Environment

High Tech High Students Publish Book Examining Endangered Species of San Diego Bay

jgilmore@portofsandiego.org ((619) 686-7206 (619) 341-5684) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:35:05 +0000

Students at High Tech High have just completed the fourth book in a series that examines the health of San Diego Bay.

“Our book is not just a story, but rather a call for conservation that we hope will echo across the beautiful city of San Diego and beyond, for the benefit of our biosphere and all its inhabitants.”

Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Student Authors

Through essays, photographs, poetry and illustrations, coupled with months of research and interviews, “San Diego Bay: A Call for Conservation” focuses on the bay’s health and 18 species that live in and around the bay, including the green sea turtle, California brown pelican, black skimmer, peregrine falcon and burrowing owl.

Each chapter in the richly illustrated 344-page book discusses key elements impacting the wildlife. Students explain the reasons for the species decline and efforts to recover populations and restore sensitive habitat that is located throughout the bay.

“Through the books, we hoped to empower our students with meaningful work and help provide them with a greater appreciation for nature,” the students’ biology teacher, Jay Vavra, wrote in the book’s introduction.

Famed primate researcher Jane Goodall wrote in the book’s preface that only recently has the importance of preserving biodiversity received the deserved attention from policymakers and the public. Yet she believes little or nothing is done to change the course.

“Thus it is immensely gratifying to see that the students who have researched, written and designed this beautiful book address this threat, along with other problems such as pollution, development, invasive species and climate change,” she wrote.

In addition to the scientific descriptions found throughout the book, the interdisciplinary project involves reflective writing as part of the student assignments. Student poetry is featured prominently throughout the book.

“A spread of muck sloshing under my feet…
I think, ‘What could live in this desolate land?’
Far in the distance, I see its grand splendor:
An ecosystem of life hidden ‘neath the first glance.
Through muck and water,I see the creatures surviving.
Beauty is here.
Life is here.”

High Tech High student Megan Morikawa, from her “Nature’s Unexpected Splendor”

In one of the books’ early chapters, students write about the dramatic changes in the land and water that have occurred over many years, a major ecological problem called “shifting baselines. The students paint a written picture of San Diego in the early days: a place with marshlands stretching from the coast through all of San Diego Bay’s tidelands. They write of a giant offshore kelp forest stretching for miles and they remind readers that at one time the Bay was teeming with fish and birds that lived over vast wetland areas.

They also point out that at times the bay was filled with dead zones and was much worse off then it is now. The students bring a message of hope through their explorations of some of the solutions to the past destruction of the ecosystem. Included in that examination is a look at the Endangered Species Act, eelgrass restoration, (in which the Port is involved) Marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries.

The students also developed their own innovations to study the bay. An example of this is the remote-controlled plankton tow boat that was used in the field and DNA bar coding for species identification back in the school biotech laboratory. To sum up their efforts former Stanford University President Donald Kennedy commented, “If a group of Stanford students had done it, I would have been impressed!”

The student authors began their project when they were juniors. All the students who helped produce this year’s $24.95 book are in various colleges and universities across the country. Since starting the project about six years ago, more than 400 students have participated in the research and writing of the three other published books, and the two books which are works in progress.

About 2,000 copies of this year’s book have been printed. They are available in local bookstores and the Chula Vista Nature Center, Cabrillo National Monument, Birch Aquarium, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Maritime Museum, Seabeeze Books & Charts in Point Loma, Amazon.com and Sdbayguide.com, the web site of the High Tech High San Diego Bay Study.

For the past four years, the Port of San Diego has provided cash and in-kind contributions to the project that is overseen by Vavra along with humanities teacher Tom Fehrenbacher. Since partnering with the school, which is located in Liberty Station, the former home of the Naval Training Center, the Port has contributed about $32,000 over three years.

The Port and other sponsoring agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and SeaGrant California, a University of California program based at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, will host a book-signing event at a later date.

High Tech High is a public charter school that opened in 2000. About 500 students attend the school which focuses on providing each student a personalized education through project-based work.

More information on the students and their project can be found at the San Diego Bay Study web site.

BREATHE ADIEU

“I watch the tides upon the sand;
They shape the gently sloping shore.
The meeting of the sea and land:
How did this place appear before?
The waters of the bay have seen
The impact of a drastic change.
What could the wordless whispers mean?
Familiar still, and yet so strange.
So rarely now is nature found
Untouched by damage of mankind.
While poisons dwell beneath the ground,
We leave Earth’s treasurers far behind.
With sadness now I face the truth:
Man brings with him an endless pain.
Vivacity of nature’s youth
Will never be seen again.”

High Tech High student Sean Curtice

The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1963 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and administers the public lands along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion economic impact on the San Diego region, the Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 17 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.

Local Wetlands Book for Students Provided by Port of San Diego

dfrost@portofsandiego.org (Dale Frost (619) 686-6461) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:06:37 +0000

The Port of San Diego has contributed $10,000 through its Environmental Services budget for printing a sprightly book about local wetlands for fourth grade students in San Diego County.

“Into the Wetlands, An Aquatic Adventure,” was produced and distributed by the Ocean Discovery Institute as part of an environmental education program that includes classroom instruction and field trips to local wetlands such as Paradise Creek and the D Street Fill in south San Diego Bay.

“This book is specific to coastal and wetland habitats in San Diego County,” said Lindsay Goodwin, Director of Programs for Ocean Discovery Institute.

Children reading the book are taught the importance of wetlands and what people can do to preserve them. “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” is a lesson from Freddie Topsmelt, a colorfully illustrated fish and one of many species imparting knowledge throughout the book.

The San Diego-based Ocean Discovery Institute, formerly Aquatic Adventures, worked with author Jackie Boyd to ensure scientific accuracy of the book.

Boyd, who holds a masters degree in speech pathology, said she was motivated to write science-based adventure fantasies to inspire youth to develop a personal connection with the natural environment.

The 1,000 copies printed will be used in classroom reading groups and will also become part of the schools’ lending libraries.

The books are available to the public for $20 ($10 is tax deductible) at info@oceandi.org.

The mission of the non-profit Ocean Discovery Institute is to engage, educate and inspire youth from urban and diverse backgrounds through science-based exploration of the ocean and nature, preparing them to be tomorrow’s scientific and environmental leaders.

The Port of San Diego has supported Ocean Discovery Institute for many years through its Environmental Services department and Environmental Fund to provide classroom learning and field trips that promote science and environmental stewardship.

Interactive Map Showcases Green Achievements Along Port of San Diego

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:36:09 +0000

The Port of San Diego’s Environmental Department is unveiling a new interactive map that showcases eco-friendly efforts and achievements along San Diego Bay tidelands.

From installing solar panels on rooftops, to landscaping with water wise plants, to construction on the proposed LEED-certified Broadway Cruise Ship Terminal, the latest Google Earth map highlights accomplishments of the Green Port Program. The program’s goals focus on environmental benefits in six key areas: water, energy, air, waste management, sustainable development, and sustainable business practices.

Download Google Earth Maps

The freely available Google Earth application allows users to see detailed data and landmarks located any place on Earth.

In addition to the Green Port map, users can learn about the unique animals and plants that live in San Diego Bay. The Port has updated the San Diego Bay Species map to showcase more species, including the Pacific Seahorse. The new version also allows users to explore local habitats, such as eelgrass beds and salt marshes. Descriptions of each organism emphasize species characteristics, as well as the Port’s efforts to protect and enhance the Bay’s natural resources.

These features will be continually updated with new information. Download the applications now and begin exploring!

As the environmental steward of San Diego Bay and its tidelands, the Port of San Diego is responsible for promoting environmental sustainability and protecting the Bay’s natural resources. In a continuing effort to raise public awareness, the Port invites the public to learn more about our commitment to the environment using Google Earth.

Port of San Diego Tenants to “Clean Sweep” Chula Vista Nature Center

melicone@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:21:13 +0000

Drive onto the quiet, dirt road that leads into the Chula Vista Nature Center and you enter a world that is calm and serene. Clusters of sea dahlias, coast sagebrush and other plants native to the bay front cover the softly rolling dunes that lead down to the shoreline. A snowy egret flies ahead to join other seabirds in the marshland. The water of San Diego Bay appears placid in this area that is mostly designated for wildlife. However, there are a few things that seem out of place.

A large rectangular box of concrete, covered with mollusk shells, lies on the beach. Although it looks like an ancient crypt from a long forgotten graveyard, it is actually a section of a pier that broke off somewhere else in the bay and drifted with the tide. Large pilings, chunks of concrete, pier bumpers and tires are also spread out amongst the area, marring its natural beauty.

The San Diego Port Tenants Association, Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding/Continental Maritime, the Port of San Diego, the US Navy and other businesses are teaming up to remove the debris from the area in a small-scale version of Operation Clean Sweep.

Operation Clean Sweep, which was held on August 29 this year, cleaned up almost 12 tons of trash from around San Diego Bay. The Chula Vista Nature Center was not included in the large clean sweep event, since most of its surroundings are designated as a protected area.

Because only a small number of people are allowed on the area at a time, the "mini" Operation Clean Sweep on December 12 will not be calling on members of the public to help out. Volunteers from the organizations putting on the event will be donating time and equipment to get the debris out of the area.

In 2000, a similar clean up event was conducted by many of the Port’s shipbuilding and industrial tenants. It took nearly a day’s work to get rid of all the debris that was found back then.

The mini Operation Clean Sweep organizers are confident that this year’s effort will get rid of almost everything that has washed along the shore near the Chula Vista Nature Center and that the area will remain a haven for seabirds, native plants and nature lovers.

The Port of San Diego has several programs to help improve the health of San Diego Bay and the tidelands. In 2006, an environmental fund was created to pay for projects that go beyond state and federal regulations. Since then, $5.9 million has been allocated for about 50 projects, most of which have been completed.

These include enhancing fish habitats in San Diego Bay, restoring the J Street salt marsh in Chula Vista and constructing osprey nesting platforms throughout the Port tidelands. Last year, the Port kicked off its Green Port Program. The program spells out how the Port can minimize its impact on the environment while still continuing its day-to-day operations.

Twenty-three Green Port projects are in place, including the clean truck program, which offered grant funding from the state and matching funds from the Port to replace or retrofit older model trucks to reduce harmful emissions. In addition, the Port started the voluntary vessel speed reduction program, in which cargo and cruise vessel operators are asked to reduce speeds while traveling in and near San Diego’s harbor. Green Port projects focus on six areas – water, energy, air, waste management, sustainable development and sustainable business practices.

Public Workshop Set to Discuss San Diego South Bay Restoration Plans

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Eileen Maher, (619) 686-6254) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:51:52 +0000

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host a public workshop for the South San Diego Bay Coastal Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project Thursday, October 8, to discuss the restoration plans for the western salt ponds.

The California Coastal Conservancy, as lead agency, and the Port of San Diego, as a responsible agency, have prepared a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study which is available for public review, ending on October 16, 2009, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act regarding the project.

The proposed action involves the restoration and enhancement of approximately 260 acres of coastal wetland habitat within south San Diego Bay. The project’s proposal to restore the salt ponds located to the west of the Otay River Channel would reestablish approximately 220 acres of subtidal and intertidal habitats essential to the plants, fish, and wildlife. This includes the restoration at the Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve and Emory Cove.

The public workshop will be held in the Community Room of the Imperial Beach City Hall, 825 Imperial Beach Blvd., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Victoria Touchstone, Refuge Planner for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at (760) 431-9440 ext. 349 or Victoria_Touchstone@fws.gov.

Lend a Hand at the 25th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:03:18 +0000

Thousands of San Diegan’s are expected to help remove litter and marine debris from our coastline and tidelands as part of the 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

As part of the San Diego Bay Watershed Urban Runoff Management Group, the Port of San Diego is helping to sponsor the local cleanup effort led by "I Love A Clean San Diego" and the San Diego Coastkeeper.

Help to recruit friends, family, and co-workers for the state-wide cleanup event with nearly 80 sites from Oceanside to Tijuana, as well as inland areas, including El Cajon, across San Diego County. Port of San Diego employees and volunteers will help captain a site at the Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve.

“Litter and debris which winds up in our waterways and along the coast are a serious problem,” insists David Merk, Director of Environmental Services. “Participating in a cleanup event is a great way to get involved in the community and prevent litter and debris from polluting our shoreline.”

Last year, 7,000 volunteers removed over 80,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from San Diego’s shoreline. Statewide, more than 1 million pounds of debris was removed from California’s waterways and marine environment.

Each cleanup site will have contests and raffles for great prizes, including SeaWorld, Hornblower Cruises and Events, Birch Aquarium and SeaLife Aquarium at LEGOLAND passes.

Join the effort by logging onto CleanupDay.org for more information and to register for the event.

South Bay Restoration Project Draft MND Available for Public Review

bmoreno@portofsandiego.org (Eileen Maher, (619) 686-6254) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:47:48 +0000

The California Coastal Conservancy, as lead agency, and the Port of San Diego, as a responsible agency, have prepared a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act for the South San Diego Bay Coastal Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project. The proposed action involves the restoration and enhancement of approximately 260 acres of coastal wetland habitat within south San Diego Bay.

The Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study is available for a 30-day public review period which ends on October 16, 2009. Comments must be provided in writing to Victoria Touchstone, San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA 92011, or via email to Victoria_Touchstone@fws.gov.

Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program Showing Signs of Success

melicone@portofsandiego.org (Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:06:22 +0000

In March 2009, the Port of San Diego began a voluntary vessel speed reduction program as part of its Clean Air Program to reduce air pollution around San Diego Bay and the tidelands.

The period from April through June 2009 marks the first complete quarter since the program was implemented. During this time, 27 cruise and cargo vessels called on the Port and 69 percent of these traveled within the voluntary speed limits during both inbound and outbound trips.

In the program, cruise and cargo vessel operators are asked to reduce their speed when traveling to and from San Diego Bay. The voluntary limits are 12 knots for cargo ships and 15 knots for cruise ships. Vessel operators are asked to observe these speed limits when traveling in an area that extends 20 nautical miles seaward from Point Loma. The difference in the speed limits is based on differing engine fuel efficiencies.

Of all the cruise ships that visited the Port during this quarter, 86 percent were compliant with the speed limit. Cargo vessels were 53 percent compliant.

In order for a vessel operator to be deemed compliant, they must practice the voluntary speed limit for 90 percent of the operator’s total vessel visits. This includes traveling both to and from the Port. During this first reporting period, three cruise operators and six cargo operators achieved 90 percent compliance. Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd., Wilhelmsen Ship Management, Ltd – USA, BigLift Shipping BV, BNavi Ship Management Sri, Cido Shipping Korea, Co. LTD, Grieg Star Shipping AS, Magsaysay Maritime Corp. and Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd were the vessel operators that were compliant.

During this first quarter, the voluntary vessel speed reduction program has resulted in an estimated 10 percent reduction in emissions from participating vessels.

The Port keeps track of the vessel speeds by accessing data that all vessels transmit using automatic identification systems. The data is tracked by a web-based monitoring system.

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Port of San Diego's Rooftop Solar Panels Celebrated

dfrost@portofsandiego.org (Dale Frost) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:23:29 +0000

The sun was shining brightly on the more than 100 solar panels atop the Port of San Diego's Administration Building annex as officials and Port employees gathered nearby to celebrate the new photovoltaic system on September 16.

The first solar panels placed on a Port building are expected to provide clean power for more than 2 percent of the building’s energy use. The project cost $210,000 and was paid for through the Port’s Environmental Fund. It demonstrates the Port’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

A highlight of the ceremony was a check presentation to the Port for $55,609. It is a rebate from the California Center for Sustainable Energy, whose funds come from San Diego Gas & Electric ratepayers.

In a photo-op moment, Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Stephen P. Cushman and Port President/CEO Charlie Wurster accepted the enlarged check from Terry Clapham, Distributed Generation Manager for the Center for Sustainable Energy.

“This is the ‘greenest’ Board of Port Commissioners the Port has ever had,” said Chairman Cushman. “We’re committed to reducing energy use and being environmentally sensitive in all facets of the Port and its operations.”

The Port is also installing solar panels on the new Broadway Pier, now under construction. The building is designed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification and will be the port’s first LEED-certified building.

San Diego-based Sullivan Solar Power, that installed the photovoltaic system at the Port Administration building, will also install the system at the new Broadway Cruise Ship Terminal.

“The money the Port spent on installing the photovoltaic system at its Administration Building will be recouped in energy savings in eight to 10 years, depending how energy costs go up,” said Daniel Sullivan, President of Sullivan Solar Power.

The Port also plans to install a photovoltaic system at its General Services Building in National City.

Other energy projects the Port is working on include installing LED lighting in the Administration Building parking lot, and replacing traditional lighting with lower energy alternatives.

The dedication coincides with the Port of San Diego's Green Port Month. The Green Port Program was developed to support the goals of the Green Port Policy that was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners in 2008. The ultimate goal of the program is to achieve long-term environmental, societal and economic benefits through resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention.

The Green Port Program unifies the Port’s environmental sustainability goals in six key areas. Overseen by the Green Port Program Steering Committee, the Port sets measurable goals and evaluates progress in each area on an annual basis. The Green Port Program both continues the Port’s existing environmental efforts and expands these efforts through new programs and initiatives.

Port of San Diego to Dedicate New System for Generating Energy

jgilmore@portofsandiego.org (John Gilmore (619) 686-7206) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:07:13 +0000

The Port of San Diego is set to dedicate its new photovoltaic system, which has more than 100 solar panels that are helping generate power for the Port Administration Building on Pacific Highway. The system is designed to provide a clean, renewable energy source and decrease the Port’s carbon footprint.

The dedication will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, beginning at 10 a.m. atop the Port Administration Building’s annex, at 3165 Pacific Highway.

The brief dedication ceremony will include remarks by Charlie Wurster, the Port’s President/CEO; Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Stephen P. Cushman; David Merk, Director of the Port’s Environmental Services Department; Dan Sullivan, founder and CEO of Sullivan Solar Power, the company that installed the panels; and Irene Stillings, Executive Director of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

The $210,000 photovoltaic system was paid for with money from the Port’s Environmental Fund and is generating 24 kilowatts (kW), or enough energy to power about 15 homes. The Board of Port Commissioners has approved plans to expand the Port’s use of renewable energy by installing another 30 kW photovoltaic system on the new Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal and a 50 (kW) system on the Port’s General Services building in National City.

The renewable energy initiatives support the Port’s Green Port Program, which unifies the Port’s environmental sustainability goals in six key areas: water, energy, air, waste management, sustainable development, and sustainable business practices.

As part of the Green Port Program, the Port has established long-term goals and the progress is evaluated annually in each area. For more information on the Green Port Program and other environmental initiatives at the Port, please visit the Environmental Section of this web site.