Participating in Rotary's Epic Day of Service on May 17, Solana Beach ECO Rotary (Amelie Catheline, Alisa Morrison and Jenny Parker) partnered with Encinitas Coastal Rotary (Ralph Hirschmann, Laura Lingardo, Rob Coury) and Rotary Club of Escondido (Ione Rummery and son) and Nature Collective to work at the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve. They worked alongside other community volunteers at the far eastern edge of the 1000-acre reserve to remove invasive plants and plant natives. The reserve is truly a special place, packed with wildlife and is especially lush and green this time of year. They were treated to generous birdsong and the honking of migrating geese while they worked.
The Nature Collective (https://naturecollective.org/) did a fantastic job of organizing the event. Participants were even given a tour and lecture on the importance of the wetland's native plants and challenges of invasive species in the area. They let participants know that the work they did helps re-balance the natural landscape to encourage more biodiversity in the area. This large wetland reserve is critical to maintaining San Diego's status as the most biodiverse county in the contiguous US. The health of the lagoon reserve also helps preserve our coastline, reduces pollution going into the ocean and acts as a carbon sink.
Projects like these make a small but meaningful impact on our environment. Please consider joining them on their future endeavors!
