidal lags of approximately 45 minutes occur in the eastern basin; lags of 15 minutes occur in the western basin during low tides. Also, the lower low water elevations in the eastern basin may be more than a foot above oceanic tide stages. During high tide cycles, there is a negligible phase lag and elevation difference between all the lagoon basins and the ocean. Removal of sand from the central and east basins of the lagoon by CDFG using the maintenance account is critical to the tidal functioning of the lagoon.
Before completion of the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project, the lagoon had ceased being tidal, even intermittently; it filled with fresh water in the winter and was mechanically opened and drained in the spring to stop flooding or to provide nesting sites for endangered birds. The lagoon closed within days after being mechanically opened and became completely dry or hypersaline in the summer and fall. Nutrients entering the lagoon from the watershed, combined with poor water circulation, resulted in spring and summer algal blooms and eutrophication. The resulting organic material was deposited on the lagoon bottom; this contributed to the filling of the lagoon and sometimes caused offensive odors (see The Restoration Story for more information).
