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Dear ,
We're starting to see signs of spring throughout the watershed!
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Flowers are blooming, birds are migrating, and the osprey chicks at the nesting platforms near the San Dieguito Lagoon are growing!
Things are just as busy at the Conservancy and River Park headquarters. We're moving forward with ongoing conservation, education, and recreation programs and introducing new ones -- stay tuned for even more to come!
Thank you for your continued support of the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and the San Dieguito River Valley! Don't forget to renew your Conservancy membership and invite your friends, too!
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Another Successful Wax & Wine!
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Photo by Brian Earley
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 3rd Annual Wax & Wine! We were especially excited this year because we were joining Knorr Candle Shoppe to celebrate their 90th anniversary.
Many took advantage of the opportunity to make their own beeswax candles or shop with a discount at Knorr. Everyone sampled gourmet bites and drinks and enjoyed live music throughout a wonderful afternoon.
Thank you to Urban Kitchen Catering, musician Bill Fleming, and Knorr Candle Shoppe for being part of the event!
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Thank You to "Clean for a Cause!"
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For two years, La Jolla High School seniors Mason Matalon, Jordan Schultz and Mitchell Morrison have collected recyclable plastic, aluminum, and glass and cashed it in at local redemption centers. This added up to $500 and about two tons of recycling! Last month, the group (dubbed "Clean for a Cause") proudly donated the proceeds to the Conservancy.
We were thrilled to receive this donation! Thank you Mason, Jordan, and Mitchell for your commitment and hard work!
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Jonathan Appelbaum Joins Team SDRVC
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The Conservancy is excited to welcome our new Conservation Manager, Jonathan Appelbaum!
Jonathan brings a wealth of experience to Team SDRVC. He studied Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Biology at UCSB and moved to San Diego in 2000, where he began working in the environmental consulting field. He later returned to UCSB to earn his Master's in Environmental Sciences, with dual emphases in Conservation Planning and Coastal and Marine Resources Management at the Bren School of Environmental Sciences and Management.
He has worked for a number of organizations through California, including Channel Islands Restoration, Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, Santa Barbara Audubon Society, Endangered Habitats Conservancy, and San Diego Canyonlands. Jonathan also volunteers with San Diego Children and Nature (as Vice President), San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Audubon Society Conservation Committee, ReWild Mission Bay Wetland Working Group, I Love a Clean San Diego Clean Committee, and California Native Plant Society.
Jonathan will coordinate and implement our conservation programs, lead habitat restoration projects, and lead the Citizen Science Monitoring Program with our partners. We are thrilled to have Jonathan on board and watch what he'll do in the watershed!
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Hodgee Spotted in Del Dios
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Last year, a 100 year old red eucalyptus tree along Lake Drive was slated for removal in Del Dios Community Park. Eucalyptus trees are a highly invasive non-native species that wreak havoc in the San Dieguito River Park.
Instead of completely removing the tree, Stacey McCline with the Del Dios Habitat Protection League suggested that the massive stump could be turned over to local artists to work their magic. The task was left to a team of artisans led by Ewing Mitchell IV.
Mitch, a woodworker and woodcarver used every tool imaginable, including chainsaws, sanders, and chisels, to transform the stump into Lake Hodge's mythical lake monster, Hodgee. The piece took months to complete, and the dedication ceremony was held on January 6th with nearly 100 people in attendance.
It is auspicious that the Hodgee sculpture was completed the same year as the anniversary celebrations for the completion of Lake Hodges (Dam) and San Dieguito Reservoir. In the centuries prior to these projects, water in the San Dieguito River watershed was allowed to flow naturally and unimpeded from the springs on Volcan Mountain. According to hodgee.com, the local Native American tribe protested the decision to locate the dam in Crescent Valley. They also warned of a river creature that lived in the area.
After completion of the dam, there were numerous reports of a sea monster, which culminated in Scripps Institute of Oceanography making a large cage to catch the monster, using a sea lion as bait.
Researcher attempted to use underwater cameras to see the creature, but were unable to draw any conclusions. Nevertheless, sightings continued and inspired Hodgee lore in and around the Del Dios and Mt. Israel communities.
The completion of the Hodgee sculpture will remind the future generations of Del Dios about the mythical sea beast that lives in the surrounding lake. There is a drop box erected at the sculpture for those who wish to make a donation. For more information on habitat restoration
efforts in Del Dios, visit www.ddhpl.org.
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Spring Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab your cameras (okay, your smartphones) and hit the trails! The Conservancy is hosting a Spring Photo Scavenger Hunt throughout April.
The scavenger hunt includes 10 things to photograph in the River Park. Once you have all 10, send them to Ana Lutz, Education Manager, at
[email protected]
for a chance to win SDRVC swag, REI discount coupons, Adventure 16 bucks, and more!
Here's the checklist:
1. Selfie with any River Park Kiosk and/or trail marker
2. High-fiving a stranger while on trail
3. Flowering plant
4. Native Bird (Hint: look for them at the San Dieguito Lagoon and Lake Hodges)
5. Hiking boots/ running shoes in the soil
6. Selfie at Del Dios Gorge Rattlesnake Viewpoint
7. Dew on a leaf
8. Yoga pose at the Birdwing Open Air Classroom
9. Selfie at North Beach (Dog Beach), Del Mar
10. Your favorite spot in the San Dieguito River Valley
We can't wait to see your photos!
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American White Pelican with Tags at Lake Hodges
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by SDRP Volunteer Ginni Kitchen
I hike the Bernardo Bay trail at south Lake Hodges before work a couple of times a week. On Thursday, February 22nd, I was almost finished with my hike when I spotted a lone white pelican on the rocks at the community center end of the trail. He had green wing tags with white text (3N6) and a metal band around his left leg.
When I got home, I found the site to report him:
www.reportband.gov
. The information goes to the North American bird banding program at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland, which collects data for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
My pelican was banded as a flightless juvenile on Gunnison Island, Utah on August 16th, 2017 and flew over 600 miles to Lake Hodges! My sighting was the first they received. I've seen 3N6 off and on this past month, most recently on Sunday, March 18th, with 27 other white pelicans, none of whom had tags.
Keep an eye out for 3N6 if you're at Lake Hodges, and if you find a banded bird of any kind, help the researchers out by reporting it to www.reportband.gov.
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Save the date! Saturday, April 21st will be the 6th Annual San Dieguito Lagoon Day, held at the Birdwing Open Air Classroom and hosted by the San Dieguito River Park, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Del Mar San Dieguito Lagoon Committee, UC Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute, and Sky Hunters.
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SAVE THE DATE:
River Valley Fest 2018 is on October 14!
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Congrats Coast to Crest Trail Challengers!
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| Lucas and Shannon on Volcan Mountain |
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6 people completed the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge in March!
Congratulations to:
Barry Graham
Shannon Campbell and Lucas Worthen
Heike Rodriguez
Jon Baker
Lauren Allio
Learn more about the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge here.
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4/21 - Earth Day Planting at River Path Del Mar
SDRVC volunteers removed over 800 yards of ice plant at the River Path Del Mar at our December 31, 2017 New Years Resolution Restoration Event.
Join us as we restore this beautiful area at the San Dieguito Lagoon with native plants. Just bring your enthusiasm and sweat equity. We supply the rest!
Thank you to the City of Del Mar for its support and assistance in making this event possible!
When: Saturday, April 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: River Path Del Mar (San Dieguito Dr.)
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4/27 - Bio Blitz: Help San Diego Win the 2018 City Nature Challenge!
San Diego County is participating in a worldwide competition to see which city can make the most observations of local plants and animals on their smart devices over a four-day period in April. Join Conservation Manager Jonathan Appelbaum for a hike at Bernardo Bay to help San Diego win!
This will be an easy, three-hour hike. Bring water, sunscreen, hat, hiking shoes, and your smartphone with the iNaturalist app downloaded (see below).
Can't make it? You can still participate! Just download the iNaturalist app to your Android or iPhone (it's free) and join the 2018 City Nature Challenge: San Diego iNaturalist project. Learn more here
.
When: Friday, April 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Bernardo Bay Trailhead (
18694 W. Bernardo Dr.)
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4/29 - Herp Hangout with Local Reptiles
Curious about our local slithering snakes and lively lizards? Join SDRVC and local herpetologist Jeff Nordland at the Birdwing Open Air Classroom on April 29th for an interactive presentation on local habitats, how they impact herps, and why herps are necessary, important, and nothing to be afraid of!
Kids will be able to touch, hold, and experience our local herps up close under the supervision of trained volunteers and SDRVC staff members.
Please contact Ana Lutz, Education Manager, [email protected] with any questions. We hope to see you there!
When: Sunday, April 29th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Where: Birdwing Open Air Classroom
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4/29 - Full Moon Hike at San Dieguito Lagoon
Join us for a full moon hike on the Dust Devil Nature Trail at the San Dieguito Lagoon!
This 1.7-mile loop trail is easy, short, and flat.
Dogs are welcome on leash.
When: Sunday, April 29th from 8:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Location will be shared upon registration
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Sundays, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29:
North San Diego Certified Farmers Market & Farmhouse Tours
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Saturday, 4/7:
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Sunday, 4/8:
Volunteer Trail Maintenance
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Thursday, 4/12:
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Saturday, 4/14:
Hidden Trails of the West Preserve
Canyoneers Hike at Ramona Grasslands |
Sunday, 4/15:
Yoga at the Birdwing |
Saturday, 4/21:
6th Annual San Dieguito Lagoon Day
16th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup
Earth Day Planting
Furry Friends Hike |
Sunday, 4/22:
Nature Touch Table
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Thursday, 4/26:
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Saturday, 4/28:
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Sunday, 4/29:
Mountain Biking San Diego: Lake Hodges
Kanaka Loop Spring Flowers Hike
Herp Hangout with Local Reptiles
Full Moon Hike at the San Dieguito Lagoon
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Full Moon Hike
It was a beautiful evening for a Full Moon Hike at Bernardo Bay! Thank you to all who joined us!
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San Diego Climate Summit
The Conservancy attended the San Diego Climate Summit, which sponsored and held by the Climate Science Alliance, last month. The Summit highlighted organizational collaboration throughout San Diego to educate and diminish impacts of climate change on a regional scale.
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STEM in Your Backyard with HTHNC
The Conservancy showcased STEM through recounting the Hiking Expedition we completed with students at High Tech High North County in January, emphasizing work done with the wooden laser cutter and microscopic view of native plants we saw along our journey through the watershed.
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Milkweed Planting with Teradata
by SDRP Ranger Hilary Mills
On Saturday, March 17th, five Teradata employees came out to the San Dieguito Lagoon to plant narrowleaf milkweed (
Asclepias fascicularis
) around the urban runoff treatment ponds.
Narrowleaf milkweed is a species of milkweed native to many regions of California. In addition to this plant supporting a wide variety of native insects, milkweeds are used as a host plant by the Monarch butterfly. These butterflies, which are at risk of becoming endangered, need milkweed to reproduce, as they won't lay their eggs on any other plant. The caterpillars hatch and voraciously eat the milkweed, building up toxins in their bodies that protect them by making them poisonous to predators as adults.
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