The "Destroy" Sharp Park folks have been claiming similarities between Laguna Salada and two nearby lagoons - Rodeo Lagoon in southern Marin, and Pescadero Marsh, south of Half Moon Bay. They've been saying that since the farthest inland parts of Rodeo and Pescadero are fresh enough to support red-legged frog habitat, that means a restored Laguna Salada would be too.
Here are topographic maps of the three areas being considered. The Laguna Salada topo map is from 1915, and would represent the lagoon if it was "restored" to its pre-golf course state. The map of Rodeo Lagoon is from 1978, and the map of Pescadero Marsh is from 1997, which were the latest I could find.
Look at how Laguna Salada runs along the length of the beach. Then look at how far inland both the Rodeo Lagoon and Pescadero Marsh extend. Even though Rodeo and Pescadero are classified as brackish, it's believable that during parts of the year, they both have relatively fresh water well inland. But does anyone familiar with the terrain at Sharp Park really believe the water at the "distant" edge of the lagoon is far enough away from the ocean to be fresh?
* The red line running down the beach on the map of Pescadero is Highway 1, just to give you an idea of how far inland the marsh runs.
* Even though they aren't permanent features, and therefore aren't shown on the map of Laguna Salada, if you look at the picture of Laguna Salada in Chris Hunter and Bill Drake's Acadia book on Pacifica, you'll see an outlet running between the Laguna and the ocean which facilitates mixing of ocean water with lagoon water.
* Also the maps are not equal scale - the Rodeo and Pescadero maps are equals scale, but the Laguna Salada map was at a much higher scale. I'm guessing if the Laguna Salada map was the same scale of the other two, Laguna Salada would look about a fourth of the size it does in the map below.
6 comments:
When I was 16 yrs old I worked for the Youth Corp and we cleaned up the area in Marin. No one lives around there.
Pescadero I used to go to all the time, have not been there in five years. No one lives around there either.
How can they compare these two places with Sharp Park? Ridiculous!
A community was built around the Sharp Park Golf Course, land donated for a golf course. 2010 is slated by economist to be the worse year ever. Local governments will not be able to keep any cash reserves because the state leaders are going to need those funds. Plater and his radicals are looking for ways to keep their jobs in the state, that's what I believe. Science says there is no global warming. What argument for their snake park is left?
If you honestly believe there is no global warming maybe you should take a trip to Alaska.
You will be shocked when you see how much the glaciers have receeded in just the last 5 years compared to the last 500 years. It's no joke. Educate yourself. Stop being stupid.
No, Mike Bell, I don't believe it.
i used to hang out at rodeo beach all the time and it actually closer to the water on the west end than laguna salada...you argument is mute...why dont you get maps to scale before you make a mute point???
I don't think your point matters, Amy. Anyone who's lived in Pacifica and pays attention knows that, if not for the berm, ocean waves could easily reach the lagoon during winter storms.
Laguna Salada wasn't that far from the ocean, and given the fact that a berm was needed to keep the ocean out of the area, it seems pretty obvious that the ocean water was getting to Laguna Salada and the golf course.
And the word is "moot," not "mute."
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