City leaders face difficult tradeoffs as they navigate budget decisions. City tax revenue must cover essential services and infrastructure needs. At the same time, city government aims to fulfill legal obligations and environmental responsibilities, all while respecting the will of voters.
Increasing Mission Bay’s vanishing wetlands uniquely meets all these criteria and constraints, using funds already earmarked by voters specifically for this purpose.
San Diego voters ed Proposition C (2008) and Measure J (2016) creating a clear roap for Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds. Binding priorities in the City Charter Section 55.2 direct taxpayer investments first toward navigable waterways, then environmental restoration and protection, and last to deferred maintenance projects. These dedicated funds cannot be diverted to address any other citywide needs, no matter how pressing.
This year, Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds to be spent in Mission Bay Park amount to $18.8 million. At present, the city budget allocates not one dollar of this restricted fund to wetland restoration, the top remaining priority set by San Diego voters.
While wetland restoration remains unfunded, over 91% of Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds have gone to deferred maintenance projects, voters’ lowest priorities. Certainly, amenities such as comfort stations, parking lots and playgrounds enhance visitor experiences, but the City Charter’s funding hierarchy explicitly ranks them last.
Mission Bay’s beauty and natural environment attract residents and tourists. In addition to recreational value, Mission Bay’s habitats provide many economic benefits. They improve real estate values, provide a nursery for developing fish, buffer against storm surge and extreme tides, and they sequester carbon — a cost-effective, nature-based climate solution.
Mission Bay’s environmental health continues to deteriorate — a call to action for city government. San Diego Coastkeeper’s 2024 Water Quality Monitoring Report documents water quality failures throughout the bay; half the testing sites exceed safe bacteria levels more than 50% of the time. At De Anza Cove, phosphorus contamination (which can harm marine life) was detected in 88% of samples. Wetlands where creeks enter Mission Bay can substantially improve water quality, if we restore them.
These challenges and opportunities affect everyone who values Mission Bay, from families who enjoy weekend outings to businesses that rely on tourism dollars.
The ReWild Mission Bay Coalition, representing 96 diverse community organizations, proposes a balanced and broadly beneficial approach, encouraging the city to commit Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds toward targeted wetland restoration initiatives. The city recently completed plans that call for these next steps:
— Complete technical studies for the De Anza Natural Restoration Plan necessary for Coastal Commission approval.
— Initiate the already-approved Fiesta Island Wetland Restoration Project.
To dedicate funds toward these projects will demonstrate they are valued by San Diego leaders, even in tight budget times, and will make these projects eligible for state grant funding. When plans and permits are complete, wetland restoration projects will be extremely attractive for state and federal grants. These grants will pay for local design and construction jobs for people in San Diego.
In addition, San Diego can meet its Climate Action Plan goals using funds that, by charter, are restricted to Mission Bay improvements.
Indeed, the Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds present a win-win-win opportunity. The city can achieve their highest statutory purpose, boost local jobs and the local economy, and address critical environmental needs — needs that will become more expensive if deferred. On May 21, City Council will share their proposed budget changes and their priorities will affect the future of Mission Bay’s wetland restoration.
To emphasize the point, these strategic investments would honor voter mandates and deliver multiple benefits for community wellbeing, the economy and the environment, now and in the future. Improved water quality, carbon sequestration, natural protection against sea-level rise, expanded recreational and educational opportunities, stewardship of our precious regional biodiversity — what a tremendous return on investment!
The voters set clear priorities and continue to advocate for them. The funds are there and waiting. The projects await action. We can create a better future with the fiscally and environmentally responsible choice to restore Mission Bay.
Peugh is a founding member of the ReWild Coalition and conservation co-chair of the San Diego Bird Alliance. He lives in Loma Portal. Renner, Ph.D., is the senior director of strategic partnerships at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and lives in Ocean Beach.
