San Dieguito Restoration Project
Taking San Diego wetlands back to a natural state
The San Dieguito
Restoration Project is a three-year-long, $86 million project involving the
restoration of approximately 160 acres of the San Dieguito Tidal Wetlands in Del
Mar, CA. The project began in 2006. The wetlands have spent the better part of
the last century stagnant and borderline lifeless due to the effects of
encroaching development.
Construction of
the World War II-era airport and later the sewage treatment lagoons supplanted
the former wetlands area, which neighbors the current Del Mar Fairgrounds. The
new nature preserve is one of two major environmental stewardship programs
financed by Southern California Edison to fully offset any adverse impact on the
marine environment caused by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located
40 miles to the north.
So far, crews
have removed what remained of the airfield, adjacent to the fairgrounds, and dug
a lagoon in its place, removing more than 800,000 cubic yards of dirt. About
200,000 cubic yards have been removed from an area north of the lagoon, which
will become low- and mid-marsh habitats. Dirt and sand from one area has been
stockpiled in another and used for nesting sites and 8,000 feet of constructed
berms that will protect the wetlands in the event of a major flood. By the time
the project is completed, 2 million cubic yards of earth will have been
excavated.
Restoring the
tidal wetlands will create a safe haven where marine life and wildlife will
flourish. In addition to sustaining the existing populations, the restored
wetlands will be an attractive nesting site for some endangered
species.
The project must
comply with San Diego’s strict stormwater regulations to maintain approved water
quality. This is especially important given the location of the project, which
is both threatened by urban runoff and is sitting on the coast of San Diego with
direct flow to sensitive beaches and the Pacific Ocean.
 |
Installation of a Nutrient Separating Baffle Box |
 |
The filtration system will clean runoff before it reaches the
wetlands. |
Project Design
Consultants (PDC) is the project’s civil engineering firm hired by Southern
California Edison. Recognizing the sensitivity and regulatory issues, the firm
mandated that the project include the implementation of Nutrient Separating
Baffle Boxes from Bio Clean Environmental Services Inc.
“We knew that the
project required an aggressive form of stormwater management in order to prevent
pollution of the sensitive area; that’s when we called in Bio Clean,” says
Darlene Szczublewski, PDC water resources design engineer.
“For the wetlands
to be as efficient and beneficial as they can be, we want to simulate the
most natural setting possible. So we are doing our best to make sure that the
wetlands are affected as minimally as possible. That includes installing Bio
Clean stormwater filtration systems to catch and filter runoff from the
surrounding areas before it reaches the wetlands. The water flowing throughout
the lagoon runs straight to the San Dieguito River, the beach, and the Pacific
Ocean. These new stormwater filtration technologies will help to ensure that our
beaches and waters are safe,” Szczublewski adds.
“Wetlands are
like the kidneys of our environment. Our job is to make sure no toxins go into
those kidneys so as to keep it running at its best,” says Greg Kent, president
of Bio Clean.
“As the San Dieguito
Wetlands are restored, we look forward to being a part of pollution prevention,
supporting a sustainable environment, and providing a natural home for a number
of fish and wildlife.”
September 2008
San Dieguito Restoration Project
Taking San Diego wetlands back to a natural state
Photo: Abigail Smigel Photography
The site of the San Dieguito Restoration Project
The San Dieguito
Restoration Project is a three-year-long, $86 million project involving the
restoration of approximately 160 acres of the San Dieguito Tidal Wetlands in Del
Mar, CA. The project began in 2006. The wetlands have spent the better part of
the last century stagnant and borderline lifeless due to the effects of
encroaching development.
Construction of
the World War II-era airport and later the sewage treatment lagoons supplanted
the former wetlands area, which neighbors the current Del Mar Fairgrounds. The
new nature preserve is one of two major environmental stewardship programs
financed by Southern California Edison to fully offset any adverse impact on the
marine environment caused by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located
40 miles to the north.
So far, crews
have removed what remained of the airfield, adjacent to the fairgrounds, and dug
a lagoon in its place, removing more than 800,000 cubic yards of dirt. About
200,000 cubic yards have been removed from an area north of the lagoon, which
will become low- and mid-marsh habitats. Dirt and sand from one area has been
stockpiled in another and used for nesting sites and 8,000 feet of constructed
berms that will protect the wetlands in the event of a major flood. By the time
the project is completed, 2 million cubic yards of earth will have been
excavated.
Restoring the
tidal wetlands will create a safe haven where marine life and wildlife will
flourish. In addition to sustaining the existing populations, the restored
wetlands will be an attractive nesting site for some endangered
species.
The project must
comply with San Diego’s strict stormwater regulations to maintain approved water
quality. This is especially important given the location of the project, which
is both threatened by urban runoff and is sitting on the coast of San Diego with
direct flow to sensitive beaches and the Pacific Ocean.
|
Installation of a Nutrient Separating Baffle Box |
|
The filtration system will clean runoff before it reaches the
wetlands. |
Project Design
Consultants (PDC) is the project’s civil engineering firm hired by Southern
California Edison. Recognizing the sensitivity and regulatory issues, the firm
mandated that the project include the implementation of Nutrient Separating
Baffle Boxes from Bio Clean Environmental Services Inc.
“We knew that the
project required an aggressive form of stormwater management in order to prevent
pollution of the sensitive area; that’s when we called in Bio Clean,” says
Darlene Szczublewski, PDC water resources design engineer.
“For the wetlands
to be as efficient and beneficial as they can be, we want to simulate the
most natural setting possible. So we are doing our best to make sure that the
wetlands are affected as minimally as possible. That includes installing Bio
Clean stormwater filtration systems to catch and filter runoff from the
surrounding areas before it reaches the wetlands. The water flowing throughout
the lagoon runs straight to the San Dieguito River, the beach, and the Pacific
Ocean. These new stormwater filtration technologies will help to ensure that our
beaches and waters are safe,” Szczublewski adds.
“Wetlands are
like the kidneys of our environment. Our job is to make sure no toxins go into
those kidneys so as to keep it running at its best,” says Greg Kent, president
of Bio Clean.
“As the San Dieguito
Wetlands are restored, we look forward to being a part of pollution prevention,
supporting a sustainable environment, and providing a natural home for a number
of fish and wildlife.”