San Joaquin Marsh Hydrology & Climate Adaptation Feasibility and Planning

Extreme weather events, declines in San Diego Creek water levels, and sea level rise pose risks to the persistence of wetland and riparian habitats within the UC Irvine San Joaquin Marsh and adjacent San Diego Creek channel. Characteristic of “climate whiplash,” extreme rainfall events have increased the risk of flooding and the potential for levee failure, which could result in destruction of 150 acres of emergent wetland habitat. With sea-level rise, the lower reach of the creek will experience increased salinity for extended periods, which in combination with increased periods of drought, risks loss of freshwater wetland habitat within the San Joaquin Marsh, riparian habitat in the lower reach of San Diego Creek, as well as societal benefits, including University education and research, community engagement, and flood control. To meet existing and future challenges we need a shared vision and to develop feasible infrastructure solutions, which will require close coordination among government agencies, neighboring landowners, tribes, and community members to meet multiple goals among users. We are therefore seeking funds to support a restoration planning project along the lower reach of San Diego Creek and the UCI San Joaquin Marsh to design climate resilient infrastructure to support existing and future habitat values, in addition to identifying areas with potential for habitat restoration. Stages of the planning project are to: 1) Bring together experts, stakeholders, government agencies, Tribes, and community members to present information on the status and requirements of key biological, cultural, and water resources, to overcome constraints in policy and coordination, and to develop a comprehensive multiple benefit vision for the project area, 2) Establish a working group to conduct restoration feasibility studies for a short list of hydraulic and ecological restoration solutions that support the goals and range of extreme weather and sea level rise scenarios identified in the previous stage, and 3) Provided financial and regulatory feedback on the feasibility studies, develop concept design plans for the best scenario with both a 20% engineering topographical component and architectural drawings to present to stakeholders, tribes, and community partners for final comments and 4) Develop 60% construction design and restoration plans, a CEQA document based on the 60% design plans, and then 90% design plans, concluding the proposed planning project.