Council OKs Plan to Preserve Marshland

Agreement has been reached on a plan 10 years in the making to preserve the San Joaquin Marsh, one of Southern California’s largest freshwater marshes.

But the 336-acre preservation plan no longer includes 244 acres of marsh land owned by the University of California. The UC system pulled out of the negotiations in August 1994 after objecting to the use of treated waste water to replenish marsh areas.

City Council members on Tuesday night unanimously approved the plan, which will restore the marsh area bordered by Michelson and Campus drives and Carlson Avenue. The 336-acre section of the marsh included in the plan is owned by the Irvine Ranch Water District.

The university system’s portion of the marsh lies south of Campus Drive.

University representatives have informally told city officials that if the water quality proves to be good from natural filtration, they may allow replenishment of their section of the marsh, according to Peter Hersh, city land use policy and program manager.

“We feel that the marsh is not an environment that is divided by a road,” Hersh said. “We believe it should be planned as one habitat, and this plan leaves that opportunity open for the future.”