San Dieguito River Park Accomplishments in 2009  

Awards/Grants

  • $440,000 secured from SANDAG for grading, landscaping and water quality monitoring of San Dieguito Lagoon wetland treatment ponds.
  • $400,000 private donation was received for the Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge.
  • $350,257 received from the U.S. Navy for purchase of 8.9 acres of mitigation rights on the Sycamore Westridge property.
  • $350,000 granted by the California Resource Agency from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program for the West Bernardo Bike Path Cantilever   Project.
  • $1,425,000 granted by SANDAG Bicycle Transportation Program for the West Bernardo Bike Path Cantilever Project.
  • $267,350 granted by SANDAG Transnet EMP for treatment and monitoring of pepperweed and equipment. (SDRVC)
  • $12,000 granted by the San Diego County Community Enhancement Fund for Sikes Adobe period furnishings.
  • $9,600 was received from the Think Blue program for interpretive signage and pet waste bags and dispensers. (SDRVC)
  • $5,000 donated by the Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley for Grand Avenue Bridge Overlook interpretive signs.
  • $2,000 private donation was received for trail maintenance tools
  • $2,500 private donations received for I-5 San Dieguito Lagoon Signs
  • $1,063 private donation for purchase of an “Iron Ranger”
  • $1,000 general donation from Wardell Builders, Inc. of Solana Beach
  • $800 worth of books, DVDs, online resources and annotated bibliographies known as the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services/American Association of State and Local History for the Sikes Adobe.
  • Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge was completed and received awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Public Works Association, the Pre-stressed Concrete Institute, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Roads and Bridges Magazine, North County Times Roses/Raspberries Program, the national Best of the Best Awards of McGraw-Hill’s Engineering News-Record magazine and an Orchid   nomination in the Orchids and Onions program.

 San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project

  • Project grading reached 100% of completion and  wetland plants were established on all high salt marsh areas.
  • Grading of wetland treatment ponds and associated trail segment completed.
  • Grand Avenue Bridge/Overlook completed and opened to public on April 7, 2009.
  • 1.4 mile trail segment from I-5 to San Andreas Drive completed and opened to public.
  • A weed management plan was approved by Coastal Commission and implementation initiated.
  • The San Dieguito River Park initiated full time ranger patrols, maintenance and public outreach in the lagoon project area with an annual cost of $205,685 funded under an agreement with Southern California Edison.

Planning

  • San Dieguito Lagoon Center conceptual plan completed.
  • Sandag /Caltrans agreement adopted for additional San Dieguito Lagoon restoration.
  • A no-smoking policy was adopted for trails, natural habitat areas, and River Park facilities.
  • Processing and permitting completed for the Heritage Trail connection linking the San Dieguito River Park Coast to Crest Trail and the City of Poway Trail system.
  • Environmental processing completed for the San Dieguito Watershed Invasive Species Control Program.
  • A donation acceptance and recognition policy was adopted to encourage and recognize the support of donors in ways consistent with River Park goals and objectives.
  • Coastal Development Permit received for a pedestrian loop trail south of Via De La Valle overlooking newly established tidal basin.

 Land Acquisition

  • A 32.64 acre parcel (Sycamore Westridge) with high quality habitat was donated by the Sunroad Corporation.

 Habitat Restoration

  • The Cloverdale Creek Restoration Project was completed.

Trails

  • The Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge was opened to the public on 5/15/09.
  • Solar powered gates installed at five staging areas and the Lake Hodges Bridge.
  • 2-mile segment of the Del Dios trail from the Santa Fe Valley staging area to the Lake Hodges Dam completed, establishing a 25-mile continuous segment of the Coast-to-Crest Trail.
  • Construction of West Bernardo Bike Path & Cantilever project initiated.

Fire Recovery

  • Ten bridge reconstruction projects completed and all trails reopened to public.
  • Reconstruction of the Sikes Adobe initiated.
  • Reconstruction of the River Park Office initiated

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