Crest Canyon Open Space Park Preserve

Located on the western end of the River Park just south of the San Dieguito Lagoon, Crest Canyon was threatened with residential development in the 1970s when local citizens convinced the Cities of San Diego and Del Mar to purchase the land and protect it as open space. Despite its urban setting, the canyon is an excellent example of increasingly rare coastal sage scrub, on which the federally-threatened California gnatcatcher depends, and provides critical upland habitat adjacent to the wetlands in the San Dieguito Lagoon.

For many years, the Conservancy assisted the Cities of San Diego and Del Mar with invasive plant control in Crest Canyon by organizing monthly habitat restoration events that attract many dedicated volunteers from the community and local schools.  Over the last few years, the Conservancy has worked to restore the coastal sage scrub in the canyon by removing invasive, non-native grasses and planting native plant species. In addition, a native demonstration garden has been planted along the trail featuring the Flyway Cities Coalition’s “Top 10” native plants for birds and other wildlife.  Work on the canyon has been possible through grants from REI.

The Flyway Cities Coalition is an initiative of the National Wildlife Federation to counteract habitat loss and fragmentation by promoting the creation of native habitat at home, schools and community parks to benefit birds migrating along the nation’s flyways.  San Diego was selected as one of three pilot cities, the first along the Pacific Flyway, to launch this national program.  The Conservancy is a founding member of the Flyway Cities Coalition.  Learn more at http://www.flywaycities.org/sandiego.cfm.

How Can You Help

Get involved by helping out at one of our next volunteer work events!  Upcoming dates can be found on our Volunteer Events page.