One of San Diego’s largest wetlands, this 979-acre reserve is primarily a shallow-water estuary, formed where the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific Ocean.
Moffatt & Nichol assisted the San Diego Association of Governments with feasibility and preliminary engineering studies to restore approximately 141 acres of wetlands in the San Dieguito Lagoon. The goal is to restore the Lagoon to a functional mix of tidal salt marsh, brackish/freshwater marsh, and transitional/upland habitats. Moffatt & Nichol performed numerical modeling of tides with a RMA2 model, storm flows and sediment transport with a FLUVIAL-12 model, and lateral and inline weir structures with an HEC-RAS model in the feasibility study, and performed 2D AdH modeling in the preliminary engineering for tides, water quality, fluvial storms and sea level rise. Moffatt & Nichol contributed to developing a fully functioning marsh ecosystem that does not impact the existing flood protection and wetland functions, and modify or interfere with sediment transport to the ocean. Moffatt & Nichol is currently providing support on final engineering design and permit acquisition.
