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Los Peñasquitos Marsh
Natural Preserve
Carmel Valley Rd & N.Torrey Pines Rd
Del Mar & San Diego, CA (map)
More info: Torreypine.org
IWETLANDS HGHLIGHTS
The Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve is located at the northern part of the Torrey Pines State Reserve, between I-5, Coast Hwy 101, and Carmel Valley Road.
There is no nature center and no hiking trails. Information about the preserve can be found at the Torrey Pines Visitor Center. The lagoon is next to Torrey Pines State Beach.
The Los Peñasquitos Lagoon was formed about 10 to 20 thousand years ago as a result of the melting of the polar ice caps at the end of the Fourth Glacial Period. As the sea rose, it flooded the valley cut by the young Los Peñasquitos River to form a deep embayment. Since that time, however, the sediment brought down by the river has filled in most of the valley, forming extensive mudflats so that now only relatively shallow channels and broad tidal pans .
Fresh water now enters the Los Peñasquitos lagoon from several sources. Although most of the natural drainage flows through Los Peñasquitos Canyon, during periods of high rainfall some water enters the basin from Carmel Valley to the north and from Sorrento Valley to the south. The total watershed draining into Los Peñasquitos Lagoon is approximately 60,000 acres.
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Railroad trestle crosses the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. More Photos » |
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