PROJECT SUMMARY

This study contributes to the ongoing work on the restoration of the Tecate Creek corridor, in Baja California. Tecate Creek originates east of Tecate, at the confluence of Cañada Joe Bill and Arroyo San Pablo. Cañada Joe Bill has its headwaters in eastern San Diego County, where it is named Campo Creek. The study encompasses the reach of Tecate Creek, from its upstream point east of Tecate, at the Highway 2 bridge with Cañada Joe Bill, to its downstream point west of Tecate, at the Highway 2 bridge with Tecate Creek, a total of 11.1 km. The study will consider the following stream uses: (1) flood mitigation, (2) groundwater replenishment, (3) land use, (3) recreation, (4) landscaping, (5) habitat for flora and fauna, (6) preservation and conservation of the riparian corridor, (7) improvement of water quality, and (8) compliance with federal stream zoning restrictions. The following specific objectives are identified: (1) a hydrologic study to determine flood discharges, and (2) a hydraulic study to determine flood conveyance. These objectives will complement current work on the Tecate Creek corridor restoration. The hydrologic study will determine flood discharges for 2-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1000-yr return periods.. Mathematical modeling will be used to calculate the flood discharges. Flood discharges will be determined spatially within the basin, to facilitate analysis and design of tributary inflows to Arroyo Tecate. The hydraulic study will inventory the current channel conditions throughout the 11-km study reach and will work with stakeholders to identify and propose the most appropriate solutions to the channelization, considering the diverse uses of the stream (rural, semirural, urban, and industrial). Mathematical modeling with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS will be used to determine flood stages, depths, and velocities. The research team will assemble relevant geographic, topographic, hydrologic, soil, vegetation, hydraulic, riparian, urban, architectural and landscape design data to provide disciplinary and interdisciplinary synthesis to contribute to the Tecate Creek Corridor restoration. The research team will coordinate and work closely with other consultants and local stakeholders to ensure that the research results are relevant and meaningful to the proposed stream corridor restoration.