Today I attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a new segment of the Coast To Crest Trail, which was completed as part of a wetland restoration project that turned a parking lot back into wetlands.

This view is facing East, along the existing trail that runs 71 miles along the San Dieguito River to its source on Volcan Mountain.

Looking Southwest, you can see the newly created wetlands where there was a parking lot. The new trail segment is on the right.

To the South, the wetlands are in the foreground, behind them is the river, and beyond the river is an earlier wetlands restoration project.

The current project is being funded by the Del Mar Fairgrounds as part of an agreement with the Coastal Commission to resolve some Coastal Act violations. The San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club played a role in this long saga with some research by legal interns, and a successful lawsuit against the fairgrounds.

This article has more about the project.