Del Dios Gorge - Eucalyptus Removal and Habitat Restoration Project

In September 2010, the San Dieguito River Park JPA and its partner, the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, received a $1,049,000 River Parkway grant from the State Resources Agency to remove eucalyptus in the Del Dios Gorge (and replant with native trees). On the ground, the eucalyptus are being removed by California Tree Service. The eucalyptus that are too difficult to remove by vehicle are being removed by Blackhawk Helicopters. See rugged terrain above. This project will be done over a two-year period. The pictures below were taken on Thursday, December 8, 2011 by River Park volunteer and dedicated photographer, Jim Coffee.

Click here for pdf fact sheet about the Riparian Restoration and Eucalyptus removal project.
Click here for the press release about the project.

Project Location
In San Diego County, just south of Del Dios Highway, downstream of Lake Hodges Dam.
General Location Map:

Below: Safety meeting before work starts, conducted by Ken Krauss, Blackhawk Helicopters.

Below: California Tree Service rigging crew, attaching load to helicopter.

Below: see historic flume in background

Below: cleared site near San Dieguito River Park trail bridge over the gorge. This site will be revegetated with native sycamores and cottonwoods.

kes

Below: the helicopter takes the heavy logs and branches to a cleared site, to be chipped by California Tree Service.

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