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important part of the San Diego scene is Mission Bay. This 

 particular bay is an excellent example of recreational possibili- 

 ties available in an estuarine system. 



Mission Bay was formerly no more than a mud flat in a tidal area. 

 However, its development is comparable to the possibilities of 

 any large estuarine situation where a portion of the system can 

 be devoted to special recreational pursuits. The particular 

 value in such a situation is that the use of special areas need 

 not interfere with the major uses of the estuary, although the 

 amount of pollution in the estuary must be limited so as not to 

 preclude use of the recreational portion. 



The following summary of the Mission Bay experience points up the 

 multitude of possibilities that are available for recreational 

 and economic development in an estuary given some initial invest- 

 ment of time and money. 



Mission Bay Park is the Nation's largest municipally owned aquatic 

 park and provides for public recreation in conjunction with land 

 reclamation, water conservation, and commercial enterprise. It 

 was dredged out of the large tidal mud flat located about two 

 miles north of the northwest section of San Diego Bay, and lies 

 entirely within the City of San Diego. 



