Restoring the health and function to one of San Diego’s hidden rivers.
OTAY RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Otay River Restoration Project is located in south San Diego County, in the Lower Otay River Watershed, downstream of Savage Dam and Otay Lakes. HomeFed is the mitigation bank sponsor, providing restoration for over 300 acres; restoring hydrology and fluvial processes to the river valley by reestablishing a low flow channel and floodplain terrace, seasonal ponds, as well as invasive species removal and enhancement of a large upland buffer. Enhancement and creation for a variety of sensitive species and habitats including least Bell’s vireo, San Diego fairy shrimp, vernal pools, maritime succulent scrub, and native grassland are also provided in these restoration efforts.
Great blue heron using the restored Otay River channel
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The Otay River Restoration Project currently consists of two components; the 2016 Restoration Project and the Mitigation Bank Expansion Project. The 2016 Restoration Project included more than 38 acres of river, floodplain, and upland restoration in the most upstream portion of the river. This Project has entered the 5-year maintenance and monitoring period and is expected to meet all success criteria for year 1. The Mitigation Bank Expansion Project is a direct extension of the 2016 Restoration Project and consists of more than 250 acres of additional restoration of river, floodplain, and upland habitat, including depressional and vernal pool establishment. The Mitigation Bank is being implemented for future mitigation needs and restoration activities are expected to begin in 2023. Credits will be available for purchase in 2023. If you interested in being notified about the credit releases please provide your information here.
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The Otay River Valley has a history of dam failure and flooding, which left the floodplain littered with sediment and debris. Savage Dam was reconstructed in 1918 and has remained intact since it’s rebuilding. Over the next several decades, the floodplain was mined for sand and gravel, continuing until the mid-1980’s. Due to dam failure, flooding, deposition and intensive harvesting of alluvium materials, the natural topography, hydrologic, and sediment transport functions of the Otay River have been altered. With no defined channel and a dominance of non-native invasive species, restoration was needed to get the river back to a naturally functioning system.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
The Lower Otay River Watershed is home to multiple sensitive species and habitats.
Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Photo by Mark Dodero
Riverside Fairy Shrimp Photo by Dale Ritenour
San Diego Fairy Shrimp Photo by Lisa Cox/USFWS via Wikimedia Commons
Checkerspot Butterfly Photo by Dale Ritenour
Least Bell's Vireo Photo by Courtney Casey
Coastal California Gnatcatcher Photo by Mark Dodero
OTAY RIVER MITIGATION BANK PROGRAM
A mitigation bank is a wetland, stream, or other aquatic resource area that has been restored, established, enhanced, or (in certain circumstances) preserved for the purpose of providing compensation to offset negative environmental impacts as a result of a project or development. Overall, the use of mitigation banks helps balance the economic development with environmental conservation by creating a way to protect natural resources while supporting new developments.
Mitigation credits are units of measurement that represent the environmental value of a mitigation bank's restoration or conservation efforts. When a mitigation bank restores or preserves natural resources like wetlands, streams, or endangered species habitats, regulatory agencies can issue credits to the mitigation bank for the ecological value that has been created or preserved. These credits can then be sold to companies or developers who need to offset or mitigate the environmental impacts of their development projects.
Mitigation credits will be available for purchase with the initial credit release expected in 2023 and the mitigation bank restoration installation beginning in 2023. If you interested in being notified about the credit releases please provide your information here.
PUBLIC EDUCATION & OUTREACH
There are no events planned at this time. If you are interested in information about the project or would like to plan an event, please contact Linnea Spears-Lebrun at linnea.spearslebrun@swca.com.