Mission Bay (San Diego)

Before Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo named the area “Bahía Falsa,” or “False Bay,” in 1542, the area that we call Mission Bay was a shifting matrix of wetland type habitats, including lagoons, estuaries, tidal marshes, and saltwater bays surrounded by upland habitat. Prior to European colonization, there were at least three separate Native American villages in the area who relied upon the habitats and their resources. “False Bay” may have shifted between wetland habitat types when the San Diego River terminus historically shifted between the San Diego Bay and False Bay before dredging activities in 1946. This periodic shifting changed where the river carried silt and sand and had the potential to transform a small bay into an estuary and then into a shallow water tidal marsh over time.[3]

Mission Bay Park was developed into a recreational water park during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

During the 1820s the river began to empty primarily into San Diego Bay, causing worries that the harbor might silt up. In 1852 the United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed a dike along the south side of the river to prevent water from flowing into San Diego Bay. This made "False Bay" an estuary outlet for the San Diego River drainage. Unfortunately the dike failed within two years. Finally in 1877 the city erected a permanent dam and straightened the river channel to the sea, giving the river its present configuration.[4] Today the San Diego River is constrained on both the north and the south by levees (San Diego River Flood Control Channel), and it no longer drains to the ocean through Mission Bay, other than through a weir located at the entrance to Mission Bay.

During the late 1800s some recreational development began in "False Bay" including the building of hunting and fishing facilities. These facilities were destroyed by flooding that took place years later.

The name "Mission Bay" comes from a poem by Rose Hartwick Thorpe originally published in San Francisco newspaper The Golden Era in 1888.[5]

In 1944, a Chamber of Commerce committee recommended development of Mission Bay into a tourism and recreational center, in order to help diversify the city's economy, which was largely military.

In the late 1940s, dredging and filling operations began converting the marsh into Mission Bay Park. Twenty-five million cubic yards of sand and silt were dredged to create the varied land forms of the park, which is almost entirely man-made.

From 1957 to 1962 large amounts of industrial waste, including millions of gallons of hydrofluoric, nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids, dichromate, cyanide, and carbon tetrachloride, were deposited into an unlined landfill located in the south shores section of Mission Bay Park immediately east of SeaWorld. No remediation efforts have occurred.[6]

The first modern swim/bike/run event to be called a "triathlon" was held at Mission Bay, San Diego, California on September 25, 1974. The race was conceived and directed by Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan of the San Diego Track Club, and was sponsored by the track club with 46 participants in the event. It was reportedly not inspired by the French events,[7] although a race held the following year at Fiesta Island, San Diego, is sometimes called "the first triathlon in America."[8]

Approximately half of the park was once state tidelands. Mission Bay Park was transferred to the City of San Diego with several restrictions, some of which were adopted into San Diego City Charter by public vote, with others implemented as part of the California Coastal Commission's oversight of local planning and land use decisions. One of the restrictions sets a limit on commercial development of leaseholds, so that no more than 25% of the land area and 6.5% of the water area can be used for private purposes. This assures that most of the acres making up Mission Bay Park are available for public recreational use.

Rose Creek flows into Mission Bay from the north, creating a rich wetland area called the Kendall Frost Marsh.

ReWild Mission Bay is a project started by the San Diego Audubon Society to enhance and restore wetlands in the northeast corner of Mission Bay. Almost all of the wetlands in Mission Bay have been lost to development. Science shows that wetlands are vital for clean air and water, and serve as habitats for local wildlife. The ReWild Mission Bay wetland restoration feasibility study was unveiled in autumn of 2018. The San Diego Audubon Society worked with conservation partners, stakeholders, and community members to develop three versions of a community-informed plan to restore and expand wetlands in the northeast corner of Mission Bay.[9] San Diego City Council awarded new and extended campland leases in June. The Mayor and Council with the input of residents will determine how this process moves forward.[10]

Downtown San Diego Skyline as seen from Ski Beach in Mission Bay

Mission Bay is a hub for many activities, both on the land and in the water. There are 8 locations dedicated as official swimming areas. The west end offers many channels and islands which are great for water sports. Water toys such as sailboats and motor rentals, kayaks, paddleboards, and more are available for rent in various places around the bay. On land, visitors choose between various activities like playing in the sand, picnicking, riding bikes along the 14 miles of paths, playing volleyball, and flying kites.[14] Attractions at Mission Bay include SeaWorld San Diego, Aqua Adventures[15] for kayaking and paddleboarding, the Mission Bay Cross Country Course, the Mission Bay Golf Course,[16] and Belmont Park, which features the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and other rides.

The Mission Bay cross country course is a European-style 2,000 meter grass loop running along east Mission Bay Park. The terrain along the first 1,000 meters of the course is primarily flat. During the second 1,000 meters of the course it includes a series of five small grass inclines. The average width of the course is 15 meters with sections 5 meters in width. It is the home course for the San Diego Toreros cross country teams.[17]

Scenic Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, designed by Ted Robinson, former president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, opened its gates May 27, 1955 as a nine-hole course. In the early 1960s Robinson designed what is now the 18-hole executive course. The 18-hole executive course, measuring 2,719 yards, sits on 46 acres in the heart of the City. It is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting. The center is a long-time favorite golf course for locals. It is where Tiger Woods won a Junior World title.

Some areas in Mission Bay Park require dogs to be on leashes, other areas such as Fiesta Island are leash-free, and other areas do not allow dogs at all.

There is a youth campground located on Mission Bay's Fiesta Island. Throughout the year youth groups with their leaders enjoy a full camping experience along with daytime water experiences and classes. A permit is required to use this site. It is unlawful for adults to camp, sleep overnight or lodge overnight anywhere in Mission Bay Park except as a leader of a permitted youth group.

Fishing is permitted in all areas of Mission Bay, except in areas designated for swimming, water skiing and personal water craft use (including takeoff and landing zones). Fishing is also not allowed from any bridge. Species found here include Cilus gilberti, Spotted bass, halibut, Spotted Sand Bass. Traditional angling gear such as baitcasters and spinning tackle may be used, and many fishermen use fly fishing. A local club and fly shop specifically target stretches of the bay through this manner.[18] Netting of several bait species near bridges is down by locals.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Mission Bay based on levels of mercury or PCBs found in fish caught here.[19]