SAN DIEGO — An $87 million wetland restoration project has been completed at the San Dieguito Lagoon, bringing improved water flow, native vegetation, restored riparian habitats, and new recreational opportunities to the former tomato fields east of Interstate 5 near the Del Mar Horsepark.
Focused on 84 acres of land within the San Dieguito River Park between El Camino Real and the I-5 in San Diego, the restoration project transformed the former agricultural land into new tidal salt marsh and brackish wetland systems. It also provides a new mile-long trail overlooking the lagoon and connecting to the Dust Devil Nature Trail.
Local and state elected officials, as well as representatives from SANDAG, Caltrans, and the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, celebrated the completion of the project and the opening of the new trail on Monday.
Officials said that since making the improvements, the lagoon has already seen the return of several endangered bird species, including the Belding’s Savannah Sparrow, Ridgeway’s rail, coastal California gnatcatcher and least Bell’s vireo. Five Canadian goose goslings also hatched onsite and left their nests for the first time this spring.
“Today is really just the beginning of the importance of this project,” said San Diego District 1 Councilmember Joe La Cava, also the chairman of the San Dieguito River JPA. “Trail connections, sea level rise resiliency, [and] migratory bird habitat all have aspects we want to see come to fruition with all these enhancements.”
Restoration plans for the site have been in the works for decades, with Del Mar residents first coming together to discuss plans for saving the park in the 1970s. The San Dieguito River Park JPA was able to purchase the formerly private land in 2010 with the intention of restoring the area.
Work at the site finally kicked off in 2021 as a mitigation measure for the I-5 Carpool/HOV Lanes and LOSSAN Double Track improvements. Multiple agencies, including SANDAG, Caltrans, and the San Dieguito River Park JPA, came together to make the project a reality. Funding came from federal sources as well as the half-cent TransNet sales tax.
It also complements a restoration area west of I-5, previously completed by Southern California Edison over a decade ago.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) said that while funding for transportation, environmental and recreational projects generally comes from different sources, the restoration project covers all three.
“One of the things that strikes me about this project … It’s the combination of doing transportation improvements at the same time that we’re doing environmental improvements, at the same time we’re doing active transportation, so walking and biking. Combining all those things together makes so much sense,” Blakespear said.
A key aspect of the restoration is the improvement of tidal flow, with the lagoon no longer having to be dredged when it fills up with sediment. The introduction of native vegetation, including threatened species like coastal sage scrub, also creates an important habitat for wildlife.
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) noted that the restored salt marshes at the site also act as a form of carbon sequestration, as these habitats can absorb carbon dioxide and lock it into the ground.
“One of the things we know about salt marshes is, salt marshes sequester more carbon than trees. We don’t have a lot of forests on the coast here, but we do have a lot of lagoons, so the more we restore the lagoons, the better we are,” Boerner said.
SANDAG and Caltrans will continue to monitor the restoration site for the next five to 10 years. However, leaders noted that more resources will be needed to support the restored lagoon and trail in the long term.
“We will need to have ongoing investment if we want this lagoon to stay healthy and we want to have the trails functioning,” said Blakespear.
The new trail overlooking the lagoon will eventually be connected to the Coast to Crest Trail, following the completion of the adjacent El Camino Real bridge replacement and road widening project.
San Dieguito River Park Executive Director Shawna Anderson said the park will be adding interpretive panels along the trail to help people learn about the wildlife and the lagoon ecosystem.
“It’s not just a walking and biking area; it’s an education area too,” Anderson said. “It provides people a connection to nature, and then they’re more apt to be involved.”
