Tijuana River Valley Wetlands Mitigation Project

Restoring California’s Water Supply Reliability

The San Diego County Water Authority invests in a range of projects that ensure the safety and maintenance of its pipelines, increase water Improving storage and delivery INFRASTRUCTURE capabilities, and provide alternative water supply sources. The Water Authority must address any signifi cant environ- mental impacts caused by these projects. The Tijuana River Valley Wetlands Mitigation Project will establish wetlands within the Tijuana River Valley to offset impacts created The main project site is south of the Tijuana River and by the Emergency Storage Project and future west of the Smuggler’s Gulch Channel. The Water Authority will also complete repair work to an additional Water Authority projects. berm located near Hollister Street. What are wetlands? Wetlands are low-lying areas of land Why create new wetlands? that are regu- Wetlands provide habitat for sensitive larly saturated or species, but more than 90 percent of the fl ooded during wetlands statewide have been fi lled, storm events. dredged, or developed for other uses. As They benefi t a result, wetland habitat loss has seriously the environment impacted wildlife habitat. by fi ltering out Wetlands are regulated by state and water pollutants, federal agencies, which require impacts to replenishing the wetlands to be mitigated or offset. To protect ground water our native natural resources while ensuring table, guarding a safe and reliable water supply, the against soil ero- Water Authority has identifi ed the need to The new wetlands will provide habitat for native sion, providing establish new wetland habitat that will endangered species like the Least Bell’s Vireo. fl ood control, and mitigate for unavoidable impacts to wetland Photograph Copyright: S. Maslowski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. providing wildlife habitat caused by current and future Water habitat. Authority projects.

The Water Authority is a public agency serving the San Diego region as a wholesale supplier of water. The Water Authority March 2011 works through its 24 member agencies to provide a safe, reliable water supply to support the region’s $186 billion economy and the quality of life of 3.2 million residents. Tijuana River Valley Wetlands MitigationRestoring Project California’s Water Supply Reliability

In total, this project will establish 40 acres will help the plants and seeds take root. of native wetland habitat. Nine acres will Additionally, the Water Authority will monitor compensate for permanent impacts associ- and maintain the site for fi ve years to ensure ated with the construction of the Emergency the native vegetation continues to regenerate Storage Project. The Emergency Storage on site and preserve the valuable habitat of Project is a system of reservoirs, pipelines, sensitive plants and wildlife species. After- and other facilities designed to make wards, the county of San Diego, Department water available to the San Diego region of Parks and Recreation will assume the in the event of an interruption in imported monitoring and maintenance of the site, with water deliveries. The additional 31 acres of funding provided by the Water Authority. wetlands will offset any unavoidable impacts Will recreational use be affected? to wetlands at other sites by future Water During construction, existing trails on site Authority projects. will be rerouted for public safety on an as-need basis. Once complete, multiuse recre- ational trails will be located on the perimeter of the project site consistent with the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park trail system. Multiuse recreational trails will connect to the existing system For More Information of trails located throughout the Tijuana River Valley. The Water Authority will communicate with recreational users and communities within the Tijuana River Valley throughout construction, provide project information, and respond to questions and concerns. For more information about the Tijuana The proposed project will establish 40 acres of wetlands River Valley Wetlands Mitigation Project, by reclaiming an agricultural fi eld and removing please call the toll-free project information abandoned farm structures. line at (877) 682-9283, Ext. 7007, email [email protected], or visit cip.sdcwa.org How will wetlands be established? and click on “Tijuana River Valley Wetlands The wetland habitat will be created Mitigation Project.” by reclaiming an agricultural fi eld and establishing a native wetland habitat in its place. Flood control berms will be Anticipated Construction Schedule constructed, relocated, or repaired to Mid 2011 Award construction contract current standards. This will allow the Late 2011 Seed and plant procurement Tijuana River to fl ow onto the site during storm events that typically occur every Late 2011 Planting and grading begins two years or more, providing the water Late 2012 Planting and grading complete needed to sustain the new wetland Late 2012 Construction complete 4677 Overland Ave. habitat. Late 2012 Water Authority maintenance period begins San Diego, California Native seeds and plants will be pro- Late 2017 Water Authority maintenance period ends 92123-1233 cured early during construction. Instal- Late 2017 County of San Diego 858.522.6700 lation of a temporary irrigation system maintenance period begins www.sdcwa.org

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