3.2 Coastal Wetlands
San Dieguito Lagoon
The inlet to San Dieguito Lagoon is located north of the proposed Del Mar receiver site and south of the
Solana Beach receiver site. The lagoon includes a lengthy river channel, which serves as the main body
of the lagoon, along with a channel tributary. Historically, the lagoon was a 604-acre salt marsh. It was
filled in 1935 to create the Del Mar fairgrounds and racetrack. Today, San Dieguito Lagoon is primarily
a river channel with dominant seasonal fluvial flows. The lagoon is part of the San Dieguito River Park
System. The lagoon is the location of a restoration project being planned by Southern California Edison.
Presently, the lagoon inlet is intermittently open. The 22nd Agricultural District periodically uses a bulldozer
to open the inlet to tidal flushing. The lagoon spans 520 acres with about half that consisting of disturbed
and agricultural habitat. Wetland habitat comprises 267 acres. The lagoon provides foraging and nesting
habitat for endangered Belding's savannah sparrows and western snowy plover, and California least tern
forage within the vicinity.
Los Peasquitos Lagoon
The ocean inlet to Los Peasquitos Lagoon is located north of the proposed Torrey Pines receiver site and
south of the proposed Del Mar receiver site. The Los Peasquitos Lagoon Foundation has had success
with keeping the inlet open, although extensive cobble in the vicinity of the entrance complicates
maintenance and accelerates inlet closure processes. The primary habitat type is coastal salt marsh, which
at 271 acres, is one of the largest in San Diego County. The lagoon also has over 100 acres of riparian
habitat. The endangered Belding's savannah sparrow use the salt marsh habitat for nesting and foraging.
Western snowy plover nest in the vicinity and California least tern forage within the lagoon.
Mission Bay
The 2,470-acre Mission Bay complex, which includes Kendall-Frost Preserve, Famosa Slough, and the
San Diego River Channel, is the second largest embayment in San Diego County. The ocean inlet is south
of the proposed Mission Beach receiver site. Marine open water is the dominant habitat (1,916 acres)
within the bay. Eelgrass beds and mudflats are found throughout the bay, and there are about 125 acres
of coastal salt marsh. Coastal brackish/freshwater marsh and riparian habitats occur along the San Diego
River. Endangered Belding's savannah sparrow and light-footed clapper rail nest and forage in the
Kendall-Frost Preserve. California least terns nest on islands and forage throughout the bay.
Page 3.2-4
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
99-69\SANDAG EIREA 3.4.wpd 7/17/00
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