Military Mission and the Environment: The Navy in San Diego Bay

In a setting where military mission and environmental stewardship are often viewed as competing interests, the Navy is working towards achieving a balance in San Diego Bay. The Navy has had a long history of activity in San Diego dating back to 1846, and today has established a major presence in the San Diego Bay area. Currently, there are nine naval facilities adjacent to San Diego Bay. All of these are using, or have used, the waters of the bay in their daily operations, necessitating a wide range of dredging and disposal actions to support military mission requirements. The San Diego Bay is a unique ecosystem of threatened and endangered species, special aquatic sites, and essential fish habitat. It is a setting of military, recreational, and commercial uses whose management draws environmental and political attention.