Restoring San Diego’s Coastal Wetlands

San Diego’s coastal wetlands are home to rich biodiversity, critical migratory bird habitats, and culturally significant lands. Thanks to a generous two-year grant from the Dorrance Family Foundation, Audubon California and our partners, including the Buena Vista Audubon and the San Diego Bird Alliance, will continue making important progress in restoring key estuarine habitats in the region. For the fourth year in a row, the Dorrance Family Foundation has awarded significant funding to Audubon California and our partners to restore critical habitat along San Diego County’s Mission Bay and Buena Vista Lagoon. 

“Working with Buena Vista Audubon and San Diego Bird Alliance over the past three years and watching this work evolve, relationships grow, and momentum build has been such a joy. It’s exciting to have two years of funding from the Dorrance Family Foundation to really see how our long-term goals will come to fruition by the end of 2026.”

– Liliana Griego, Sr. Coastal Program Manager, Audubon California

This funding ensures that we can continue working alongside community members and Indigenous partners to restore these vital ecosystems, improve conditions for endangered species like the Ridgway’s Rail, and increase public access to these spaces. Explore what’s been accomplished so far and what’s ahead below.

Why These North San Diego County Projects Matter

Both project sites hold vital ecological and cultural significance for birds, other wildlife, and communities, as part of a vital wetland network supporting waterfowl and shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway.

• Mission Bay Estuary includes dunes and eelgrass beds that support spawning fish, mudflats, and salt marshes—each essential for wildlife and coastal resilience. This area in particular is a critical habitat for the endangered Ridgway’s Rail, a species severely impacted by sea-level rise and habitat loss.
• Buena Vista Lagoon is gradually filling with cattails and sediment due to a weir (low-head dam) constructed in the 1970s, which severed its connection with the ocean. Restoring this estuary to a saltwater marsh and enhancing the adjacent wetland will protect essential habitat for resident and migratory birds and strengthen water quality.

These sites also provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollution mitigation, and coastal protection. And beyond the environmental and natural impacts of these beautiful places, they both hold deep cultural significance for the Cahuilla, Cupeño, Kumeyaay, and Payómkawichum peoples, highlighting the need to restore access and connection to these lands.

Collaborating with Tribal and Indigenous Partners

• Famosa Slough (Mission Bay): The San Diego Bird Alliance (SDBA) restored five acres of coastal habitat, working with Kumeyaay community members to harvest culturally significant plant species like tule and willow for traditional boat-making community events.
• StoryMap Publication: In partnership with Renascence, a Kumeyaay-led nonprofit that works to connect the Kumeyaay people to their traditional coastal lands, a digital StoryMap was released highlighting the life of Delfina Cuero, a Kumeyaay woman whose story is interlocked with Mission Bay and the water, plants, and animals that were found then and now. 

Advancing the Wetlands Reserve at Buena Vista Lagoon

• Achieved 65% design completion for the Wetlands Reserve along Buena Vista Lagoon.
• Secured key permits, including a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) permit, and advanced city approvals.
• Collaborated with Indigenous partners, such as ‘ataaxum Pomkwaan and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, to exchange knowledge and integrated community and Indigenous feedback into the design, including gathering spaces, culturally significant plants, and accessible trails.

Protecting the Endangered Ridgway’s Rail

• At high tides and especially at king tides, the Rails’ habitat is completely inundated except for floating platforms. Community members built 12 new protective raft covers for these Ridgway’s Rail floating platforms.
• Installed nine wildlife cameras for continued monitoring of these elusive birds.
• Captured footage of a Ridgway’s Rail nest with four chicks hatching in June 2024!

Looking to the next two years, we aim to:

• Expand restoration in Mission Bay at West Ski Island, a critical nesting site for Elegant Terns.
• Monitor Elegant Terns at this site to understand urban disturbance impacts and fledgling success.
• Engage 2,500+ community members in restoration and education efforts.
• Make Ridgway’s Rail footage publicly available to inspire conservation advocacy.
• Finalize the Wetland Reserve Restoration Plan at Buena Vista Lagoon by 2026, ensuring Indigenous knowledge-sharing remains central.
• Install a permanent wetlands education display at Buena Vista Nature Center to educate visitors on the importance of wetlands and the restoration work happening to improve habitat for people and birds.

Want to support this critical work? Here’s how:

• Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on conservation efforts.
• Volunteer with local chapters, including Buena Vista Audubon, San Diego Bird Alliance, and the ReWild Mission Bay Campaign.
• Learn about efforts by Indigenous peoples to re-connect to their ancestral homelands, accessing culturally important areas, and helping their youth heal from generational trauma: ‘ataaxum Pomkwaan, San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, California Indian Basketweaves Association.