On Sept. 27, ReWild Mission Bay – a project of San Diego Audubon and its partners to enhance and restore up to 170 acres of wetlands in the North East corner of Mission Bay – unveiled eight possible options for restoration. Based on community suggestions from two public workshops earlier this year, the draft plans were presented to more than 135 community members to collect input. To view the potential alternatives, visit www.rewildmissionbay.org.
“Our community has been very vocal about its support for restoring and protecting this iconic part of San Diego that so many people love and cherish,” said Rebecca Schwartz Lesberg, project manager for ReWild Mission Bay. “These eight designs reflect what the community has asked for and identified as important to keep Mission Bay healthy and enjoyable for all uses and for generations to come.”
The recent public workshop was the third in a series of four. ReWild Mission Bay will work with scientists and engineers to determine the feasibility of the eight initial restoration alternatives. Refined versions of the alternatives presented on Tuesday, or combinations of features from several different alternatives, may move forward to become final restoration designs. Residents can expect one more public workshop in late 2016 or early 2017 to weigh in on these designs before they are finalized. 
“This is an unprecedented opportunity to protect our communities from sea level rise, expand habitat for endangered birds, help our kids get out in nature, and provide cleaner water for all San Diegans to enjoy in Mission Bay,” said Schwartz. 
Through ReWild Mission Bay, San Diego Audubon is facilitating a three-year planning process that includes collecting community input and conceptualizing plans to restore the wetlands along Pacific Beach Drive and on both sides of Rose Creek. By May of 2017, this process will have produced at least three versions of a community-informed, scientifically defensible wetlands restoration plan for the North East corner of Mission Bay. San Diego Audubon is working closely with the City of San Diego, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the University of California’s Natural Reserve System on the effort. Next steps include final approval, environmental review and permitting before the restoration of the area’s wetlands.
Wetlands – including marshes, mud flats, riverbanks and more – play an important role in San Diego’s quality of life, as they attract wildlife, foster a diverse ecosystem, improve water quality and protect communities from flooding by providing a cushion during high tides. Today, only five percent of the historic 4,000 acres of Mission Bay wetlands remain, making ReWild Mission Bay a critical and time-sensitive project for the area.
For more information on ReWild Mission Bay and the project timeline, visit www.rewildmissionbay.org.