San Dieguito River Park
Preserving and interpreting the natural and cultural resources of the San Dieguito River Valley
We had a total of 104 species, which was rather low for December. Cumulative species remains at 270. Interesting observations include a Snow Goose and 2 Cackling Geese in Area 2, 10 Vermilion Flycatchers in Area 2, a Loggerhead Shrike in Areas 1 and 4, and a Wilson’s Phalarope and Peregrine Falcon in Area 5. …
Thanks to everyone who participated in the September 2023 SDRP count. We had a total of 98 species which is pretty good for September. And we even added a new species, Stilt Sandpiper, bringing our total cumulative species count to 267. The temporary pond next to the western soccer field of area 2, compliments of …
Thank you Edison International for the new monument sign announcing the San Dieguito River Park and Lagoon Ranger Station. Edison’s philanthropy program donated $20,000 toward the sign, which supports community outreach and public education about the San Dieguito River Park’s mission. Shawna Anderson, Executive Director of the San Dieguito River Park JPA and Setal Prabhu, …
After years of planning, Phase II of the San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration has begun! This week, SANDAG and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership with the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA), began work on Phase II of the San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration south of Via De La Valle …
The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count identified 116 species in December, with no new species. This leaves the cumulative species total at 243 after 10 full years of bird surveys. The featured image of a Merlin was taken by SDRP trail user Sue Jakovac on the north shore of Hodges Reservoir in March 2015 Bird …
PAMO VALLEY Another year of efforts in the River Park have proven fruitful. Progress in Pamo Valley continued through the summer sun. The River Park received $25,000 in additional funds from the National Resources Agency to shape the Coast to Crest Trail in Pamo Valley. Specialized forestry contractor crews, archaeologists, biologists, volunteers, and rangers worked …
Lots of exciting things happened with the River Park in 2017. The whole state of California breathed a sigh of relief, as it was the first year of above average rainfall after several years of drought. This meant that for the first time in several years, Lake Hodges filled up, and there was water under …
In the year 2016, there were many accomplishments for San Dieguito River Park. During late winter and early spring, Park staff and Volunteers planted 13,198 plants throughout the River Park, in 15 different sites. Out of the total lump sum of those native plant species that we planted, 7,000 of those plants went to Bernardo …
2014 would provide some great learning opportunities within the San Dieguito River Valley. Our executive director at the time Dick Bobertz along with Poway City Councilman Jim Cunningham and San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy board member Bill Simmons were finishing the final segment of their more than 72-mile trek of the Coast to Crest Trail …
In early 2012, continuation of the Del Dios Gorge Riparian Restoration Project began downstream from the Del Dios Gorge Bridge. In total, approximately 21 acres of extremely dense eucalyptus trees were removed, allowing native riparian vegetation to grow. Plans were underway to develop and construct the Birdwing Open Air Classroom. The classroom provides a facility …
In 2009, despite still recovering from recession, wildfires, no official office space, and a shortfall of member agency funding, the San Dieguito River Park, the JPA, and its partners had a huge year of monumental successes. At the San Dieguito Lagoon, Southern California Edison finished construction of their restoration project creating and/or enhancing 150 acres …
After fifteen years of planning and two years of waiting for multiple government agencies to issue dozens of permits, construction was finally scheduled to start on the San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project. As mitigation/compensation for the loss of fish eggs and larvae attributed to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 33 miles north, Southern …
In 2004, San Dieguito River Park had 15 years experience building relationships, achieving goals to preserve, restore and acquire land, and establish 55 miles of trail for public recreation throughout the 92,000 acres of the focused planning area between Julian and Del Mar. The most outstanding accomplishment of 2004 was the purchase and protection of …
2003 marked my third year working for the San Dieguito River Park. I started out in 2000 working as a contracted Ranger Aide/ Maintenance worker and progressed to a full time Ranger later that year. As the park continued to grow and purchase the land needed to build the Coast to Crest Trail, we were …
In the year 2001, the San Dieguito River Park was identified as a State Wildlife Corridor linkage by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. If you go to the California Parks website , you will see the Coast to Crest Trail is a highlighted corridor on the Southern California map. The San Dieguito River …
In 1998, the big news in the River Park was the issuance of a Notice of Preparation/Intent to develop the Environmental Impact Statement/Report by the San Dieguito River Park JPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a project called the “San Dieguito Wetland Restoration Project”. I’d say the title possibly sells short what …
“Have a good time saving the world, or you’re just going to depress yourself. People want to be part of something fun. It’s exciting to change the world.” David Brower, Earth Island Institute Have you heard of the Earth Island Institute and its connection with the San Dieguito Lagoon? Earth Island was founded by the …
This year the San Dieguito River Park turns 30! To commemorate this milestone, River Park staff is writing a blog series – highlighting an exciting accomplishment (or maybe a challenging setback) for each year starting with 1989 when the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was formed. I have the honor of kicking …
(Post Updated 3/22/17) In March 2014, the Del Mar Fairgrounds removed the three tall light poles from their paved parking lot. Osprey had built nests on two of those poles. The Fairgrounds installed two osprey nesting platforms near the San Dieguito Lagoon Boardwalk and their south overflow lot wetlands restoration project and transferred the nesting …
The San Dieguito River Park JPA will be considering approval of a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the San Dieguito Lagoon W-19 Restoration Project (proposed project). The proposed restoration project would supplement recent restoration efforts within the San Dieguito Lagoon by establishing wetland habitat within a specific portion of the lagoon system, referred to …
On Saturday, December 5, 2015, San Dieguito River Park Rangers Bryan Ward and Natalie Borchardt hosted Teradata for their fourth annual service project. Eighteen eager volunteers joined us to plant along the Coast to Crest Trail near Del Mar. The soil took some considerable muscle to dig in, however this team was up for the …
The City of Del Mar, in partnership with the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, is constructing an extension of the River Path Del Mar on the south side of the San Dieguito Lagoon from Jimmy Durante Blvd. to the Lagoon Viewpoint at Old Grand Avenue Bridge. This extension will fill in part of a missing …
For eight weeks a year, as you drive north on I-5 you can see what looks like a backpacker’s tent perched near the water of the San Dieguito Lagoon just east of the freeway. Who would camp there? Nobody. What looks like a tent is really a malaise trap, an apparatus for sampling flying insects. …
The California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the San Dieguito River Park’s first ranger station at their June 2015 Commission hearing in Newport Beach. The 2,400-square foot Lagoon Ranger Station will be located east of Interstate 5 at Via de la Valle next to the San Andres Drive trail parking area. Overlooking the San Dieguito Lagoon …
