| 1944 . |
Irvine Company drilled a
well in the San Joaquin Marsh adjacent to the "Old" San Diego Creek channel
and distributed the water through an extensive network of low pressure
concrete irrigation liners. |
| . |
/ |
| 1952 . |
The Joaquin Marsh was actively
irrigated and farmed producing seasonal truck crops such as lima beans,
peppers, tomatoes, and sugar beets. |
| . |
. |
| 1965 . |
The "Old" San Diego Creek
channel was cut off and a levee was constructed roughly paralleling the
present alignment of Harvard Avenue, which confined San Diego Creek along
t he southeastern boundary of the San Joaquin Marsh. |
| . |
. |
| 1966 . |
Construction began on the
Michelson WAter Reclamation Plant. The remainder of the San Joaquin Marsh
was still actively farmed. |
| . |
. |
| 1970 . |
Campus Drive extension built,
separating the San Joaquin Marsh into two parcels. Currently the ownership
of the marsh is divided between Irvine Ranch Water District 378 acres
and the University of California Irvine 202 acres. |
| . |
. |
| 1972 . |
Farming activities started
to decline and by 1972, the Irvine Company leased portions of the San Joaquin
Marsh to several duck clubs. By 1973, networks of duck ponds and
a levee system was in place. |
| . |
. |
| 1988 . |
The last remaining duck
club ceased operation and the City of Irvine assumed management of
the ponds. |
| . |
. |
| 1990 . |
Irvine Ranch Water District
assumed the maintenance and operation of the ponds. |
| . |
, |
| 1993 . |
Audubon Society (Sea and
Sage) established on site. Educational programs and general bird
watching activities scheduled throughout the year. |
| . |
. |
| 1995 . |
Irvine Ranch Water District
purchased the remaining Irvine Company holdings in the San Joaquin Marsh. |
| . |
. |
| 1996 . |
The San Joaquin Marsh Enhancement
Plain EIR was certified by the City of Irvine, and became the underlying
document for restoring the San Joaquin Marsh. |
| . |
. |
| 1997 . |
The duck ponds were transformed
into structured wetland ponds consisting of 6 irregular shaped ponds and
two pump stations. |
| . |
. |
| 1997 . |
Irvine Ranch Water District
assumed responsibility for sediment removal for basins 1-3 located within
the San Diego Creek. |
| . |
. |
| 1997 . |
Riparian habitat restoration
(43 acres) -- North section (Zone 11) of the San Joaquin Marsh. Restoration
consisted of site grading, irrigation and plant installation. |
| . |
. |
| 1998 . |
Michelson/Carlson Berm constructed
-- Construction consisted of grading, irrigation and landscape installation. |
| . |
. |
| 2000 . |
Riparian/Upland habitat
restoration (24 acres) -- Duck pond area (Zone 10) of the San Joaquin
Marsh. Restoration consisted of irrigation and plant installation. |
| . |
. |
| 2001 . |
Creek and Marsh pump station
upgrades (5 cfs to 10-12 cfs). |
