The Sweetwater River watershed along with the Otay and Pueblo San Diego watersheds combine to form the San Diego Bay watershed area.  The Sweetwater River watershed is the largest of the three encompassing 230 of the approximately 415 square mile total.  Over 86% of the watershed is within unincorporated jurisdictions.  The dominant land uses in the Sweetwater River watershed are urban (29%), open space / agriculture (22%), and undeveloped (49%).  Approximately two-thirds of the land area categorized as urban is composed of residential communities.  Approximately 300,000 people currently reside within the Sweetwater River watershed, and this amount is projected to increase to 365,000 by 2015.  The most important watershed issues are related to the protection of municipal water supplies, and the protection and restoration of sensitive wetland and wildlife habitats.