2.3 LAND USE HISTORY 



Through examination of maps, 

 photographs, and historical records, it has 

 been possible to identify critical events that 

 have shaped Tijuana Estuary. The many 

 changes in land use reflect attitudes about the 

 landscape. The estuary has been used and 

 abused by a variety of human activities, 

 exacerbating the effects of natural 

 catastrophic events. 



The 1904 map (Figure 2.3) shows 

 Tijuana Estuary as having a minor bay and a 



broad mouth. The Tijuana River had two 

 channels, one near the southern bluffs that 

 border Mexico and another due east of the 

 mouth. An isolated, land-locked lagoon was 

 located in the northeastern part of the 

 estuary. These three features persist to date, 

 but in highly modified form. 



By 1928 (Figure 2.6), Imperial Beach 

 had been settled with more than 50 dwellings, 

 most of which were within 3 blocks of the 

 beach. The impact of adjacent land uses on the 

 estuary become apparent on inspection of the 

 condition of the river mouth, barrier dunes, 



Figure 2.6. The 1928 aerial photograph of Tijuana Estuary (from County of San Diego). Left: 

 northern arm of the estuary; right: the central embayment (E). Note dune vegetation (DV), 

 mudflats (M) along tidal channels, islands (I), inland lagoon (L), and dredged channel (DC). 



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