The gentle breeze, the sight of herons as the sun rises above De Anza Cove, and the soothing sound of water against the splashing of oars.
This is what I think of when I think of northeast Mission Bay.
For more than five decades, this corner of bay has hosted the San Diego Crew Classic, the nation’s premier spring rowing competition.
To the wider community, it serves as a recreational hub that brings together countless boaters, campers and nature enthusiasts.
Its future, however, is at a critical juncture.
The city’s proposed De Anza Natural plan, which will determine the area’s future, will be before the City Council on Tuesday.
While the city’s plan represents the most balanced option under consideration, it is not without its sacrifices.
Most notably, existing campsites enjoyed by the public today would decrease from 970 to about 500, since the plan calls for the existing Campland on the Bay campground, a local mainstay for over 50 years, to be converted into marsh.
Sadly, this near 50% cut comes at a time when affordable coastal accommodations are already alarmingly scarce statewide, highlighting the tough decisions facing the city to meet its environmental objectives.
Still, the city has stayed unwavering in its commitment to preserving as much active recreation as possible along the reduced, reconfigured waterfront.
In fact, after listening to the community, it abandoned plans that would have banned motorized boats in the area, agreeing to study the matter first.
The decision to allow continued motorized watercraft access and rentals, pending further study, must be applauded.
It ensures decisions impacting the public’s coastal access are informed by data and public input and can be aligned with best practices for sustainable management.
It also reflects a nuanced understanding of the diverse needs of our community — from campers enjoying a day on the water to rowers training for national events like the San Diego Crew Classic, which depends on motorized watercraft for essential safety operations, coaching and event management.
Just last month, the annual Crew Classic drew more than 21,900 people to the area, and Campland has been pivotal to the event’s existence, providing a marina and boat launch facilities.
Alternative locations have been considered, but none offer all of the elements needed to pull off the event — making this area of Mission Bay, a place specifically designed for boating and recreation, irreplaceable as the heart of these activities.
This is just one of many reasons why the city’s foresight on the boating issue is important.
The city’s approach to interim camping access is equally commendable, as their plan maintains the public’s access to existing camping spaces until it is ready to move forward with actual implementation of its plans.
This is particularly important since it can take decades to secure all of the funding and permits needed for marsh projects.
By ensuring existing campsites remain in place throughout that process, it means the campgrounds that exist today will not be impacted or demolished prematurely and these precious public lands will not sit vacant, derelict or cut off to public access as additional permits or funding is sought.
After witnessing the legal and permitting challenges that postponed the much-supported clean-up of De Anza Cove — and left this cherished coastal property fenced off for years — that is the last thing our community wants to relive.
The city’s thoughtful transition for camping, and other recreational opportunities, respects the importance of active uses on the waterfront that have made Northeast Mission Bay a community asset for over five decades.
The pandemic only underscored the importance of such access on our physical and mental well-being — particularly in children. Today, the area’s sports fields serve local students, and its trolley-accessibility and free camping program are helping reduce barriers to coastal access that exist for far too many of our communities.
Sustained active recreation opportunities are particularly important for the Pacific Beach community, which is slated to add nearly 5,000 new housing units to the 210-acre corridor just outside of De Anza Cove, position the already popular destination as the future recreation epicenter for tens of thousands of new residents.
At the Tuesday hearing, it is crucial for community members who care about maintaining this balance to speak up in support of the city’s plan and commitments on recreation, camping and boating access, especially as other alternatives could dramatically reduce or remove active recreation altogether from the shoreline as we know it today.
Yes, the plan will sadly result in far less camping, but it is the best option on the table. It represents hard sacrifices and compromises resulting from nearly a decade of public input and city deliberations.
Hopefully, by advocating for the most balanced approach, we can help ensure a Mission Bay that is accessible to all.
Capt. Russell Moore serves as the water operations director coordinating the activities of over 40 private vessels in the staging of the annual San Diego Crew Classic, one of the county’s oldest and largest rowing regattas.
