San Dieguito River Park Accomplishments in 2008                                

Awards/Grants

  • $24,750 was awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to remove invasive plants and restore three ponds on River Park property in Santa Ysabel.   Grant Application by SDRVC.
  • $50,000 was awarded by Northrup Grumman to help rebuild the Green River Valley Bridge on the Piedras Pintadas trail at Lake Hodges.   Grant application by SDRVC.
  • $48,000 was awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for habitat restoration at Cloverdale Creek.
  • $56,250 was awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore 47 acres of non-native grasslands to coastal sage and cactus scrub in San Pasqual Valley.   Grant application by SDRVC.
  • $123,750 was awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to remove eucalyptus below the Lake Hodges Dam and replant with native sycamores, cottonwoods and riparian vegetation.   Grant application by SDRVC.
  • $142,500 was awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for arundo removal in San Pasqual Valley.    Grant application by SDRVC.
  • $54,800 was awarded by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to supplement the previous four projects funded by the NRCS.   Grant Application by SDRVC.
  • $186,000 was awarded through the San Diego Foundation Fire Recovery fund to restore critical habitat (cactus wren and gnatcatcher) in burn areas.
  • $6,500 was donated by a Trails Committee member to finish fencing on the Coast to Crest Trail segment west of I-5 and to purchase hats for trail volunteers.
  • $5,000 worth of volunteer labor and materials to apply preservatives to the Grand Avenue Bridge was donated by the Del Mar Rotary Club.
  • $4,450 was donated by REI for trail reconstruction at Lake Hodges.   Grant application by SDRVC.
  • A used SUV worth approximately $10,000 was donated to the River Park.
  • $15,000 was donated by the SDRVC to purchase and install fencing, a solar-timed gate and grading for the Sikes staging area.
  • $15,000 was donated by a SDRVC member as a match for other contributors to fund a Coast to Crest Trail segment in the Wetlands Restoration Project.
  • $342,000 awarded by SANDAG (Transnet EMP) for natural habitat fire recovery, invasive species removal and access management.
  • $20,000 worth of labor, equipment and materials contributed by the San Diego Mountain Bike Association and Geogrid to construct a segment of the Del Dios Gorge Trail.
  • $20,000 worth of labor, and equipment was donated by the Del Mar Rotary and 22 nd Agricultural district to extend the Boardwalk Trail to I-5.
  • $15,000 was produced by The “Donate a Plank” fundraising program initiated by the Del Mar Rotary and the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy for construction of trails and interpretive signs in the Wetlands Restoration area.
  • $332,362 was received for first year costs and endowment to manage 90 acres of mitigation property on the Fenton Ranch in the San Pasqual Valley.
  • $60,000 was awarded to the River Park by Sempra to begin planning for a Wetland Restoration Interpretive Center.

San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project

  • Project grading reached 80% of completion and 75 acres of new tidal wetlands on the east side of I-5 were opened to tidal flow.
  • Grading of wetland treatment ponds and associated trail segment on northeast side of project completed.

Planning

  • “Plants of San Dieguito River Valley” brochure produced and printed. (SDRVC).
  • Sunrise Powerlink alignment modified to avoid habitat impacts in FPA
  • A Needs Assessment study was completed to compare funding of similar agencies and evaluate options to increase River Park funding.
  • An internally managed endowment fund was established.
  • The 30+ miles of constructed River Park trails were added to the Thomas Guide San Diego County Street Guide book.

 Land Acquisition

  • The 5.74 acre Sikes Adobe site was acquired through a $170,000 grant obtained through the office of County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.
  • A 32.6 acre high value habitat property was donated by Maderas Westridge.   Estimated value of $815,000 based on $25,000/acre of comparables.

Habitat Restoration

  • Contract was awarded for habitat restoration at the Cloverdale Creek Project.
  • The San Dieguito River North Bank Revegetation Project was completed by SDRVC.

Trails

  • The 1200-foot boardwalk trail constructed on the north bank of the San Dieguito River east of Jimmy Durante was extended to ¾ mile with a dirt trail to I-5 including two bridges over drainages on the east and west sides of the I-5 bridge.   The Del Mar Rotary and 22 nd District Agricultural Association provided labor, equipment and supplies to install the trail saving approximately $20,000 for the River Park.
  • Lake Hodges Bridge north abutment and two piers in lake completed with superstructure under construction.
  • contract awarded to construct 700 feet of the Del Dios Gorge Trail.
  • First solar-powered automatic gate installed for staging area control at Sikes Adobe site.

Fire Recovery

  • $46,000 contract awarded to reconstruct the Santa Maria Cantilever Bridge (FEMA).
  • $93,600 contracts awarded to fabricate and install the Green Valley Creek Bridge replacement (FEMA).
  • $154,000 contract awarded to reconstruct eight trail bridges in the Santa Fe Valley and Highland Valley (FEMA).

Click here to see a list of previous years' accomplishments.