Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are named, discrete geographic marine or estuarine areas seaward of the mean high tide line or the mouth of a coastal river, including any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora and fauna, that have been designated by law or administrative action to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. They are scientifically proven to promote the restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity, which help increase the ocean’s resilience to pollution and climate change. The need to safeguard the long-term health of California’s marine life was recognized by the California Legislature in 1999 with the passage of the Marine Life Protection Act. This Act aims to protect California’s marine natural heritage through establishing a statewide network of MPAs. Currently, there are 124 MPAs in California. The City of Encinitas is home to the Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) MPA, which was established in 2012, and spans approximately 3.5 miles of shoreline (from Moonlight State Beach south to South Cardiff State Beach) and 3.5 miles offshore with an overall area of 12.71 square miles.

The depth within the Swami’s SMCA ranges from 0 feet to 982 feet below sea level. Several surf breaks, most notably Swami’s Reef, Cardiff Reef and Seaside Reef are popular for surfing. Swami’s SMCA protects and sustains multiple habitats which include kelp forests, surf grass, rocky reef, and intertidal reef which support a variety of fish, invertebrates, and avian bird species. During low tide, visitors can observe tide pools with anemones, brittle stars, sea 

hares, and octopus near Swami’s Point and Table Tops Reef. California Least Terns, Double-Crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans can be seen fishing offshore, as well as intertidal foragers such as the Western Snowy Plover, Sanderlings, and Whimbrels, found near the Cardiff State Beach Living Shoreline dunes.

To ensure the continued success of the ecosystem, it is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resources from this area for commercial or recreational purposes with the exception of recreational fishing for finfish (or bony fish, such as sharks, skates and rays) by take with hook and line from shore. The recreational take from spearfishing of pelagic finfish (defined as Barracuda, Pacific Bonito, Yellowtail, Thresher shark, Pacific Mackerel, Dorado, and White Seabass) is also allowed. No recreational or commercial boat fishing of any kind is allowed. Beach nourishment and other sediment management activities and operation and maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation area is allowed pursuant to any required federal, state, and local permits. Please see the specific California Code Regulations (C.C.R), Title 14, Section 632 for Marine Protected Areas from California Fish and Wildlife.

San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area and Ecological Reserve

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Located along the City of Encinitas southern boundary, south of Manchester Avenue and San Elijo Avenue and north of the City of Solana Beach, the San Elijo Lagoon has both a State Conservation Area overlay located within it (located on both sides of Interstate-5) and a State Ecological Reserve overlay within it (which also is located on both sides of Interstate-5). The San Elijo State Marine Conservation Area is 0.50 square miles, including 0.42 square miles of estuary and 1.59 square miles of coastal marsh. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is 721 acres reaching beyond the limits of the Ecological Reserve overlay. The property was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 1983. There is a great diversity of plant and animal species here. Habitats include southern California coastal sage scrub, riparian and coastal wetland communities. There is also a great trails system in and around the lagoon that San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Nature Collective maintain for wildlife viewing and hiking, so please stay on the trail.

One of the goals for San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area is to protect the coastal marsh habitat and shallow estuary waters found there. The lagoon provides an important nursery and feeding area for fish like topsmelt, California halibut, and arrow goby, and invertebrates such as fiddler crabs, mantis shrimp, and California horn snail. Bird species commonly visiting the lagoon include the California least tern, brown pelican, blue heron, bufflehead, and willet.

It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource for commercial and/or recreation purposes. Take pursuant to operation and maintenance, habitat restoration, research and education, maintenance dredging and maintenance of artificial structures inside the conservation area or ecological reserve is allowed pursuant to any required federal, state and local permits. Boating, paddleboarding, fishing, swimming, wading, and diving are prohibited within the conservation area and ecological reserve. Yes, this includes the inlet waterway near Cardiff Reef, which leads to the body of the lagoon, underneath, and on the east side of South Coast Highway 101, adjacent to the railroad corridor. Please see the specific California Code Regulations (C.C.R), Title 14, Section 630 for the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Conservation Area rules and regulations and Section 632 for Marine Protected Areas from California Fish and Wildlife.

Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area and Ecological Reserve

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