|
Courtesy of the Palomar
Audubon Society
About Lake Hodges
Click on image at right for larger version
Lake Hodges is a man-made reservoir, built and
completed in 1918
by the San Dieguito Water District and purchased by the City of San
Diego in 1925. The lake is a portion of the San Dieguito River drainage,
fed by some 300 square miles of watershed. It covers 1,234 acres
of surface area and contains 33,500 acre-feet of water at the dam’s
spillway elevation of 314 feet above sea level. At full capacity,
Lake Hodges is 6.5 miles long with approximately 19 miles of shoreline,
and provides a broad range of recreational and educational opportunities,
not the least of which is bird watching. Lake Hodges is surrounded
by diverse natural plant communities, including coastal sage scrub,
chaparral, and riparian oak woodland. The open water, freshwater
marsh, and extensive shoreline provide necessary feeding and nesting
habitat for an outstanding variety of avian species.
Lake Hodges is located due south of the Escondido city limits and
includes on its western boundary the community of Del Dios. The reservoir
extends east of Interstate 15. The northern boundary is marked by
Bernardo Mountain (elev. 1150 feet), surrounding coastal sage scrub
hillsides and chaparral-covered canyons, Felicita Creek, and the
riparian woodland and freshwater marsh near the Sikes Adobe historical
landmark east of I-15. Extensive north-facing chaparral slopes and
rock outcroppings mark the southern and southeastern boundaries up
to the dam.
Bird watchers may explore the avifauna and natural history of Lake
Hodges by means of three improved multiple-use trails. The 14.8-mile
round trip North Shore Lake Hodges Trail meanders through coastal
sage scrub and oak and riparian woodland plant communities. The
trail borders Del Dios, then heads eastward, passing the Lake Hodges
boat dock and ending near Sikes Adobe, just east of I-15. Of historical
and cultural significance is the 3.8 mile Piedras Pintadas interpretive
trail where birders may observe numerous marsh, shore and riparian
bird species. East of I-15 lies the 4-mile round trip Highland
Valley Trail that parallels Highland Valley and Sycamore Creek
Roads. Thanks to the efforts of Palomar Audubon, Lake Hodges has
been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area, thus focusing
attention on its ecosystem as an area providing essential habitat
for both breeding and migratory species.
Contact the San Dieguito River Park at (858) 674-2270 for a Birds
of Lake Hodges Checklist or for trail maps of the Lake Hodges area.
For more information about the San Dieguito River Park
visit our website at www.sdrp.org.
Lake Hodges, A Globally Important Bird Area
The Important Bird Area (IBA) program was launched in the United
States in 1995 under the sponsorship of the National Audubon Society
and the American Bird Conservancy. It was patterned after successful
programs introduced in Europe in the late 1980’s. Aware that
Lake Hodges would be a strong IBA candidate, the Palomar Audubon
Society made application submitting extensive documentation of the
Lake’s vast and varied avian resources. In ascending order,
the levels of IBA recognition are State, National, Continental, and
Global. It was extremely gratifying that Lake Hodges was officially
designated at the highest level. On April 15, 1999 through the efforts
of the San Dieguito River Park and the Palomar Audubon Society, Lake
Hodges was the first site in California to hold a ceremony formally
recognizing it as a Globally Important Bird Area.
Why was Lake Hodges so honored? Foremost is the large number of
threatened California Gnatcatchers which are firmly entrenched in
the more than 2,300 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat surrounding
the Lake. Gnatcatcher survival is assured as long as vast contiguous
areas of coastal sage scrub are maintained. More than 200 avian species
reside at or visit Lake Hodges each year. Thousands of migratory
birds winter here. The IBA program focuses attention on the importance
of conserving the biodiversity of places like Lake Hodges.
Produced in cooperation between the San Dieguito River Park Joint
Powers Authority and the Palomar Audubon Society. Funded by the Community
Enhancement Program, County of San Diego, 3rd Supervisorial District.
Photographs provided by San Diego Natural History Museum, National
Audubon Society, and Sea & Sage Audubon Society.
Birds of Lake Hodges Photo Album
These pages were adapted from the original printed brochure.
Enter
here to begin.
|
)