What's Growing On
by Jason Lopez, Resources and Trails Manager
Working in the Summertime
Rufous-sided Towhee - captured in a cowbird trap and released.
Summer time is nesting season. The Park’s field staff avoids large projects in areas where nesting may occur. Most of the natural areas of the park have important nesting activity occurring from March to September, especially riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats, which are utilized by threatened and endangered species.
Working, or even recreating, in these areas for an extended period of time may interfere with the ability of the animals to successfully meet their mates or raise their offspring. So, we save up a lot of our projects until the winter when soils are soft and it is not so hot.
From about November until April, field staff is extra busy implementing a multitude of projects small and large. Large projects like the Santa Ysabel Creek Stream Bank Restoration Project (see below) can only be done when conditions are right, including adequate moisture and no nesting occurring. Smaller projects, like re-building a small section of trail, are much more efficiently accomplished when soils are damp.
Santa Ysabel Creek Stream Bank Restoration Project
Summer is usually a time for field staff to take care of maintenance but this year has proven more difficult due to large amounts of weeds growing along the trails and additional repairs, both associated with the 2005 wet winter.
Erosion along a non-designated trail in the Bernardo Bay Natural Area
Nesting season is an obstacle to maintenance because we try to avoid using equipment that could interfere. But taking these precautions are important in order to encourage the next generation of San Diego wildlife. A diverse amount of wildlife, even endangered species, occur adjacent to development. This is quite remarkable and unique. San Dieguito River Park’s foothills and coastal areas contain lots of wildlife and people. It seems possible that the two can co-exist but the pressure on the wildlife may only get more intense as populations grow. The Park’s field staff works to minimize the impact by creating and maintaining trails that provide good access to interesting areas and do not adversely impact the natural areas. We also further mitigate the impact of recreation by being good land stewards, including the implementation and maintenance of various types of habitat restoration projects.
Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat Restoration Project Installed by Eagle Scout Gregory Walton, February 2004. Maintenance consists of weeding, watering, and monitoring for trampling by dogs or people off the trail.
East Raptor Clean Up and Habitat Restoration Project. Park Rangers need assistance on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8AM-12PM to maintain this project and other similar projects. Call Park offices (858-674-2274 ext.14) or click here for more information about volunteering.
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