Port awards $2.9M contract for wildlife-friendly shoreline projects in San Diego Bay

A contractor is preparing to install wildlife-friendly shoreline structures in San Diego Bay after receiving approval earlier this month from the Port of San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners, officials announced Monday.

On March 10, the board awarded a $2.9 million construction contract to Power Engineering Construction for two projects — one along Harbor Island Park in San Diego and one along the Chula Vista side of the Sweetwater Channel.

For the projects, the port will again work with ECOncrete, which installed its COASTALOCK system along a 160-foot stretch of Harbor Island in 2021 as part of a pilot project. According to the port, after several years of monitoring, staff found the COASTALOCK system not only stood up to the waves, but harbored more than 60 species — including naturally filtering species, improving water quality.

“These projects reflect the port’s commitment to protecting the health of San Diego Bay while making sure people can continue to connect with and enjoy our waterfront,” said Port of San Diego Board Chair Ann Moore, thanking Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, for his work securing funding for the projects. “By investing in innovative shoreline solutions that support marine life and strengthen coastal resilience, we’re also helping preserve coastal access so residents and visitors can experience the beauty of our bay for generations to come.”

Across San Diego Bay, around 74% of the shoreline is hardened with traditional structures such as seawalls and riprap. While effective for coastal protection, these structures typically provide “limited habitat value” for marine life, a port statement read.

The habitat-friendly shoreline approach is intended to integrate nature-based solutions with coastal infrastructure to restore habitat while maintaining shoreline stability.

“San Diego has always been at the forefront of innovation across so many sectors, and the port is no exception,” Rep. Peters said. “Habitat-friendly shoreline structures will protect and foster local biodiversity and ecosystems, without compromising critical shoreline infrastructure.”

The shoreline units are slated to begin fabrication in the coming weeks, followed by construction. At both new sites, portions of traditional rock shoreline will be replaced with ECOncrete’s system.

Funding for the Harbor Island project includes $1 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Sweetwater Channel project is supported by $2.6 million provided through a supplemental environmental project agreement with the city of San Diego.

City News Service contributed to this article.