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Man-made lagoon connected to sea
By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer
With berm removal, fish can spawn in basin | ∞
DEL MAR -- Workers opened a channel on Wednesday that connects a vast, man-made lagoon to the sea.
If all goes as planned, the 45-acre basin, just west of Interstate 5, will become a thriving location for fish to spawn and birds and other wildlife to visit, project planners said.
The basin is the centerpiece of the $86 million San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration Project. Southern California Edison, the majority owner of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, is paying for the three-year, 440-acre project to compensate for fish killed by the power plant's cooling system.
An expansive addition to San Dieguito Lagoon, the basin took nearly one year to dig but only minutes to open.
About two dozen people, including contractors, consultants and government representatives, cheered as an excavator scooped away a narrow berm separating the basin from a channel connecting to the San Dieguito River and the ocean.
"This is a major milestone for the project," said Samir Tanious, a project manager for Edison.
"Connecting the new lagoon to the ocean means that we have introduced the first major environmental piece of the puzzle to create breeding habitat for fish, which will attract wildlife and other endangered species to the region," he added.
The restoration project -- and the plants and wildlife it is designed to bring -- is at the west end of the San Dieguito River Park, which runs for nearly 55 miles from the beach at Del Mar to the river's headwaters on Volcan Mountain, near Julian.
Daily ebbs and flows of the tides will empty and fill the newly opened basin with seawater and such fish species as bass, halibut, mullet and smelt, officials said.
Bill Michalsky was one of many onlookers Wednesday who said the project -- and the utility's 40-year obligation to maintain it -- would keep the fragile lagoon healthy.
Michalsky is a member of Del Mar's San Dieguito Lagoon Committee that advises the City Council on matters related to the lagoon and the restoration project.
"What a beautiful place," he said.
The restoration project, he said, would add to the beauty of the river valley on both sides of Interstate 5, where heavy equipment sculpted the landscape into an array of berms, channels and basins.
Elevation control is critical for the project to succeed, planners say. That's why the blades of grading equipment are fitted with transmitters connected to satellite surveying devices.
The transmitters enable equipment operators to carve the land within inches of specifications.
Wetland plants grow at specific elevations, and 12 inches can determine whether desired or unwanted species flourish. Some plants are adapted to make contact with the water frequently while others prefer less inundation.
"This is something west of Interstate 5 that coastal residents can appreciate," said county Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, a Del Mar resident and a longtime lagoon backer.
Dick Bobertz, executive director of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, echoed her enthusiasm.
In addition to restoration work paid for by Edison, Bobertz said he hopes that the state Department of Transportation would consider the river valley as a place to perform "mitigation" to compensate for environmental damage caused by the planned expansion of Interstate 5.
He said he also hopes Poseidon Resources Inc., a private company planning to open a desalination plant Carlsbad, would consider performing restoration work within the river park.
-- Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.
hippy kid wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:03 PM:Wow. I'm really impressed with this bit of news. Kudos to north county times finally issuing a story that brings smile to peoples faces. Kudos to all those involved in this idea.....hats off to everyone involved! :) good karma!
teacher wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:47 PM:We spend 86 million to build a new lagoon but our kids programs are being cut by nearly every school district. Shows me where our priorities are!
Matt wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:41 PM:Yup, we sure know now where the priorities are. These environmentalists are just that, mental, they block every project that is needed to make a positive impact and waste millions on projects like this. No wonder people are moving to other states.
Floyd wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:52 PM:Only half of the money spent to educate our kids actually makes it to the classroom. If they're not cutting the overhead, you need to examine the priorities of the school administration.
To Teacher wrote on Jan 24, 2008 12:43 AM:Sounds like you're bitter that your union dues are too high.
FINALLY! wrote on Jan 24, 2008 12:45 AM:Glad to see that we gave something back to nature.
Money well spent.
read on wrote on Jan 24, 2008 1:27 AM:The basin is the centerpiece of the $86 million San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration Project. Southern California Edison, the majority owner of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, is paying for the three-year, 440-acre project to compensate for fish killed by the power plant's cooling system.
See the part about Southern Ca Eddison paying for it?
Roberto1 wrote on Jan 24, 2008 4:11 AM:Just curious...was an E.I.R. done or negative mitigation dec.? In any case the price seems way out of line since the lagoon was already there in the first place.
Nature wrote on Jan 24, 2008 5:56 AM:Better to spend on the environment that benefits all, than future polluters.
We will need all the clean air and wildlife we can get for the next great depression when everyone is living in the gutter on the streets…
False Choice wrote on Jan 24, 2008 6:32 AM:According to teacher, we have to choose between a healthy environment, and educated children. Pay no attention to the Trillion dollars we're using to make craters in the sand half-way round the world.
John wrote on Jan 24, 2008 6:50 AM:Our tax dollars are going to expanding a damned swamp for mosquitoes to breed in? Great! Makes me feel more secure! The enviornmentalists should have been out there volunterring THEIR time, and digging it out by HAND-with spoons!
Teacher must be right wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:06 AM:because obviously our education system is a failure since half the people posting on this story seem to think we're spending TAX dollars on this. As "read on" noted, it's EDISON paying for it! And unless you live north of San Diego County, that means you're not even paying for it through electricity rates, the people in LA are! It's free to you, people! Enjoy it.
Olaf wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:08 AM:Are you idiots even reading the article???? NO!!! Did you not hear the one person above telling you that it is a mitigation measure that is paying for this...not your damn tax dollars, teacher... which is scary because I wonder what other false things you are telling our kids??? Your first lesson should be to READ the whole article!
AND JOHN... a little bitter??? Yes Environmentalist get carried away but they also replace and fix parts of the planet that people probably like you just pave over and think it all belongs to you! IT DOESNT... Roberto1.. if it was a mitigation measure that brought about the lagoon restoration I believe it would have an EIR!!!! Think before you speak people.
Mosquitoes wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:15 AM:Don't breed in salt water. Instead of ranting on the screen, go take a look at it. Next time you eat a nice halibut, be thankful that the wetlands are being restored, since that is where their smelts mature.
James wrote on Jan 24, 2008 9:12 AM:John,
Did you even read what was said? This is a mitigation project with a full supporting Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement. It is funded by Southern California Edison as directed by the CCC. It complies with both CEQA and NEPA regulations and all that goes along with this process. It is ... minds like yours that degrade society and prevent progress.
Alf wrote on Jan 24, 2008 9:13 AM:Well, "Mosquitoes" at 8:15AM, you are right up to a point. Mosquitoes breed in fresh or stagnant fresh water. They take 4 days from laying their eggs in the water to new, mature mosquitoes. One fact is that it is the female that bites not the male, allowing me to call the mosquitoes that bite me "Witches". Nancy Jessop, Ph.D., now deceased, Professor of Biology, Zoology and Animal Behavior at Palomar College gave me that fact, among many, many others. Regards, Alf.
Timmy76 wrote on Jan 24, 2008 9:39 AM:To John,
What you stated was a joke, right? I think he was just trying to get a reaction... at least I hope!
Why be so mean and vicious wrote on Jan 24, 2008 10:23 AM:Why are so many bloggers mean and vicious with their comments.
Big business ante's up wrote on Jan 24, 2008 12:01 PM:What a wonderful ADDITION to our ever-diminishing wetlands. It is also great that the taxxpayers do not have to pay for this, but instead, Southern California Edison is. No mosquitos in salt water, either. When the Posiedon desal plant opens, it, I believe, has agreed to maintain the wetlands also.Finally, large corporations are protecting a threatened part of our environment. Developers would still see it ruined, but with the help of many, we will preserve those special areas.
Clueless wrote on Jan 24, 2008 2:31 PM:Reading some of these comments further confirms San Diego is infested with conservative, lets pave the land, who gives a hoot about the environment loonies. You can tell by the way they sound off with preconceived beliefs with no facts, I bet if the article said the lagoon would be stocked with fish to catch we would hear a different message. Did anyone know that mosquitoes are part of the food chain and that dirty pools and stagnating water is a bigger culprit in there population? Mosquitoes and salt water? ...
Teachertoclass wrote on Jan 24, 2008 2:45 PM:Del Mar Teacher- Class today we are going to take a field trip, where does everyone want to go?
Class- We all want to take a nature walk and get out and see animals and birds and native plants.
Del Mar Teacher- Sorry class we cannot do that.
Class- Why can't we?
Del Mar Teacher- Well class I submitted a budget request to buy all of us new computers to replace the ones we bought last year even though we did not need them. Because of this there was no Tax money to preserve our wet lands etc.
Class- Wrong teacher, keep informed and quit spending money unwisely...we now have nature in Del Mar and it used no tax dollars.
Del Mar Teacher--- Duhhhhhh really!!!!
Karl wrote on Jan 24, 2008 6:07 PM:"Why be so mean and vicious" because they can and being annonymus makes it easier.
I know wrote on Jan 24, 2008 6:57 PM:Mosquitoes do breed in salt water. They are called the black salt marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus. Many of the lagoons in SD county experience major blooms of these blood suckers. Too bad the environmentalist did not think about the mosquitoes they will be producing by breeching the lagoon that has been closed for years.
Nice wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:31 PM:Beats condos on the beach.
Can we fish there? It's nice that SCE owned up to the issue, but the fish killed by the warm water could have been caught on a license, soooo....is this just another pretty picture or work of art by envirantmentalist, or can it actually be utilized?
Roberto1 wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:37 PM:They don't breed in moving water which is an improvement from now...with that said 85 million....wow!
I know wrote on Jan 24, 2008 9:20 PM:They do breed in salt water that can pool in the back of the lagoon. They are vicious day biting blood suckers. Hope you can still enjoy your day at the track...
Yes, but... wrote on Jan 24, 2008 9:44 PM:Only fresh water mosquitos carry West Nile Virus. Mosquitos are hardly a major issue at this location. It's not like there are tons of houses around there.
saddlebackguide wrote on Jan 25, 2008 8:04 AM:I am truly amazed at all of you. While everything I read is concerned with who paid for what, and will mosquitoes breed in this new environment, the real issue at hand is how SCE can afford this money at all considering how they cry about more power lines and new facilities. I’d bet every one of you is buying power from the utility, not generating it daily. Our solar plant cost $30K in 2001 and the state pays $2.50/watt which would be $5000 for our system. It is funded by the utility. The $86M would allow 11,500 homes to generate what they use in electric, assuming 3K watt systems, a more important issue than anything here(IMHO). Once our lifestyles are balanced, funding can be allocated more reasonably to the populations other issues. If it is too unreasonably expensive to live here, than there will be less kids or less people and your arguments cease to have merit.
agreed, however wrote on Jan 25, 2008 12:12 PM:...you fail to recognize a huge chunk of this bill SCE had to pay for was due to resource agency bureaucracy, red tape and hoops these agencies made SCE jump through to implement a restoration project. It could have been done faster and much cheaper without these agencies getting so involved.
Roberto1 wrote on Jan 25, 2008 6:17 PM:Roberto1.. if it was a mitigation measure that brought about the lagoon restoration I believe it would have an EIR!!!! Think before you speak people.
REPLY: Not if a negative mitigation declaration sufficed....instead of a full blown EIR
OLaf wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:38 AM:Roberto1 go to the City of Del Mar's office and ask to see the EIR. I am sure they would love to pull it out from the horrid stock room they have there. I don't understand why you need to see it but they did one and it was presented to City Council long ago.
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