Mission Bay, San Diego, California

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cite web|url=http://www.findlocalguide.net/California.San-Diego.Mission-Bay.15.$.html|title=Mission Bay Island|publisher= [http://www.findlocalguide.net Find a Local Guide] |accessdate=2007-12-27] ]

Mission Bay is a bay located south of the Pacific Beach community of San Diego, California.

The bay is part of the recreational Mission Bay Park, which is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, consisting of 4,235 acres, approximately 46% land and 54% water. The combined area makes Mission Bay Park the ninth largest municipally-owned park in the United States.

Wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, and camping are popular on the bay. With miles of light color sandy beaches and an equally long pedestrian path, it is equally suitable for cycling, jogging or sunbathing.

Fiesta Island, a large peninsular park located within Mission Bay is a popular location for charity walks and runs, bicycle races, time trials and other special events. It is also the home of the annual over-the-line tournament.

History

Mission Bay Park was developed from the 1940’s through the 1960’s. The area was originally a tidal marsh that was named “False Bay” by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542.

The San Diego River had historically shifted its terminus from San Diego Bay to the south, to “False Bay” to the north, until 1852, when the United States Army constructed the first a dike along the south side of the river to prevent it from shifting back to San Diego Bay. This made “False Bay” an estuary outlet for the San Diego River drainage. Unfortunately the dike failed shortly after its construction was finished, but it paved the way for the current San Diego River flood control channel.

During the late 1800’s 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.

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 1940’s, dredging and filling operations began converting the marsh into what today is Mission Bay Park. Twenty-five millions cubic yards of sand and silt were dredged to create the varied land forms of the park, which now is almost entirely man-made. 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 at through a weir located at the entrance to Mission Bay.

Approximately one 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 by the Citizen of San Diego for adoption into San Diego City charter with others implemented as part of the California Coastal Commission’s oversight of local planning and land use decisions. Among the limitations are:

* A limit on commercial development of leaseholds of no more than 25% of the land area and 6.5% of the water area for private purposes.

This assures that most of the acres making up Mission Bay Park are available for public recreational use.

In the water

Attractions at Mission Bay include SeaWorld, the [http://www.missionbayaquaticcenter.com/ Mission Bay Aquatic Center] and Belmont Park, which features the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster.

Mission Bay has 27 miles of shoreline, 19 of which are sandy beaches with eight locations designated as official swimming areas.

Swimmers and sunbathers appreciate the warm water, calm surf conditions and soft sand of Mission Bay’s beaches. Mission Bay offers boat docks and launching facilities, sailboat and motor rentals, bike/walk paths and basketball courts. There are playgrounds for children. Public restrooms and showers are available, and lifeguard stations are located in designated areas.

At the west end of the beach is a network of channels and islands which is used by wind surfers and water skiers.

On land

On shore there are activities such as picnicking, riding a bike along the paths, playing volleyball, or flying a kite.

There are close to 14 miles of bike paths along Mission Bay

Dog Walking

Some areas in Mission Bay Park allow dogs to be on leashes, other areas such as Fiesta Island are leash free, and other areas do not allow dogs. Please pay attention to posted signs.

CampingThere is a youth campground located on Mission Bay’s Fiesta Island and throughout the year youth groups with their leaders enjoy a full camping experience there. A permit is required to use this site. It is unlawful for adults to camp, sleep overnight or lodge overnight in Mission Bay Park.

FishingFishing is permitted in all areas of Mission Bay, except in areas designated for swimming, water skiing and personal water craft use (including take off and landing zones). Fishing is also not allowed from any bridge.

Birds

Mission Bay Park is home to many rare & endangered species, including the California least tern. Now in its thirteenth year, a program goes into effect every April through August to protect the endangered California least tern at four of its nesting sites in Mission Bay Park. The California least tern is on the endangered species list and the death of every least tern chick severely reduces chances for the bird’s survival. The roaming of predators on site prevents adult least terns from nesting.

In a multi-agency effort that includes the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Wildlife Services Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, professionals from the wildlife program carry out the humane trapping of least tern predators who come to least tern nesting sites. This includes skunks and opossums, as well as feral cats and dogs, believed to be former pets who were abandoned by their owners. Sites are located on North Fiesta Island, Mariner’s Point, Stoney Point, and a small island called “Government Island” used by the Federal Aviation Agency.

Anyone exercising a dog in Mission Bay Park should adhere to the posted leash laws, and should consider leashing the dog in off-leash areas as well during the least tern season.

Other birds that can be seen in Mission Bay Park are the great blue heron, the osprey, mallards, avocets, black-necked stilts and the Belding’s savannah sparrow.

References

External links

* [http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/missionbay/index.shtml Mission Bay Park] - City of San Diego web site
* [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/2002-1/gabrielson.htm "Mission Bay Aquatic Park: The History of Planning and Land Acquisitions", "The Journal of San Diego History" 48:1 (Winter 2002) by Ed Gabrielson]
* [http://www.missionbayrvresort.com Mission Bay RV Resort] - RV park owned by City of San Diego