Board of Port Commissioners Approves Additional Environmental Projects

Board of Port Commissioners Approves Additional Environmental Projects

Thursday, 11 October 2007

The Board of Port Commissioners has approved three new environmental projects for funding through its environmental fund. This is the fourth round of projects that have been approved for funding since the program began in June 2006.

The three new projects include a study of the effects of copper contamination on organisms that live on the seafloor of San Diego Bay. Researchers will examine tissue of these organisms to determine copper concentrations. Copper-based paint was often used to paint the hulls of boats to prevent them from deteriorating. Scripps Institution of Oceanography will conduct the study, which will also include quantifying how much copper found in the Bay’s sediment and water column is attributed to copper-based paints on boats. Research for the project will be conducted over a two-year period and the cost will be $173,046.

Another project will be performed by the San Diego Audubon Society and involves re-contouring areas of the D Street Fill, located south of the Sweetwater Channel in South San Diego Bay. The site has been used for nesting by the Western Snowy Plover, an endangered bird. The goal of the restoration is to encourage the birds to return. Work includes removing plants that are invasive and replacing them with native plants. The cost for this project is $25,515 and the project’s duration will be one year.

The third project will remove debris in Chollas Creek to prevent it from entering San Diego Bay. Although Chollas Creek is not on Port tidelands, its waters flow into San Diego Bay. During the rainy season, the area becomes extremely polluted. Urban Corps of San Diego will remove trash from the area every week.

In addition, the project entails removing invasive plants and planting native species. As part of the project, Urban Corps will work with Groundwork San Diego to conduct hands-on field trips with local elementary schools. The students will learn about pollution prevention and assist with habit restoration. The cost of this project is $82,640 for a two-year period.

The Port of San Diego’s environmental fund was established in June 2006 to provide financing for projects that improve the health of San Diego Bay and the tidelands. Projects are reviewed by the environmental committee, a group consisting of representatives from various resource, regulatory and advocacy groups, and Port tenants. Since the environmental policy was established, 27 environmental projects have been awarded funding.

During its 44-year history, the Port of San Diego has taken the lead in a variety of initiatives to enhance the environmental quality of San Diego Bay and its surrounding tidelands. These include wildlife and natural resource management, storm water runoff programs, integrated pest management, environmental education programs and environmental partnerships with public and private entities.