[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 139 (Tuesday, August 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING DOUG GIBSON AS CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE LEVIN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 27, 2019

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I am honored to name Doug 
Gibson, of Encinitas, as my Constituent of the Month for his 23 years 
of leadership as the Executive Director and Principal Scientist of 
Nature Collective, formerly known as San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.
  Residents of North County may remember that, not so long ago, our 
beautiful lagoons and river valleys were not valued for their 
biodiversity and were threatened by development and pollution. Their 
outlets to the ocean were blocked and invasive plant species were 
growing out of control. Few fish or invertebrates could survive in the 
murky waters. Today, they have largely been restored to their natural 
states. They provide critical habitats for native plants and animals as 
well as wetlands for migrating birds.
  It has taken years of stable leadership, hard work, and a shared 
commitment by professionals, local citizens, elected officials, and 
supportive organizations to restore the ten beautiful wetlands in North 
County San Diego and South Orange County. They enhance our coastline--
from the Los Penasquitos Lagoon in the south--to the San Juan Creek in 
the North.
  Under Gibson's leadership, the Nature Collective is guiding to 
completion the $120 million restoration of the 1,000-acre San Elijo 
Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Forty miles of streams have been restored. 
An annual breaching of the inlet has been established to keep the 
lagoon healthy. More than three thousand school children in the Nature 
Collective's nationally recognized school program receive field trips 
throughout the Escondido watershed. Walkers and joggers can access 
seven miles of trails from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, Encinitas, 
and Rancho Santa Fe, and new trail connections are coming soon.
  Gibson's contribution goes beyond the San Elijo Lagoon. For decades, 
he has collaborated on the planning of large restoration projects in 
seven north San Diego County watersheds, including Buena Vista Lagoon, 
San Dieguito Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, and Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit. He 
has chaired the San Diego County Wetlands Task Force and chaired five 
coastal counties for the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project.
  There is no doubt that Gibson's dedication to protecting our 
environment has improved the quality of life for families in Southern 
California and uplifted our communities. I am deeply grateful for his 
hard work, and I am proud to recognize him as the Constituent of the 
Month.

                          ____________________