3.6 Land and Water Use
underwater recreational park. This lease area extends along the shore from Swami's Point in Encinitas
south to Tabletops Reefin Solana Beach and it extends seaward approximately 3,500 feet. SO-6's closest
boundary is approximately 250 feet away (seaward) from the lease area. The closest artificial reef within
the underwater park is located approximately 2,250 feet from SO-6.
SO-5
The SO-5 borrow site is approximately two miles south of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, a
recreational area for divers. There are no artificial reefs in the vicinity.
MB-1
This borrow site is almost entirely encompassed by the Mission Bay Artificial Reef (MBAR) and is within
700 feet of the proposed San Diego Underwater Recreation Area (Figure 2-19). MBAR is utilized by
recreational fishermen and sport divers. MBAR was permitted by the CCC in 1986 and reauthorized in
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1996, and is administered by CDFG. The entire borrow site is within sovereign lands legislatively granted
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to the City of San Diego. Located approximately one mile northwest of the Mission Bay Boat Channel,
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MBAR is easily accessed by vessels launched from or moored in Mission Bay. The proposed San Diego
Underwater Recreation Area is located northwest of MBAR.
MissionBay Bridge Wreckage reefs 1 and 2, along with Mission Bay Cement reef provide habitat for sport
fished species within MBAR, but the primary resources for sport divers are the sunken vessels of "Wreck
Alley," which are also utilized by sport fishermen. Wreck Alley is a cooperative effort between the San
Diego Divers Council and the CDFG. The three primary vessels in Wreck Alley are the El Rey, Shooters'
Fantasy, and the Ruby E. The El Rey, a 100-foot long 32-foot beam kelp cutter built in 1946, and
Shooter's Fantasy (originally the Betty Lou), a 65-foot steel hulled charter sport fisherman built in the
early 1950s, were placed in Wreck Alley in 1986. They rest in approximately 80 feet and 70 feet of water,
respectively. The most popular site in Wreck Alley is the Ruby E, a 160-foot long Coast Guard cutter that
was sunk in 1987 in approximately 80 feet of water. It rests intact and upright on the bottom, and is the
most complex of the wrecks in Wreck Alley. A number of local scuba shops use this wreck in their
advanced dive certification classes. Less visited wrecks in Wreck Alley include Barge #1 with a 65-foot
length and 22-foot beam sunk in 1986 in approximately 75 feet of water north of the El Rey, and the 36-
foot sailboat the Strider, sunk that same year.
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
Page 3.6-23
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