Less than 150 years ago, Batiquitos Lagoon was fully tidal. Archaeological evidence indicates that marine shellfish were present in the lagoon, and that Native Americans harvested them. In fact, the name Batiquitos is believed to come from the regional Mexican Native American word batiqui, which means shallow water hole.
With the arrival of European and American settlers, the lagoon changed dramatically. Roads and railroads were build across the lagoon, which restricted water flow; sediment washed down from plowed and graded lands in the watershed and filled the lagoon. Portions of the lagoon were filled for development or were used for salt evaporation ponds; water flows from the upper watershed were dammed and diverted to other uses. Below is a timeline summarizing the history of the Batiquitos Lagoon area.
| 9,500-950 years before present |
The archaeological record for this period shows evidence of various California Paleo-Indian cultures living near the Batiquitos Lagoon and harvesting shellfish from the lagoon waters.
The archaeological record for this period shows evidence of various California Paleo-Indian cultures living near the Batiquitos Lagoon and harvesting shellfish from the lagoon waters. |
| 1769-1833 |
Exploration expeditions travel through north San Diego County. San Luis Rey Mission, established in 1798, may use land next to the lagoon for grazing livestock. Local Native Americans continue to use the lagoon's resources. |
| 1849-1900 |
The American takeover in 1848 of Mexican ranchos opens the area around the lagoon for homesteading in the 1870s. |
| 1880 |
A major roadway (El Camino Real) is built, extending south from the lagoon through Green Valley. |
| 1881 |
California Southern Railroad builds across the lagoon's mouth. |
| 1901-1910 |
California Salt Company operates 25 acres of evaporative ponds in the lagoon's eastern basin. |
| 1912 |
The Pacific Coast Highway is constructed next to Batiquitos Lagoon. |
| 1917 |
The avocado is introduced to the area, and irrigated orchards become a prevalent land use around the lagoon. |
| 1934 |
The Santa Fe Railroad is constructed across the lagoon. |
| 1952 |
San Marcos dam is constructed, decreasing the volume of water in the lagoon and limiting the potential of floods. The lagoon becomes infrequently tidal. |
| 1965 |
Interstate-5 is constructed across the lagoon. La Costa Resort is built on the eastern part of the lagoon. |
| 1976 |
San Diego County prepares a master plan for Batiquitos Lagoon Regional Park. The lagoon becomes rarely tidal. |
| 1983 |
The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation is formed. |
| 1984 |
The City of Carlsbad annexes Batiquitos Lagoon. |
| 1986 |
The Port of Los Angeles and the City of Carlsbad join to implement the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project to restore the lagoon and open a tidal inlet to the ocean. |
| 1990 |
The EIR/EIS is completed for the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project. |
| 1994 |
Restoration of Batiquitos Lagoon begins. |
| 1996 |
The mouth of Batiquitos Lagoon permanently opens to tidal influence. |
| 1997-present |
The long-term monitoring program is implemented. |
