Lake Sutherland East

• The property was added to the River Park in late 2005 after The Conservancy obtained a major state grant and a conducted successful public fundraising campaign to complete the purchase
• The 353-acre property is immediately east of Lake Sutherland and is a critical addition to the River Park; consolidating public ownership – completely surrounding the City of San Diego’s Lake Sutherland Reservoir
• A Segment of 55-mile Coast-to-Crest Trail will cross the property
• The Lake Sutherland East property is rich in natural and cultural resources with potential for restoring native grasslands

Location & Access

• The 353-acres are immediately east of Lake Sutherland, a City of San Diego Reservoir
• 7-miles northeast of Ramona, north of SR-78, Julian Road
• Lies along a remote natural corridor – within a 49-square-mile area that has no east-west or north-south road crossings
• Its part of a corridor connecting Lake Sutherland with the Santa Ysabel Ranch – more than 1,000-acres recently added to the River Park along this reach
• Until the Coast-to-Crest Tail is completed around the Sutherland Dam, the property can only be accessed on Conservancy-led hikes

Resource Values

• Lies along the planned corridor for the Coast-to-Crest Trail
• Is home to a rich matrix of habitats – meadows, oak woodlands, riparian, and southern mixed chaparral
• Supports a wide-range of species including: golden and bald eagles, deer, coyote, bobcat and mountain lion
• Is a segment of a major east-west habitat corridor that runs from Lake Hodges, through San Pasqual Valley, Boden Canyon, Pamo Valley, and Lake Sutherland, to Volcan Mountain – with north/south connections to the Ramona Grasslands, Guejita Ranch, and along the Laguna Range



• Is site to a 1896 homestead, which was a regular stop on the “Julian to Ramona Stagecoach Road” between Julian and Ramona; reportedly the site of a pioneer-era garnet mine
• Mesa Grande Band Indian villages were located in the area, presently Lake Sutherland
• High scenic values which are compatible with recreational trail development
• The property will form a segment of a planned loop trail around Lake Sutherland
• The property burned in the 2007 fires and is expected to restore through natural processes – with the opportunity for native grasses to succeed non-native pasture

Conservancy Role

• The property was purchased by the River Park in late-2005 as part of a team effort with The Conservancy and the national Trust for Public Land
• The Conservancy and the River Park identified and obtained state grant funding to cover part of the purchase price
• The Conservancy raised $350,000 in public contributions to complete the purchase

Management & Related Work

• The Property is managed by the San Dieguito River Park
• The Conservancy and the River Park along with the City of San Diego are working to identify a route for the Coast-to-Crest Trail that would connect the Lake Sutherland East property, around the Sutherland Dam, with the Upper Santa Ysabel Truck Trail through the Cleveland National Forest heading west
• Substantial clean-up work from previous farm operations remains to be completed. The Conservancy plans to organize volunteer work parties to finish the remaining work to be done.



• Prior to completion of the Coast-to-Crest Trail, The Conservancy will conduct hikes on the property for members and guests – with access by boat or from The Conservancy-owned Corral Mountain property
• Erosion control improvements such as the construction of a siltation pond need to be made on the property to protect the rinking water reservoir.