Contact: Penny Dockry, Chair
Address   San Diego Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, 332 S. Juniper St., Suite 110, Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: 760-745-2061
FAX   760-745-3210
email: penny@rcdsandiego.org

Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit is a 210 square mile, roughly triangular shaped strip which include four unique coastal lagoons, three major creeks, three lakes, urban and natural drainage, native vegetation, open space, agriculture, fisheries and beaches.

The Carlsbad Watershed Network (CWN) is a coalition of nonprofit lagoon and creek foundation in partnership with the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County (RCD) whose purpose is to provide coordinated programs in the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit.

CWN was formed under a memorandum of agreement in February 1998. The group develops and supports applications for and implementation of projects to address mutual needs. The parties to the agreement focus on three common areas of concerns:

1) Habitat Restoration and Protection
2) Water Quality
2) Public Access and Education

Forming the CWN are Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation, The Escondido Creek Conservancy, the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County and the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. The group is advised by the California Coastal Conservancy, City of Carlsbad, San Diego Association of Governments, Regional Water Quality Control Board and U.C. San Marcos.

To date, four grant application have been submitted. A grant application to support water quality planning has been tentatively approved by the State Water Quality Control Board. A small grant was awarded by the California Coastal Conservancy to begin a volunteer trail network for construction and maintenance of a trail system. This project will install 3,000 linear feet of demonstration trail. Although all issues and projects identified carry equal weight with all members, it was agreed that water quality projects would provide the most benefit. With that in mind, the group's next challenge is to involve the municipalities and water districts that are also working to address water quality. An attempt was made to call a joint meeting with these stakeholders resulting in very little interest and a postponed meeting.

Our successes include:
1) recognition as a watershed group working on a regional basis.
2) the proven ability to work together for the benefit of the Hydrologic Unit and all network members and advisors
3) the ability for all members to maintain their separate identities.