More than 200 people came out to rally against a decision to remove a popular boardwalk in the San Dieguito River Valley.
The Coastal Commission voted to remove the San Dieguito Lagoon Boardwalk in March, a move the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy plans to appeal before the April 11 deadline.
On Saturday, they held a rally to raise awareness and help save a boardwalk many people use every weekend.
The boardwalk is located off the Jimmy Durante Boulevard bridge in Del Mar, close to the fairgrounds. The path goes along the lagoon in the area.
“It would be a real shame if this boardwalk was removed after volunteers spent hard work – a full day – putting in this boardwalk,” said Trish Boaz, the executive director of the conservancy group. “They used coastal conservancy grant funds as well as federal funds, bond funding for the coastal funding.”
The boardwalk is seven years old, Boaz said, but hasn’t had a negative impact on the environment in those years.
Coastal Commission staff, however, has argued that if the boardwalk were removed, they could restore an additional 1.5 acres of wetlands, Boaz said.
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"And they can’t look at the entire big picture," Boaz said. "Almost 200 acres of wetland are being restored here at the San Dieguito Lagoon and this is 1200 feet of boardwalk. It seems like a pretty good balance for public information, access and recreation.”
The group will file an appeal by April 11 with the Coastal Commission.
