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Mission Bay City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, Coastal Parks Division
2581 Quivera Court, San Diego CA 92109 619.221.8902 or 619.581.7879 Mission Bay was once known as False Bay because early mariners mistook it for the entrance to San Diego Bay. It consisted of marshlands formed by the delta of the San Diego River: a labyrinth of mudflats, salt marshes and tidal channels which served as a feeding and nesting habitat for migratory and resident birds. During the 1950s and 60s, the river was channelized and the bay was dredged to create Mission Bay Park, the largest aquatic park in the United States. Despite the dredging and filling of natural areas, many species of birds continue to frequent the Mission Bay area in the natural vegetation of the San Diego Flood Control Channel between Interstate 5 and the Pacific Ocean. A frontage road and bicycle paths offer prime viewing of this 200-acre preserve from both sides of the channel. The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department park rangers conduct nature walks along the channel. A newly forming Mission Valley Preserve will eventually embrace both sides of the lower San Diego River in Mission Valley, beginning at the western borders of Sefton Park and the YMCA on their respective sides of the river and stretching to I-5 in the west. This area has been set aside as open space and will abut the existing City of San Diego Flood Control Channel Southern Wildlife Preserve. The Friends of the Mission Valley Preserve will sponsor nature walks and restoration projects in this riparian area of the lower San Diego River. Call 858-566-6489. |
