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< December 2010 December 22 at High Tide
December Bird Count Species seen on December 9, 2010, and recorded for the first time this year:
Species total for December: 112 DAA east parking lot a LAKE!
Sikes Adobe Farmstead Market Open Sundays 1-5 pm Other fun activities include pony rides and wagon rides. The Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse will be open for free public tours from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Orchid Award posted 12/12/10 The San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration project has earned an ORCHID award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation in its 2010 competition. See original citation below. < november 2010November Bird Count The count of the San Dieguito Lagoon Area Monthly Bird Survey for 2010 monitors five count areas, which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village. Species seen on November 7, 2010, and recorded for the first time this year:
Species total for November: 109 Sikes Adobe Farmstead Market Set to Open Sunday November 21st posted 11/02/10 Please come out to our new Certified Farmers Market at 12655 Sunset Drive, Escondido, to shop for produce and other home grown items on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Other fun activities include pony rides and wagon rides. The Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse will be open for free public tours from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays. < OCTOBER 2010 Friends visit the new JPA headquarters on Sycamore Creek Road Oct. 25 2010 (with champagne) posted 10/30/10
Planner Shawna Anderson, Deputy Director Susan Carter, Ranger David Hekel,
Bill Michalsky, Susan Carter, Jacqueline Winterer, Mary Farrell, Dick Bobertz,
Shawna, Mary, Susan, Freda, Jacqueline, Bill, Dick, Maggie Brown.
Back view with trees that survived the 2007 Witch Creek fire.
Front entrance. Photo © Jacqueline Winterer
Front entrance. Photo © Jacqueline Winterer
Side view. Photo © Jacqueline Winterer JPA Board meetings posted 10/20/2010 The October meeting of the JPA Board of Directors has been cancelled due to a need to conserve funds. The next meeting will be on NOVEMBER 19 2010 at the County Administrative Bldg. Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) will not meet in October.Open House Week at the newly rebuilt San Dieguito River Park Offices posted 10/20/2010
October Bird Count October 18 posted 10/19/2010 The count of the San Dieguito Lagoon Area Monthly Bird Survey for 2010 monitors five count areas, which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village. Species seen this month and recorded for the first time this year:Greater White-fronted Goose, Ring-necked Duck, and Pectoral Sandpiper Total species seen for the year to date: 164 Ed Mirsky Orchid Nomination for 2010 Restoration project posted 10/17/10 Although not your typical Landscape Architecture project, the San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Project is a worthy Orchid. This project has undergone over 15 years of planning, design, and permitting and then two years of construction. Today, the San Dieguito Lagoon is emerging as one of the largest and highest profile habitat restoration projects in southern california. The San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration project is restoring 150 acres of coastal wetland habitat. The San Dieguito Lagoon is located at Del Mar, just north of San Diego, California. Southern California Edison (SCE) is working in partnership with the San Dieguito River Park Authority (JPA) to carry out the restoration project. The San Dieguito Wetland Restoration Project has been very carefully designed so that the rejuvenated lagoon will serve as a thriving fish hatchery, a refuge for migratory waterfowl and as an open space for recreational opportunities for local and regional communities alike. A public working group consisting of agency representatives, non-governmental organizations, and interested members of the public, worked towards developing a range of practical means of restoring the San Dieguito Lagoon. Construction is nearly completed. In total, approximately 2 million cubic yards of earth will have been excavated, creating a net of 150 acres of tidal wetlands, on both sides of Interstate 5. A cornerstone of the project is to remove the sand that has plugged the river channel for many years and keep the tidal inlet open in perpetuity. At high-tide, the created wetlands already support a population of snails, crabs, amphibians, small mammals, birds and provide fish a place to spawn and grow. Approximately 400,000 wetland plants were planted throughout the marsh habitats in early 2009. This planted vegetation is already thriving and serves as forraging and nesting habitat for dozens of bird species. The river park’s multi-purpose network of public trails are under construction and will follow the marsh shoreline, punctuated by interpretive wildlife viewing platforms.
Overview. Photo © Abigail Smigel. Enlargement 
Planting. Photo © Abigail Smigel 
Saltgrass plug. Photo © Abigail Smigel 
Lagoon at sunset. Photo © Abigail Smigel City of Del Mar Press Release 10/7/2010 Preliminary Agreement Regarding Del Mar Fairgrounds posted 10/09/10 For further information, please contact Mayor Richard Earnest, 858-384-3196. SDRP/JPA grant posted 10/07/10 The San Dieguito River Park JPA has received a $1,049,368 River Parkways Grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to fund trail enhancements and riparian restoration in Del Dios Gorge. This is part of the first round of Proposition 84 funding. The $31 million in funding to be distributed statewide was awarded to 31 agencies and the River Park is the only awardee in San Diego County.The grant proposal, written by the JPA , includes a recreational element and also a restoration element to benefit native habitat and wildlife. The pictures below of the Del Dios Gorge are from the River Park website: www.sdrp.org
The trail under construction near the Lake Hodges dam
The Del Dios River crossing
The Del Dios Valley
A map of the Del Dios trail location < september 2010 Lagoon Water Quality Monitoring posted 09/27/2010 Lagoon Water Quality Monitoring will take place at the San Dieguito Lagoon in cooperation with San Diego Coastkeeper.
Education/Outreach The San Dieguito River Park is partnering with San Diego CoastkeeperWater Quality Monitoring Program at the San Dieguito Lagoon! The rainy season is approaching so we want to begin our program now so that we are set to test the water as soon as it starts to flow. San Diego Coastkeeper will provide training and supplies and will conduct all the lab work for our "water conscious" volunteers interested in collecting and analyzing water samples. If you are interested in learning about water quality issues, field and laboratory science, and becoming more active in addressing water pollution, please get in touch with Barbara at Barbara@sdrp.org and become a part of monthly sampling events to help keep our watershed clean. We ask that you participate in a minimum of three events in a six month duration once your training is completed. Flyer>> September Bird Count posted 09/15/2010 The count of the San Dieguito Lagoon Area Monthly Bird Survey for 2010 has seen 161 species in the five count areas which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village. The September count observed 80 bird species with 2 new species in September: Lark Sparrow and Western Kingbird. Ed Mirsky< August 2010 August Bird Count posted 09/06/2010 The count of the San Dieguito Lagoon Area Monthly Bird Survey for 2010 has seen 159 species in the five count areas which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village. The August count observed 90 bird species with five new species in August: Black Storm-Petrel, Least Bittern, Reddish Egret, Turkey Vulture, and Black Skimmer. Ed Mirsky Lagoon Restoration Update posted 08/24/2010  Hydraulic Dredge. Photo © Marathon Construction
For the complete article click here Completed ADA accessible Coast Path, North Beach posted 08/24/2010
San Dieguito Watershed Council posted 08/06/10 In September of 2006, the San Dieguito Watershed Management Plan was finalized, creating a script for the long-term preservation of the natural and recreational resources in the County’s fourth-largest watershed. In January of 2007, the San Dieguito Watershed Council was formed to implement the Watershed Management Plan through a coalition of stakeholders. The Conservancy and San Dieguito River Park co-chair the Watershed Council.more on the Conservancy website Sikes Adobe Hours in August  During most of the month of August, the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse will be closed due to anticipated high temperatures. We will be open to the public on Saturday, August 14th, and Saturday, August 28th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in conjunction with the Wagon Rides offered those days. We will also be open by appointment, except for the first week of August.
Regular hours will resume in September:
Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information, please call: (760) 432-8318 Enjoy your summer! < July 2010 July Bird Count posted 08/06/2010 The count of the San Dieguito Lagoon Area Monthly Bird Survey is in its seventh month. A total of 154 species has been seen in the five count areas which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village. The July count observed 88 bird species. Ed MirskyA JOURNEY DOWN THE SAN DIEGUITO RIVER: posted 07/10/2010 Would you like to…
Click here for details and dates. Final Inlet Dredging posted 07/02/10 Sikes Historical Farmstead Reconstruction : June 2010 posted 07/01/2010
Sikes Reopening Celebration!
< June 2010 Coast Watch posted 06/28/2010
More Beach for All The construction phase of the one hundred and fifty plus acre San Dieguito Wetland restoration project is near completion. While the bulk of the work has taken place east of Camino Del Mar, there are a few remaining details that will vastly increase beach access, make beach space more usable, as well as beautify three of our beach access locations. more in the Sandpiper >>June Bird Countposted 6/11/2010 The San Dieguito Lagoon/River Valley monthly bird survey is in its sixth month and a total of 153 species has been seen in the five count areas which range from the ocean to Fairbanks Ranch Village.The Sunday, June 6th count observed 85 species including 5 new species: Swainson's Hawk, Common Moorhen, Allen's Hummingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Phainopepla. Click HERE to see photos of River Valley birds. < May 2010Horsepark Trail Grant to JPAposted 05/30/2010 $350,000 State Grant Funds Received for Horsepark TrailThe Horsepark Trail is that section of the Coast to Crest Trail directly west of El Camino Real and north of the San Dieguito River. This important trail connection has long been blocked by horse show rings on the 22nd District Agricultural Association's Horsepark show/board facility. This grant of State Environmental Enhancement Mitigation Program funds will enable the River Park to hire a contractor to reconfigure the show rings and to construct the trail through the site. Thanks to the 22nd DAA and Horsepark Board and staff for their enthusiastic support for this project. Update: Witch Creek Fire Reconstructionposted 05/12/2010
Click HERE for history. Trail Construction Donations Receivedposted 05/09/2010 $50,000 has been awarded by Southern California Edison for Trail Construction at the San Dieguito Lagoon. These funds will be combined with a $15,000 private donation through the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy to build the section of the lagoon trail between San Andres and Horsepark. The Horsepark Trail is that section of the Coast to Crest Trail directly west of El Camino Real and north of the San Dieguito River. This important trail connection has long been blocked by horse show rings on the 22nd District Agricultural Association's Horsepark show/board facility. This grant of State Environmental Enhancement Mitigation Program funds will enable the River Park to hire a contractor to reconfigure the show rings and to construct the trail through the site. Thanks to the 22nd DAA and Horsepark Board and staff for their enthusiastic support for this project. from San Dieguito River Park Beach access trailsposted 05/05/2010 At its April 16th meeting, the San Dieguito River Park Trails Committee learned from SDRP staff that a grant has been requested from the Coastal Conservancy for consulting on alternative locations for the section of the future Coast-to-Crest trail between Jimmy Durante Blvd. and the beach. Also, Southern California Edison will be providing more handicap parking for the beach near the present on-street parking on the north side of the river. The piece below is printed with permission from the Sandpiper. posted 05/02/10 Slater Slams Split: MEMORANDUM
The City of Del Mar Planning Commission considered the Andrews Lot Split at its April 13, 2010 hearing. The Andrews lot is directly west of the Grand Avenue Bridge Overlook and parking area. The project proposes to subdivide a 2.4-acre single-family residential property into two separate parcels in order to build a second residential unit on the portion of the property closest to San Dieguito Road. The applicant is asking the Coastal Commission to modify the Deed Restricted Open Space Easement on the property required when the first residential unit was constructed. In addition, the project requires a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Del Mar to allow a reduction in the 100-foot buffer from the wetlands to a 50-foot buffer and to build in a portion of the 10-foot-wide-steep-slope setback required under the City’s Bluff, Slop and Canyon Overlay Zone standards. A portion of the parcel is also located in the flood plain of the San Dieguito River. The project is being reviewed by Coastal Commission staff. The contact is:Lee McEachernThis project will have a significant impact on the River Park. I am concerned that the City of Del Mar did not notify the River Park of this potential project within the River Park’s Focused Planning Area. Therefore, I am bringing it to the JPA’s attention and will also notify the California Coastal Commission of this lack of notification. Printed in the May 2010 Issue of the Sandpiper. < April 2010Ride a Horse-drawn wagon along the Mule Hill
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The San Dieguito River Park, in association with the Friends of Sikes Adobe, the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society and Happy Trails Horse Rental, will offer wagon tours of the Mule Hill Historical Trail one Saturday a month from March through June. The first tour took place on Saturday, March 13. See photo! Historic attractions on the trail include the Sikes Adobe, the former Town of Bernardo, the Mule Hill battle site and the San Diego-to-Yuma stagecoach road.
Subsequent tours will run on April 17 and May 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on June 26 from 10-3. Tour tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. No reservations. Pay at the site. Profits benefit the Friends of Sikes Adobe, and will be used to pay for furnishings and gardens at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmhouse, which is nearing completion of its reconstruction following the 2007 Witch Fire. For further information call Anne Cooper at 858-674-2275, ext. 19 or Tom Cook at 858-487-5088.< Witch Creek Fire Reconstruction Moving Ahead:
JPA Office and the Sikes Farmstead
posted 04/17/2010
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Main JPA office: Sycamore Creek Rd. south of San Pasqual Valley |
| Please Save the Date! Sikes Reopening Celebration! Restored and Reconstructed after the 2007 Witch Creek Fire Saturday, June 26th, 2010 |
Orchids and Onions
posted 04/01/10
The San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration project has been nominated for an ORCHID award in the 2010 competition run by the San Diego Architectural Foundation.
The restoration is funded by Southern California Edison as a mitigation requirement and managed by the San Dieguito River Park JPA. It is complete except for final work at the west end . It has already shown positive ecological results for fish and bird populations and for the maintenance of an open river mouth at North Beach in Del Mar.