Group Drops Plan to Fill Land in the San Dieguito River Valley

A group that owns land in the San Dieguito River Valley has temporarily withdrawn a proposal to dump dirt fill on a 57-acre parcel east of Del Mar that environmentalists describe as an ecologically sensitive wetland.

The San Dieguito Trust had sought a Coastal Commission permit to deposit 125,000 cubic yards of dirt on the river valley acreage in an effort to reclaim land they contend was washed away by floods in 1980 and 1981.

Although the issue was slated to be heard by the Coastal Commission on Friday, representatives of the trust notified the commission staff Tuesday that they were withdrawing the application.

Much of the property around the 57-acre parcel, located east of Interstate 5 and south of Via De La Valle, is being farmed. The property owners had sought to dump the dirt fill so the parcel could be used for agriculture.

The commission staff had recommended against the permit, largely because most of the land slated for the fill had been mapped as a “potential wetlands” area. In addition, the property is located within the river flood plain, said Ellen Lirley, a coastal planner.

Abby Silverman, an attorney representing the trust, said Wednesday that the land owners would wait for federal officials to formally map out the wetland boundaries in the area before they again seek a permit. Federal officials have not yet determined when that mapping will be completed.

“Everything hinges on what’s wetlands,” Silverman said. “Once that’s determined, it will be easier to address the issue of a permit.”

While landowners say the property was once prime agricultural land that was washed away by floodwaters, environmentalists have insisted that the parcel has long been strictly wetlands.

“I’m relieved for now,” said Alice Goodkind, president of Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley. “I feel this was a victory.”

Goodkind said the group still anticipates a fight over two acres that the property owners have already filled.