Announcements

Conservancy Seeking Interns

The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (Conservancy) is seeking an intern(s) to assist it in achieving its programmatic and fundraising goals.

Key Responsibilities:

By assisting with the Conservancy’s operations and fundraising activities the position plays a vital role in helping the organization to effectively achieve its mission. Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist with day-to-day office management activities
• Research funding sources, outreach opportunities etc.
• Assist with habitat restoration projects
• Review, organize, and improve internal processes
• Prepare monthly fundraising mailings
• Managing incoming and outgoing mail
• Respond to public inquiries
• Organize and file documents
• Develop and manage report archives …more

Download complete position description and applications directions here. No phone calls please.

Councilmember Sherri Lightner commits to give the River Park $25,000 this Spring!

This last Wednesday, February 29th, Councilmember Sherri Lightner committed to help restore the City of San Diego’s share of funding* for the San Dieguito River Park for next fiscal year, AND give $25,000 to the San Dieguito River Park this fiscal year.

*The City of San Diego is 1 of 6 partner agencies that make up the region-wide San Dieguito River Park, and the only partner to withdraw its share of funding for the past two years.  The partners are:  City of Del Mar, City of Escondido, City of Poway, City of San Diego, City of Solana Beach, and County of San Diego.

CALLING ALL CITY OF SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS – Help Keep the Momentum Going by Contacting Your City of San Diego Councilperson NOW!  http://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/

LAGOON RESTORATION PROJECT IS COMPLETE!

Conservancy Celebrates Over 20 Years of Involvement in the Project

On November 7, 2011, Southern California Edison, SDG&E, and the City of Riverside’s Public Utilities Department hosted an official dedication ceremony in honor of all the hard work and dedication by its partner agencies in completing the San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Project. The Restoration Project is one of the largest coastal restoration projects on the west coast and is part of the 55-mile San Dieguito River Park. The estuary will now serve as a fish hatchery and home to migratory waterfowl and endangered species as well as open space, including hiking trails, for the community to enjoy for generations to come.

It has truly been a team effort. Many Conservancy and San Dieguito River Park supporters and staff have been involved from the very beginning, and support will continue for years to come as part of the ongoing stewardship of this sensitive lagoon habitat and in continued efforts to extend the San Dieguito Lagoon Trail eastward past I-5.

Although many consider the project 14 years in the making (research, permitting and construction), this $90 million project actually began over 20 years ago, and the Conservancy and its members have been actively involved from the beginning.

Timeline of the Conservancy contributions to the San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Project, and ongoing conservation efforts in the San Dieguito Lagoon

1988 – Conservancy participates, with Del Mar Lagoon Committee, in developing Plan for Expanded San Dieguito Lagoon Resources Enhancement Program – becomes the basis for the Lagoon Restoration Program presently under construction

1991 – Work with the City of San Diego to acquire key parcel in Lagoon; today, all but 3 parcels in the Lagoon are in protected, public ownership

1994 – 2001

• Conservancy members are active in development of Lagoon Wetlands Restoration Plan approved by the JPA, and later by the Coastal Conservancy. The $86 million project is now nearing completion.
• Partner in defeat of ballot initiative to open Lagoon and Gonzalez Canyon areas within the River Park planning area to inappropriate development

2004  - Purchased 2 parcels on Lagoon along San Dieguito Drive adjacent to the Grand Avenue Bridge 

2005  – Conservancy purchases third parcel along Lagoon on San Dieguito Road near the Grand Avenue Bridge

2007 - The San Dieguito Lagoon Boardwalk is installed by the Del Mar Rotary volunteers all in one day! Conservancy begins raising funds through the “Donate a Plank” program to help extend the rest of the trail past I-5

2006 - 2009 – San Dieguito Lagoon, North Bank Restoration Project

In 2006, the Conservancy received a $19,350 grant from the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project to restore native habitat on 1.15 acres of land on the northern side of the river channel in the San Dieguito Lagoon. The project was completed in 2009. The North Bank project also enhanced a new segment of the River Park’s Coast to Crest Trail, which was constructed with the assistance of the 22^nd DAA and Del Mar Rotary, extending from the Lagoon Boardwalk to the freeway.

Thank you everyone for your support!  

Let’s continue extending the San Dieguito Lagoon Boardwalk & Trail! Click here to “Donate a Plank” on the Boardwalk!

Calling all hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians!  The San Dieguito River Park, in cooperation with the City of Poway, County of San Diego, and San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy donors to the Trail Acceleration Fund, has established a north/south trail linkage between the San Dieguito River Park’s Coast to Crest Trail and the Trans County Trail through the City of Poway Trail system. The new linkage almost doubles the length of the existing continuous regional trail system available to trail users by joining the 23 continuous existing miles of the San Dieguito River Park system to the 14 miles of the Trans-County system through 8 miles of the Poway Trail system. This regional trail overlays the City of Poway neighborhood trail system which includes 55 miles of linked trails providing regional trail access.

A good crowd gathered to christen the new trail segment at the grand opening on October 8th, 2011.  Poway City Councilmember Jim Cunningham led hikers and equestrians, including park and city employees, on a leisurely 10-mile hike. more…

Location: Old Coach North Staging Area (click here for map)
12460 Highland Valley Road, Escondido

23 Continuous Miles of Coast to Crest Trail are OPEN for Hikers, Bikers & Equestrians to Enjoy!

Completion of the Del Dios Gorge Trail, below the Lake Hodges Dam, last fall connected 22.5 continuous miles of the San Dieguito River Park’s Coast to Crest Trail for hikers, bikers and equestrians to enjoy!

This section stretches between Rancho Santa Fe and San Pasqual Valley and features some of the River Park’s most significant cultural and biological resources. Some of the highlights are shown on the map, but there’s even more to see and do along the trail… plan your own journey with maps that can be downloaded at sdrvc.org on the interactive Trails map on our homepage.ar Fairgrounds Proposes