The Del Mar City Council adopted a resolution that allows the city manager to pursue grant funding for the San Dieguito Lagoon levee, habitat enhancement and trail project.
“This is talking about a trail project that is already planned for on the north side of the lagoon that the San Dieguito River Valley JPA has been working on for a very long time,” Del Mar City Manager Ashley Jones said, “and we’re going to be partnering with them for work that we’ll also be doing as part of the sea level rise work and the living levee work.”
According to a council agenda report, the city needs at least $7 million more to fully fund the project. Funding sources have so far included $500,000 in discretionary state funds from Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, and $1 million in federal Community Project funding from U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, as well as $1.3 million in California State Parks Department funds that the JPA received.
The grant applications will include a request of up to $2.5 million from the California Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program and up to $5 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy Grant Program, according to city staff.
Steps that still need to be completed are flood protection improvements that comply with FEMA’s “no-rise” standard, relocating the Public Works facility office outside of the floodway, upgrades and restoration to native vegetation, and improving public trail access and recreational amenities on both sides of the river, according to the report.