Completed Projects

San Dieguito Restoration Project

Taking San Diego Wetlands Back to a Natural State.

San Diego, CA – Bio Clean Environmental Services, Inc. (Bio Clean) has joined the San Dieguito Restoration Project (SDRP) efforts.

The SDRP is a three-year long, $86 million project involving the restoration of approximately 160 acres of the San Dieguito Tidal Wetlands in Del Mar, California, that began in 2006. The wetlands have spent the better part of the last century stagnant and borderline lifeless due to the effects of encroaching development. In the last decade, the construction of the World War II Del Mar airport and later, the sewage treatment lagoons, supplanted the former wetlands area, which neighbors the current Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The new nature preserve is one of two major environmental stewardship programs financed by Southern California Edison to fully offset any adverse impact on the marine environment caused by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located 40 miles to the north.

So far, crews have removed what remained of the airfield, adjacent to the fairgrounds, and dug a lagoon in its place, removing more than 800,000 cubic yards of dirt. About 200,000 cubic yards have been removed from an area north of the lagoon, which will become low-and mid-marsh habitats. Dirt and sand from one area has been stockpiled in another and used for nesting sites along with the construction of 8,000 feet of berms that will protect the wetlands in the event of a major flood. By the time it is completed, 2 million cubic yards of earth will have been excavated.

By restoring the tidal wetlands, a safe haven will be created where marine and wildlife will flourish. In addition to sustaining the existing populations, the restored wetlands will be an attractive nesting site for some endangered species.

The project must comply with San Diego’s strict stormwater regulations to maintain approved water quality. This is especially important given the location of the project, which is both threatened by urban run-off while sitting on the coast of San Diego with direct flow to sensitive beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

Project Design Consultants (PDC) is the project’s civil engineering firm hired by Southern California Edison. Recognizing the sensitivity and regulatory issues, the firm mandated that the project include the implementation of Bio Clean’s Nutrient Separating Baffle Boxes. “We knew that the project required an aggressive form of stormwater management in order to prevent pollution of the sensitive area, that’s when we called in Bio Clean,” said Darlene Szczublewski, PDC Water Resources Design Engineer.

“In order for the wetlands to be as efficient and beneficial as they can be, we want to simulate the most natural setting possible. So, we are doing our best to make sure that the wetlands are affected as minimally as possible. That includes installing Bio Clean stormwater filtration systems to catch and filter runoff from the surrounding areas before it reaches the wetlands. The water flowing throughout the lagoon runs straight to the San Dieguito River, the beach, and the Pacific Ocean. These new stormwater filtration technologies will help to ensure that our beaches and waters are safe,” Szczublewski added.

“Wetlands are like the kidneys of our environment. Our job is to make sure no toxins go into those kidneys so as to keep it running at its best,” said Greg Kent, President of Bio Clean.

“As the San Dieguito Wetlands are restored, we look forward to being a part of pollution prevention, supporting a sustainable environment and providing a natural home for a number of fish and wildlife.” Kent added.

For more information on SDRP visit www.sdlagoon.com.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA - Installed 40 Curb Inlet Filters. Due to the unique design of the Suntree curb inlet filters, the city has been able to clean these filters faster than any other filters they have used.

San Diego

San Diego, CA - The County of San Diego installed Curb Inlet Filters in North San Diego County and East San Diego County. The County wanted to see a diverse cross section of the different types of curb inlet filters Bio Clean Environmental Services, Inc. was able to manufacture, as well as their ability to retro-fit the various catch basin configurations.