Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad encompasses roughly 400 acres of saltwater wetland split into three interconnected bodies of water: a 66-acre outer lagoon nearest the Pacific, a 27-acre middle lagoon housing the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA Aquatic Park, and a 295-acre inner lagoon extending 1.7 miles southeast. The 3,800-square-foot Discovery Campus at the lagoon's eastern end—operated since 2005 by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation—engages visitors through hands-on watershed exhibits, live animal ambassadors including raptors, and guided VIP Eco Tour kayak expeditions led by environmental educators. The lagoon supports over 190 documented bird species and roughly 70 fish species, earned critical-habitat designation for the tidewater goby in November 2000, and hosts the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute white sea bass hatchery and the Carlsbad Aquafarm's oyster and mussel aquaculture operation. Vessel permits issued by the City of Carlsbad authorize jet skis, powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards on the inner lagoon, with rental equipment available through the Carlsbad Lagoon Recreation Area operated by California Watersports on the lagoon's north shore. Dredging of the lagoon inlet has occurred every two to four years since 1954—originally funded by the adjacent Encina Power Station and now maintained by the Carlsbad desalination plant—cycling approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand to replenish Tamarack Beach and the shoreline between the intake and outlet jetties.