The
San Dieguito Lagoon,
a wetland of vital
importance to the
region's ecology,
and a major environmental
and scenic resource
for Del Mar residents,
is currently undergoing
a major restoration
project that will
restore the lagoon's  aquatic
functions and restore
habitat, as well as
improve public access.
This
restoration is being
conducted and paid
for (at an approx.
project cost of $86
million) by Southern
California Edison,
and its San Onofre
Nuclear Generating
Station (SONGS) partners,
as an off-site mitigation
project to satisfy
the conditions of
the California Coastal
Commission for the
construction and operation
of SONGS.
Since
2004, the Foundation
has managed a Lagoon
Enhancement Endowment
for the San Dieguito
River Valley Joint
Powers Authority (theSDRV-JPA).
The purpose of this
fund is to provide
maintenance funds
for the lagoon in
the future, when Southern
California Edison's
responsibility for
the performance and
maintenance of the
restored wetland ends
(anticipated in 2050),
and maintenance of
the lagoon becomes
the responsibility
for maintenance becomes
the responsibility
of the SDRV- JPA.
The
lagoon endowment was
initiated in 2004
with a contribution
of $500,000 from the
JPA (funded by SCE
and partners), and
had $661,000 in assets
as of 12/31/06. The
Foundation's Invesetment
Advisory Committee
oversees the management
of the lagoon endowment
funds. 
Information
on the San Dieguito
Lagoon restoration
project can be found
at these sites:
http://www.sdrp.org/projects/coastal.htm
http://www.sdlagoon.com/facts.htm
The
Foundation has also
supported lagoon-related
educational projects
and activities through
its grant-making,
bus tours to inform
the public about the
current restoration
project; a brochure
on "Birds
of the San Dieguito
Lagoon" produced
by the Friends of
the San Dieguito River
Valley, and science "field
trips" for
third-graders in local
elementary schools.
The two posters on
this page were created
as part of this grant-supported
activity. The poster
was painted by Douglas
B., and the poem was
written by Katerina
M., both of Del Mar
Hills Academy of Arts
and Sciences.
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