still open to tidal flushing through an opening 

 that had migrated south of its 1928 location. 

 Much of the area that was deep-water habitat 

 appeared to have filled in with beach sand, and 

 the southern channel had become constricted. 

 Salt pannes were still evident east of the 

 inland lagoon, but a brackish marsh had 

 appeared at the terminus of urban drainage 

 from the airport, perhaps in a depression 

 caused by excavation. Additional disturbance 



caused by gravel extraction was evident just 

 west of the new wetland area. 



Changes that took place in the 1960's and 

 1970's were described using additional air 

 photos; for the most part, changes remained 

 visible in the 1978 photo (Figure 2.8). By 

 1964, apartment buildings had been 

 constructed along the beach, extending south to 

 their present limit. Dune vegetation remained 



iih«»» 



Figure 2.8. The February 18, 1978, aerial photograph of Tijuana Estuary (from Aerial Fotobank). 

 Note development on beach (D), abandoned sewage oxidation ponds (S), gravel excavation (G), 

 agriculture (A), and location of main river channel (R). 



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