Laguna Ocean Foundation

Tidepool Interpretive Program

The Foundation currently oversees a paid Tidepool Interpretive Program at three coastal locations in Laguna Beach: Crescent Bay North, Heisler Park and Treasure Island. Like the TideWater Docent program, the Tidepool Interpretive Program is providing on-site resource education to visitors to Laguna’s sensitive coast. The purpose of the program is to increase public awareness about the importance and sensitivity of intertidal ecosystems, reduce visitor-related impacts, and increase the overall conservation benefits for the local intertidal resources and ecosystems.

TideWater Docent Program

Our initial program, the volunteer TideWater Docent program, began even before the creation of Laguna Ocean Foundation and has trained hundreds of volunteers to provide interpretive education at local intertidal areas. The TideWater Docent Program was formally recognized by the City of Laguna Beach in its Fall 2003 Annual Report where it was cited as a Key City Accomplishment. Each Docent trains in both the classroom and onsite by Foundation staff, members of the Board of Directors, and members of the Orange Country Marine Protected Areas Council (OCMPAC). After undergoing their training, the TideWater Docents sign up for four-hour shifts at five intertidal locations during low tides along Laguna Beach’s approximately seven miles of coastline.

Aliso Creek Estuary Restoration Project

The Laguna Ocean Foundation, funded by a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy, has prepared a Restoration Plan to return the Aliso Creek Estuary in South Laguna to a healthy ecosystem. The degraded estuary, located at Aliso Beach County Park, is currently the site of invasive plants bordering a stagnant lagoon of unhealthy urban runoff. The plan, prepared by a team of scientists with expertise in estuary habitats, will restore the estuary’s ecosystem to support beach dune, tidal mudflats, salt marsh, tule marsh, cattails and shallow freshwater habitats, which in turn will support a wide diversity of fish and wildlife species. The restored wetland habitats will result in cleaner water entering the ocean. With the first stage completed, LOF with the support of stakeholders: including the California Coastal Conservancy, water districts, the County of Orange and the State of California, various Aliso Creek communities and the Army Corp of Engineers is preparing for the next stage of the project.