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Tijuana River Valley Regional Park offers more than 1,800 acres of diverse habitats to enhance visitors' experiences – from dense riparian forests along the Tijuana River to coastal maritime sage scrub on top of Spooner's Mesa. For more information on the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, visit our park webpage.
While there are multiple agencies working to improve the Tijuana River Valley, below you will find project updates on the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation’s efforts.
Brown Property Restoration
TRVRP California Coastal Trail Feasibility
Study
Smuggler’s Gulch
Improvements
TRVRP Active
Recreation and Community Park
Tijuana River Valley Habitat
Restoration Plant
Tijuana River Valley Needs and
Opportunities Assessment Report
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park
Trails and Habitat Enhancement Project
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Public
Use and Economic Feasibility Study
A vacant parcel adjacent to the TRVRP Bird and Butterfly Garden will be restored through native plantings. The five-acre project site is immediately adjacent to the Tijuana River. The project includes cleanup of the property as well comprehensively restoring onsite sensitive habitat. The project is currently under design and environmental review, with implementation beginning in Summer 2023.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Emily Pacholski at Emily.Pacholski1@sdcounty.ca.gov.
TRVRP California Coastal Trail Feasibility Study
The California Coastal Trail is expected to ultimately provide an integrated trail network along the 1,230-mile California Coast. Currently, there is a gap in a section of this trail in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. The County of San Diego, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is completing a feasibility study to identify the most appropriate location to bridge this gap and cross the Tijuana River. The State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) provided funding for this feasibility study which is expected to be complete in 2023.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Kiran Kaur at Kiran.Kaur@sdcounty.ca.gov.
In March 2020, the County completed a Needs and Opportunities Assessment for the Tijuana River Valley. Two of the projects identified in the study – Projects 10 & 11 – have now been combined and are known as the Smuggler’s Gulch Improvement project. These projects address stormwater, sediment and trash issues in Smuggler’s Gulch through the addition of a sedimentation basin, replacement of an undersized road culvert, and the addition of trash capture devices in the area. The project was funded in full by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The project is currently under design and environmental review, with construction anticipated to begin in 2024.
For more information, please contact Sr. Park Project Manager Chelsea Jander at Chelsea.Jander@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 401-0418.
TRVRP Active Recreation and Community Park Project
The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Active Recreation and Community Park Project is located near the border of the Tijuana River Valley and Nestor communities in the City of San Diego on land owned by the County of San Diego. The Active Recreation Site is 64 acres directly adjacent to a neighborhood of family residences to the north and private ranch and equestrian facilities to the south.
The site presents a unique opportunity to develop recreation amenities which would benefit the local community, such as soccer and baseball/softball fields, multi-use fields, sport courts, equestrian facilities, children’s play area, concession building, restrooms, and parking that will serve as a landmark for a regional active recreation space opportunity for San Diego County Residents.
In 2009, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) completed an Opportunity and Constraints Report for the Active Recreation Site. A concept plan was developed in 2010 with input from the nearby community. DPR is in the process of seeking a third-party to conduct additional community outreach, develop preliminary design development, conduct environmental analysis, and perform engineering studies.
For more information, please contact Sr. Park Project Manager Chelsea Jander at Chelsea.Jander@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 401-0418.
Tijuana River Valley Habitat Restoration Plant
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is completing planning, environmental review, and regulatory permitting for restoration of County-owned parcels within the Tijuana River Valley. This project will remove invasive non-native plant species from the TRVRP and restore those areas with a mix of native upland, wetland, and riparian habitats. The goal of this project is to identify, prioritize through phasing, and implement large-scale restoration throughout the TRVRP and provide contiguous native habitat. Once implemented, the restoration is expected to have secondary benefits resulting from improved ecological and hydrological functions, such as reduced concentrations of pollutants and sediments, improved water quality, and enhanced flood control. This project is being funded by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is expected to be complete in Winter 2023.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Kiran Kaur at Kiran.Kaur@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Tijuana River Valley Needs and Opportunities Assessment Report
The Tijuana River Valley Needs and Opportunities Assessment (NOA) Report was completed in 2020 and provides a comprehensive review and assessment of potential management strategies to address transboundary flows of sewage, trash, and sediment into the Tijuana River Valley located within the United States. The NOA Report is intended to provide information and guide decisions on the future implementation of projects to reduce impacts on the Tijuana River Valley from the transboundary flows. The NOA Report includes an analysis of existing transboundary flow water quality conditions and management practices, a needs assessment and data gaps analysis, potential proposed projects, evaluation of proposed project alternatives benefits and costs, and project recommendations.
For more information, please contact Land Use Environmental Planner Kiran Kaur at Kiran.Kaur@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Trails and Habitat Enhancement Project
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Trails and Habitat Enhancement Project was certified by the Board of Supervisors on December 13, 2006. The certification of the EIR allows the department to implement portions of the project now while pursuing funding to implement larger aspects of the project. The main component of the project is the formal trail network. This trail network will consist of 22.5 miles of both multi-use and equestrian/pedestrian trails with amenities such as bird observation blinds, interpretive signage, and trailheads. Also included in the overall project is the restoration of approximately 60 acres of wetland, riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats west of the Dairy Mart Ponds, situated south of the I-5/Dairy Mart Road interchange.
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study
The Department of Parks and Recreation, Resource Management Division recently completed the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study, which analyzed the feasibility of additional recreational opportunities within the park including camping locations and regional trail connections. An open house showcasing the results of the study was held Wednesday December 14th from 6-8pm at the TRVRP Ranger Station, and was attended by nearly 100 individuals. The study was funded in part by the State Coastal Conservancy and DPR General Fund. Elements from the study will be implemented as funding becomes available. DPR continues to seek grant funds, and is excited to implement the recreational opportunities presented in the study in the future.
To view the pdf version of the final TRVRP Public Use and Economic Feasibility Study, please view: TRVRP Feasibility Study.
