SANDAG and Caltrans Celebrate Completion of San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration in North County

09.30.2024 | News Release

SANDAG and Caltrans Celebrate Completion of San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration in North County

Environmental project restores habitat for endangered species and adds new trail along El Camino Real

On Monday morning, SANDAG Second Vice Chair and Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner joined by California State Senator Catherine Blakespear, California State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, City of San Diego Councilmember Joe LaCava, City of Del Mar Mayor Dave Druker, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA), and community advocates celebrated completion of construction for the San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project, Phase II.

This lagoon restoration project enhanced and expanded habitat along the San Dieguito River and converted approximately 84 acres of former agricultural fields and other degraded land into tidal wetlands. In total, 64 acres of tidal salt marsh, 15 acres of brackish wetlands, which are a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, and an additional 5 acres of habitat bordering the river were restored through this project.

"Today we celebrate all of the wildlife and natural beauty our region has to offer," said SANDAG Second Vice Chair Heebner. "The San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration project gives back to our community by creating a healthy habitat for our region's biodiversity and a walkable and enjoyable destination that promotes healthier lifestyles for our residents and visitors."

The restored wetlands provide new habitat for many federally endangered and threatened birds including the Ridgeway's Rail, Least Bell's Vireo, coastal California gnatcatcher, and Belding's Savannah Sparrow. In addition, the project added a mile of new trail along El Camino Real which improves connectivity to the existing Dust Devil Trail and in the future will connect to the Coast to Crest Trail.

"The San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Project is an excellent example of dedication to preserving our natural environments with infrastructure improvements," said Senator Blakespear. "Now residents and visitors have new trails to enjoy along our beautiful coast and the restored habitat will provide a home for federally endangered and threatened species to thrive."

The Ridgeway's Rail, Least Bell's Vireo, and coastal California gnatcatcher have already been seen in the restored native habitat. Additionally, several waterfowl and shorebirds have been using the salt marsh habitat, including five Canadian goose goslings who hatched and left their nest for the first time this spring. Restoration efforts in the San Dieguito Lagoon basin also improve tidal flow and provide resiliency for future sea level rise and anticipated flooding.

"I'm proud of the progress we made to restore precious wetlands that provide economic growth, recreational opportunities, and most importantly, protect local environmental progress," said Assemblymember Boerner. "This project represents the commitment that our community has made to environmental protection, and a greener and healthier future. Thank you to all the regional leaders who are part of this effort."

The San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration project is a key component of Caltrans and SANDAG's North Coast Corridor (NCC) Program, a 40-year vision to create a balanced set of transportation, environmental, and coastal access projects that improve the quality of life for residents, create a stronger local and regional economy, and enhance the coastal environment.

"Over 70 acres of newly created salt marsh, Coastal Sage scrub and transitional habitat has been developed to mitigate the impacts from construction of the I-5 North Coast Corridor project and for the LOSSAN Double track projects," said Acting Caltrans District 11 Director Everett Townsend. "Although Caltrans is known for building highways, we have also developed a level of expertise in restoring wetland habitats and we're proud that SANDAG chose us to do this restoration."

This project also served as environmental mitigation for the I-5 Carpool/HOV Lanes and LOSSAN Double Track improvements as part of the NCC program. The restoration project will also be used as mitigation for the City of San Diego's El Camino Real Bridge Replacement Project.

"The community, habitat, and climate resilient enhancements included in the restoration of the San Dieguito Lagoon reflect the region's commitment to preserve wetlands," said City of San Diego Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava, who serves as the Chair of the San Dieguito River Park JPA. "Successful projects of this magnitude require shared objectives from the start and the foresight to maintain. The San Dieguito Lagoon is a product of this collaboration and planning, proving to be an ecological asset for generations to come."

As part of Phase II, SANDAG, Caltrans, and San Dieguito River Park JPA worked together to expand and complement a previous lagoon restoration project completed by Southern California Edison in 2012. SANDAG and Caltrans will continue to monitor the wetlands for the next five to ten years to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the wetland ecosystems.

The total construction cost for this project was $87 million and was funded through SANDAG's TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) and federal sources. The TransNet EMP is a driving force in habitat conservation efforts in the San Diego region. The program allocates TransNet to protect, preserve, and restore native habitats as offsets to impacts caused by the construction of regional and local transportation projects.

For more information, visit SANDAG.org/SanDieguitoLagoon.