Pond 20 Wetland Mitigation Bank
San Diego, CA
Client
Port of San Diego
Project Partners
ESA
RECON
Services
Mitigation Bank Feasibility Study
Wetland Restoration Design
Regulatory Permitting
Ecological Assessments
The Port of San Diego engaged Great Ecology to determine the feasibility of developing a tidal wetland mitigation bank on the Pond 20 parcel and to develop the restoration plan for the site. Pond 20 is a 95-acre former salt evaporator pond located in southern San Diego Bay, adjacent to several restored tidal wetland complexes. In the Phase I feasibility assessment, Great Ecology developed a preliminary conceptual design and restoration plan, determined an initial cost estimate for the project, verified that the wetland credits produced would be fungible with market needs, and conducted a market analysis within Southern California to codify the business case for conversion of the Site to a mitigation bank.
As prime for Phase II of planning and permitting of the bank, Great Ecology developed the wetland restoration plan and coordinated with the Interagency Review Team (IRT) for development of the mitigation banking instrument. To inform the restoration plan and other project elements, we conducted baseline site condition surveys, a preliminary biological resources survey, soil sampling and characterization, and a wetland delineation. Restoration design included preliminary development of the planting, irrigation, and grading plans; and preparation of construction documents to the 60% design level.
Construction is set to begin in 2023.
A Landmark Wetland Bank
