San Diego County is still weighing how to reopen Agua Caliente Airstrip. November 9 was the listed deadline for stakeholder feedback on runway repairs and funding. It was not a decision to reopen the airstrip, and the county project page gives no reopening date.
What the county decided
On September 16, 2026, the Board of Supervisors voted to have staff explore ways to restore airstrip operations and report back within 60 days. That was a direction to study options, not an award of a construction contract or a reopening notice. County Airports is looking at how to pay for both the initial pavement work and ongoing maintenance.
The runway and the permit are separate
County Airports says it closed the runway in fall 2023 after repairs could no longer keep the pavement safe. Caltrans revoked the airport permit on April 18, 2025, a separate step. The Recreational Aviation Foundation, which supports reopening, also lists the field as closed and identifies both runway reconstruction and permit reinstatement as part of the effort.
For pilots following the project, the next things to look for are a recommended repair plan, a funding decision and a path to restoring the permit. None of those milestones, on its own, would mean the runway is open.
For a comparison with a different stage of runway work, see our coverage of completed emergency pavement repairs at Needles Airport.
