Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association
Mission Statement
Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association (SWIA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1979. SWIA is dedicated to the education in and acquisition, preservation and restoration of wetlands.
Explore our Projects
Looking for something interesting? Check out our projects.
Our Partners
Recent posts about our Active Projects
Tijuana River Valley Invasive Plant Control Program
Exotic invasive plants have become a major problem in many California’s wild-lands and in the open space of the Tijuana River Valley three invasive species are a particular problem. These…
Tijuana River Valley Invasive Plant Control ProgramRead More
NOAA Marine Debris Program
With funding from NOAA Fisheries, SWIA employs staff and provides program support for the Reserve Stewardship Program. Trash and sediment originating in Mexico is a major problem for the TRNERR’s…
NOAA Operations Programs
The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR) is one of twenty-nine NOAA funded NERRS in the U.S. California Department of Parks & Recreation serves as Reserve Manager and SWIA…
Los Penasquitos Lagoon Monitoring Program
Between 1950 – 1972, dumping of treated effluent containing nitrates and phosphates from upstream sewage treatment facilities occurred. This nutrient addition contributed to algal growth in lagoon waters, and with…
South San Diego Bay Wetland Restoration Project
The goal of the project was to restore and enhance 300 acres of coastal wetlands and uplands in San Diego Bay. Over the past 150 years, dredging and filling operations…
Seal Beach Sediment Augmentation Project
This pilot project, implemented by SWIA in conjunction with the State Coastal Conservancy and USFWS, consists of the addition of a thin-layer (8-10 inches) of clean dredged sediments to 10…
Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program
TETRP is a multi-phased restoration program located within the Tijuana Estuary National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR). TETRP was designed to restore tidal exchange and wetland habitats just north of the…
San Diego Bay Native Oyster Restoration Project
SWIA, partnering with the State Coastal Conservancy, Port of San Diego and U.S.F.W.S Coastal Program, will complete studies, designs and engineering that are needed for environmental review and analysis and…
“40 Years Of Restoration At Tijuana Estuary, CA” – State Coastal Conservancy
“40 Years of Restoration At Tijuana Estuary, CA” – cover photo A compilation of restoration projects within the Tijuana Estuary and lessons learned. (The publication should be available in late…
“40 Years Of Restoration At Tijuana Estuary, CA” – State Coastal ConservancyRead More
Ecology and Management of the Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer – US Navy
Year 3 of a continuing study by SWIA to understand the effects of the non-native Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer in the Tijuana River valley. Beetles on willowsUndermined tree snaps in…
Ecology and Management of the Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer – US NavyRead More