Some Lights. Early Nights, At The Inlet Channel

As High Tides Come In, Restoration Crews Will Be Carefully Monitoring The Temporary Berm In The Lagoon Channel.

Above (noted with arrow): The temporary dike, or berm.

Things are looking different in the tidal channel linking San Elijo Lagoon to the Pacific Ocean. San Elijo Lagoon Restoration is moving along, efficiently, and sometimes a little work at night is needed when nature presents its challenges.

Reviving Your Wetlands Lagoon Restoration construction crews are preparing for high tides. This means that tonight, and for a few more nights, lighting will be in place in sunset-to-early evening hours so that crews can monitor the temporary dike (see above) and respond with action if there are any signs of erosion during the high tides. The temporary dike protects and keeps the more permanent berm (that is currently being constructed) dry. 

Above: These approximately 4-foot in diameter construction pipes are the base of what will be the dike that will help control tidal flow during the time that Reviving Your Wetlands construction crews dredge the tidal channels.

Once the pipes are installed, rock and dirt will be placed on the pipes to complete the construction of the water control feature and temporary road for restoration crews.

Above: When complete, the upstream side of each pipe will have gates that crews will open and close manually, controlling water flow. 

This berm, while it may look permanent, is also temporary. When the restoration project is complete (estimated mid-2020) it will be removed.

Our new trail connection, planned from the nature center loop trails to Rios Avenue trail, will be built in this area toward the end of the project. See rendering below which illustrates this trail.

Above: Rendering provided by County of san Diego Department of Parks & Recreation. Photography by Al Butler.

Please visit our earlier update in the blog post Deeper. Wider. And a High Tide, Too for more information about the work you can observe now and in the next few days.

Questions? Please post a comment to this post. Or you can:

• Email: restoration@thenaturecollective.org
• Phone: (760) 436-3944 x 713

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy keeps our Reviving Your Wetlands timeline and dedicated web site updated with the latest information we have. As we move along, we are here to explain each phase in restoration.

Crews are minimizing their impacts as much as possible for lagoon neighbors. Thank you for your patience as we work ultimately toward the goal of a healthier wetland with increased tidal circulation, enhanced biodiversity in the plants and animals we so much enjoy, and who need this home. And, new trail connections down the line.

Thank you for following Lagoon Connections.