The project will prevent permanent loss of native habitats and populations of rare species by eradicating and controlling nonnative invasive limonium ramosissimum (algerian sea lavender) from within…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 8, through the Coastal Program (CFDA 15.630), awarded a $196,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation effective October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2030. The Foundation will implement an invasive species eradication and control project targeting Algerian sea lavender (Limonium ramosissimum) across approximately 100 acres of marsh and shoreline habitat at Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad, California. The project will employ tarping, hand removal, and flame treatment methods to achieve at least a 99% reduction in invasive species occurrences, with progress documented through a project-specific ESRI Field Maps application and comprehensive field surveys conducted over the award period.

This project directly supports the Department of Interior's Goal 3, Objective 3.4 by protecting native species and natural resources through scientifically-based invasive species control and native species habitat enhancement. The initiative fulfills requirements under the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023 by providing technical assistance for voluntary habitat restoration in a priority coastal area, preventing permanent loss of rare plant and wildlife populations displaced by the invasive species.

The project will prevent permanent loss of native habitats and populations of rare species by eradicating and controlling nonnative invasive limonium ramosissimum (algerian sea lavender) from within the 100 acres of marsh and shoreline surrounding agua hedionda lagoon. Algerian sea lavender displaces native vegetation, resulting in permanent loss of rare plant and wildlife habitat. The project will tarp, hand remove, and or flame mapped occurrences achieving at least a 99% reduction within the project area by september 2030. A project-specific esri field maps project will document all occurrences and treatments. A comparison of comprehensive surveys over time will determine progress toward meeting project objectives. The project fulfills DOI proposed goal 3, objective 3.4 species and natural resources are protected by supporting a collaborative partnership using scientifically defended methods to control invasive species and enhance native species populations. The project fulfills the coastal habitat conservation act of 2023 with the coastal program providing technical assistance for voluntary habitat restoration in a priority coastal area.