An Urban Planner’s Case for Wetland Restoration
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6:00 PM PDT – 8:30 PM PDT
Original 40 Brewing Company · 3117 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, USA
Hosted by Big Idea Night
A key aspect of urban and environmental planning is mitigating the risk of weather related events such as heavy rain and flooding. Yet protecting neighborhoods from large amounts of water falling from the sky involves more than just storm drains and run off channels. It also means figuring out where all the water is going to go. Urban environmental planner Edgar Ramirez Manriquez will explore a challenge many of us never see: the relationship between stormwater channels, natural wetlands, and–believe it or not–golf courses. He’ll be asking the question: What if restoring wetlands isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ environmental aspiration, but an absolute necessity from an urban planning and stormwater management perspective? And what are the specific legal, logistical, and bureaucratic challenges to making it happen? Because when the next major storm hits San Diego, where is the water going to go? Edgar actually has a specific plan in mind that might surprise you. Come hear his idea, consider the tradeoffs, and talk with your neighbors about what a more storm and flood-ready San Diego would look like. Venue: Original 40 Brewing Company in North Park. Doors open at 6. Talk begins at 7. Help support our host venue by arriving early to get a drink, something to eat, and meet fellow attendees. We'll have some interactive points of discussion out too. About the Speaker Edgar Ramirez Manriquez is an environmental planner with nearly a decade of experience at the intersection of environmental regulation, land use planning, and public infrastructure.