Phase 1 of the Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program (TETRP) was adopted in 1992. Phase 1 outlined a conceptual program for restoring approximately 500 acres of degraded wetlands in the south arm of the estuary. Construction of the Model Marsh was the first step in implementing this program. The 1992 program was based on the best available information at the time. In the interim changes in hydrology, biology and land use in the southern arm of the Tijuana Estuary and Mexico have warranted a substantial re-evaluation of the original plan. This reassessment, term TETRP Phase II, began in spring 2002. The project scope includes investigation of a program that unified marsh restoration/creation with hydrology and beach nourishment.
Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program

Beach nourishment has been a goal of TETRP because of progressive erosion of the barrier dunes protecting the estuary. The 18,000 cubic yards of soil excavated for the Oneonta Tidal Linkage were disposed of in the surf zone for beach replenishment. However, the soils of the Model Marsh were rejected by regulators because sediment grain sizes were deemed incompatible with the receiving barrier beach. Resolving sediment disposal and beach nourishment issues in an integrated approach is considered key to a successful plan for TETRP II.

In March 2002 SWIA began the second phase of the TETRP project. TETRP II will plan for the future restoration of the remaining 480 acres in Friendship Marsh. In August of 2002 a Technical Advisory Committee that included nine professionals in fields such as hydrology, coastal processes, and estuarine ecology met to prepare a Final Scope of work for the project. In January of 2003 SWIA issued an FRQ for consultants to carry out the planning process for future restoration. The consultant team was selected in April 2003.