Aguanita de Chapeño
Aguanita de Chapeño, or the Aguanita Project, is a
240-acre
constructed wetland area designed to filter nutrients and improve water quality in Petronila Creek
and ultimately Baffin Bay.
Aguanita de Chapeño, or the Aguanita Project, will harness the power of constructed wetlands to filter up to 13.4 million gallons of water per day, while also enhancing vital habitat for fish and wildlife. Located just upstream of Baffin Bay (on a portion of the historic Chapman Ranch), Aguanita is strategically located to filter pollutants before they reach Baffin Bay.
Aguanita de Chapeño pays tribute to Ike and Unis Chapman Eichelberger, the grandparents of landowner Danna Orr, for their gift of the land and their exemplary model of stewardship.
Ms. Orr recognized an opportunity to contribute to Baffin Bay’s restoration by implementing nutrient reduction strategies on her land, which is within Baffin Bay’s watershed. Realizing her property is well situated to demonstrate the effectiveness of constructed wetlands, Ms. Orr funded a project design team to develop a concept master plan and has inspired other project partners to invest in the Aguanita vision. This project aligns with the goals of the Bringing Baffin Back™ initiative and contributes to the San Fernando & Petronila Creeks Watershed Protection Plan .
The Aguanita Mission
Reduce Nutrient Pollution
Filtering up to 13.4 million gallons of water per day, Aguanita will play a pivotal role in mitigating nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from over 200,000 acres upstream.
Preserve Wildlife Habitat
Beyond mitigating nutrient pollution, Aguanita will create and support optimal habitat for wildlife, including hundreds of birds and migratory waterfowl, fish, and aquatic organisms.
Demonstrate Scalable Solutions
The project showcases effective, nature-based solutions adaptable to industrial, agricultural, and urban growth, offering a replicable blueprint for sustainable development.
Water quality degradation poses a significant threat to the health of the Baffin Bay ecosystem.
Ongoing monitoring and research have determined that non-point source nutrient pollution, particularly nitrogen, originating from the Bay’s 1.5-million-acre watershed, is a primary cause of this decline. This nutrient pollution is a key promoter of algal blooms and other symptoms of water quality degradation including massive fish kills and seagrass depletion. Protection of water quality in Baffin Bay and its watershed is essential to ensure that the Bay’s ecosystem can support a healthy fishery and sustain the local bay-dependent economy.
Aguanita’s strategic location in the lower section of the Petronila Creek Watershed, roughly 17 miles upstream of Baffin Bay, enables it to serve as a filtration mechanism for pollutants, including nitrogen, before the creek water enters the Bay.
