Restoring Native Vegetation and Improving Water Quality will Increase the Overall Ecosystem Function of the Colorado Lagoon

Later: Similarities between Monarchy and Capitalism

Who would have thought that my religious studies class was the one that taught me how to apply evolution in explaining why things are the way they are, and why humans act the way we do.

Symposium abstract:

Restoring Native Vegetation and Improving Water Quality will Increase the Overall Ecosystem Function of the Colorado Lagoon

The Colorado Lagoon is a coastal wetland utilized by birds, humans and marine organisms in southern California that is experiencing a great decrease in plant biodiversity and is also listed as an impaired water body under section 303 (d) of the Clean Water Act. Invasive species and human landscaping have taken over valuable space for native species. Poor water quality due to a five-mile radius watershed, eleven storm drains, and reduced tidal flushing from Alamitos Bay have led to strict regulations on eight different pollutants. Removal of invasive species and human landscape will create space for the seventy-two species of native plants that will be planted. The four habitat types of plants will be coastal sage scrub, coastal bluff, transition zone, and coastal salt marsh. Water quality will be improved by installing trash separation devices in the storm drains and removal of the culvert to create complete flushing into Alamitos Bay. Plant biodiversity will increase due to the improvement of water quality, while water quality will improve due to increased tidal flushing as well as water-filtering plants. The overall health of the ecosystem will increase from the improvement of water quality and increase in plant biodiversity, thus increasing the value of the lagoon to those who use it.