San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) is the majority owner and operator of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The California Coastal Commission (CCC) issued a Coastal Development Permit for the construction of SONGS Units 2 & 3 with the condition that SCE fund the independent evaluation of the impacts of SONGS on the marine environment. The Coastal Development Permit (Permit) further requires that SCE mitigate any significant adverse impacts.
The CCC determined that SONGS adversely impacted statewide fish stocks and required SCE to mitigate those losses. As partial satisfaction of the mitigation requirements, SCE was required to create or substantially restore at least 150 acres of wetlands in Southern California. After considering the results of a site selection study that included an evaluation of eight potential sites throughout Southern California, the CCC concluded that the San Dieguito Lagoon offered the best opportunity for achieving the full objectives set forth in the Permit.1
This $93 million project completed in 2010, preserves, improves, and creates a variety of habitats to increase and maintain fish and wildlife and ensure the protection of endangered species. Project objectives are that the wetland project design ensure adequate tidal and riverine flushing and circulation to support a diversity of biological resources while maintaining the appearance of a natural wetland ecosystem. Public access, including the Coast to Crest Trail and use areas, such as the Birdwing Open Air Classroom, are sited in a manner that do not interfere with the naturally functioning ecosystem or the open space character of the western San Dieguito River Valley.
Habitats being restored include non-tidal wetlands such as riparian scrub and freshwater marsh, coastal sage scrub, native grasslands, chaparral, and salt marsh transition. In addition, there are several on-going projects to remove invasive, non-native species from the surrounding wetland areas, restore historic riparian corridors, and create habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife.