The San Diego Audubon Society said it has reached agreement with Campland on the Bay to minimize the impact of the popular campground’s expansion on Mission Bay over the next five years.
The agreement requires new RV spaces be kept as far away from the bay front as possible on the east side of Rose Creek. This will prevent interim development in the area, leaving the potential for future restoration of natural wetlands.
On June 24, the City Council approved a five-year lease extension for Campland, noting that wetlands restoration could not begin for at least that time period. The short-term extension requires removal 167 dilapidated mobile homes from De Anza Point, remodeling of a nearby clubhouse and new landscaping, but also allows an increase in RV slots.
“We applaud Campland and the city for agreeing to site all new RV infrastructure as far from the site of projected sea level rise and future wetlands as possible,” said Andrew Meyer, conservation director with San Diego Audubon, on Thursday. “We’ll continue to advocate for meaningful, sustainable wetland restoration, like our ‘Wildest’ proposal in northeast Mission Bay, to improve the diversity and abundance of resident and migratory bay-dependent birds.”
Audubon has agreed not to challenge the project’s Coastal Development Permit on the basis of new RV spaces — provided those RV spaces are placed in agreed-upon areas as far removed from the bay front as possible.
Over the long term, the Audubon Society and its partner ReWild Mission Bay Coalition want to restore the Mission Bay wetlands, improve water quality, create new trails and paddling paths, and begin planning for sea level rise.