Announcements

Conservancy Seeking Experienced Conservation Manager

www.sdrvc.org/jobs

Dear Friends,

The Conservancy currently has an opening for a Conservation Manager.  We welcome your help in filling this important role. Below are details about the position and how to apply. Please share with interested family, friends and colleagues.

View detailed job description and how to apply here.

Introducing Lynne Anne Baker

New Conservancy Executive Director

It is with great pleasure that I pass the baton to Lynne Baker. She brings immense passion, intellect and know-how to the Conservancy. Please join me in welcoming her to the Conservancy. 

See you on the trail!

Sincerely,

Craig Adams
Ret. Executive Director
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy

The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy announced the appointment of Lynne Anne Baker as its new Executive Director, effective December 1, 2011.  Ms. Baker is a seasoned advocate and experienced leader in the conservation field.

Rand Newman, President of the Board of Directors, said Baker brings the Conservancy “extensive experience in building relationships, considerable skill as an advocate and educator, and expertise in guiding the strategic work of non-profit organizations.  Lynne is a person who comes to us with great vision, creative ideas, and strong leadership skills. These characteristics will significantly increase our presence and visibility in San Diego.” 

Lynne Anne Baker brings a unique technical grounding in floodways, watersheds, natural filtration systems, and groundwater recharge to her passion for clean water.  After an early career in project controls, she earned her J.D. at the University of San Diego where she covered the Department of Fish and Game for the Center for Public Interest Law.  Working with the State Attorney General, she successfully defended the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s first unified NPDES permit with storm water controls.  A recognized advocate of smart-growth, she led the efforts of the Endangered Habitats League to educate decision makers on taxpayer costs of sprawl, to advance Safe Routes to School and Habitat Conservation Plans in the region,  to protect the Agua Hacienda Headwaters, and to conserve the Borrego Springs Aquifer.  

Lynne Anne has directed restoration projects for the San Diego River Conservancy, including an extensive mine reclamation on the Upper River in Lakeside that won the Caltrans 2010 Excellence in Transportation Award for Cultural Enhancement.   She has a long history in civic engagement; her contributions include serving as board secretary for Citizens Coordinate for Century 3, stakeholder to the 2005 Airport Site Selection Committee, a Construction Peer in the GSA Design & Construction Excellence program, and 5^th year mentor to Poway High’s FIRST Robotics team.   Lynne Anne is an alumna of LEAD North County.

“I have so much enthusiasm for the San Dieguito River Valley and am thrilled to be working for the watershed where I live!  I want to raise the visibility of the Conservancy throughout the Region,” said Baker. “The Conservancy is an important partner of the San Dieguito River Park, and so many communities benefit from the River Park.  At the same time, most don’t realize that membership donations and grants are key to the River Park’s wonderful progress. I look forward to meeting our members personally, and sharing my discoveries of unique areas along the river valley that they may not have explored.  I want to help the Conservancy maintain the excellent momentum of the first 25 years, and deepen its project capabilities to support the final transition of the Coast-to-Crest Trail from vision to reality.  We’ll continue to provide amazing outdoor recreation opportunities while protecting our critical natural resources and being a steward for clean water.”

She adds, “While today’s challenges are great and ever-changing, there is no stronger organization that works collaboratively to provide the breadth of outdoor recreational and educational opportunities for the San Diego region while at the same time protecting our natural legacy.”  
 

The River Park’s Gifts to Us This Season

Great Alternatives & Natural Stress Relief

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

Conservancy Launches a Kids Exploring Our Sense of Place Series

This fall, the Conservancy will be launching a new youth education program made possible by a grant provided by the Sempra Energy Foundation.  The program, based on the popular Exploring Our Sense of Place series for adults, will teach local 3rd – 5th graders about the natural and cultural resources in San Pasqual Valley through a series of theme-based outdoor explorations and interactive media activities lead by the Media Arts Center San Diego. For more information, see sdrvc.org/current/bigbackyard.

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