ReWild Coalition Update
Posy Mckinney | Published on 7/1/2024
On May 14th, The San Diego City Council unanimously approved their DeAnza Natural Plan to transform much of Northeastern Mission Bay into climate friendly marshland that can fight sea level rise, ensure clean water and pull carbon from the air. The plan includes 100% of the Wildest acre goal and 83% of ReWild’s total habitat restoration acres. The plan does not include enough acres to effectively buffer and eventually become marsh as sea level continues to rise in the coming decades. Supporters say the plan which follows 7 years of community input is a fair compromise between environmentalists and advocates for camping and other recreation.
The approved DeAnza Natural Plan commits to 226 total acres of wetlands, including the existing Kendall-Frost Marsh, and outlines the need for transitional infrastructure that prepares for marsh migration.
The next step for the plan is to be reviewed by the Coastal Commission, wildlife agencies and the regional water quality control board who will evaluate and provide expertise on creating a healthy flourishing wetland habitat. The inclusion of a wildlife agency review was a point of contention for some council members. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The California Department of Fish and Wildlife told city officials that they support the ReWild Coalition’s call for additional marshland. These agencies have the power to demand significant changes when the plan is presented to the Coastal Commission.