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Four New Port Environmental Projects Are Approved

Ecotourism, landscaping and earthquake fault study receive the go-ahead from Board of Port Commissioners

Harbor Island in San Diego may soon become a hot spot for ecotourists, with its own “Walk of Discovery” along San Diego Bay. As part of a project to support ecotourism in San Diego, the educational walk is among the environmental projects approved by the Board of Port Commissioners.

Observation decks, special seating and educational signs will be installed as part of the project that would highlight environmentally significant areas. Harbor Island was selected as the first spot on the tidelands since it is undergoing redevelopment. Signs may highlight species of plants, fish and birds that are native to the area. The Board approved $200,000 from the Port’s environmental fund to pay for the project.

Another project awarded funding will upgrade 17 grass areas along the tidelands. Landscaping will be replaced with native plants that require less water. An educational component includes a brochure geared for tenants to advise them on landscaping techniques. The estimated cost is $100,000.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography will be completing a geotechnical study on San Diego Bay as part of a third project that was awarded money. This study would expand on one that was conducted in 2005 in the central portion of the Bay. The study’s results will include data valuable to the Port’s future development projects. The cost is $150,000.

The fourth project calls for the use of porous pavement or pavers in various Port tidelands parking lots that need repaving. Trees will be planted in the lots. The estimated cost is $100,000.

Six other projects requiring matching funds were also discussed. The Board of Port Commissioners directed Port staff to determine where the matching funds would come from and to return in six months to request approval.

This was the fifth round of environmental projects presented to the Board for funding through the Port’s environmental fund, which was established in December 2006. One-half of 1 percent of the Port’s total revenue goes into the fund to help pay for environmental projects. To date, 29 projects have received money. The status of environmental projects can be found on the Port of San Diego website, www.portofsandiego.org.

In other Port business, Sylvia Rios presided over her final meeting as chair of the Board of Port Commissioners. Before the close of the meeting on Tuesday, Bruce Hollingsworth, the Port President and Chief Executive Officer, praised Rios for her leadership.

"It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you," Hollingsworth said. "You have been an excellent chair; you represented the district so well on so many issues. What an admirable job you have done."

Commissioner Michael Bixler will be sworn in next month as the new chair.

The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1963 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and administers the public lands along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion annual impact on the San Diego region, the Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 16 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of over 600 tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.