A construction crew is digging up thousands of cubic yards of dirt from a former parking lot next to the Del Mar Fairgrounds as part of an ambitious plan to restore the property to a tidal wetland, as it existed long before humans began developing the North County coast. The work, which began in September, represents the second phase of a project to restore about 15 acres, used for decades as a dirt parking lot for the San Diego County Fair and other events, into natural habitat for birds, fish, mammals and plants. In 2013, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which runs the state-owned fairgrounds, agreed to restore its south overflow lot in exchange for permission from the California Coastal Commission to use another dirt lot, to the east of the fairgrounds, for parking and events such as annual pumpkin and Christmas tree sales. Full article here.