A 300-acre marsh and wetlands restoration project has garnered a Coastal America Partnership Award, presented at a ceremony yesterday to a long list of participating groups including the Port of San Diego, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Coastal Conservancy, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Ocean Discovery Institute, Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association, San Diego Audobon Society, and the Coronado Rotary Club.

The project, which took place along the southern edges of San Diego Bay between September 2010 and March 2011, involved area cleanup, removal of non-native invasive plant species, and re-planting of native species. The newly created wetlands have provided habitat for endangered birds including California Least Terns and Western Snowy Plovers, as well as sea turtles and several fish species.

“There are 90 different species benefitting from this work. This is a celebration,” said Rowan Gould, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said in presenting the award. “It takes people with a vision to see this (land) as an asset. When you can celebrate the accomplishments of many people working together, it's a good day.”