Established in 1986 as a 501(c)(4) non-profit, and supported by a network of members and affiliates, the Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley promotes and supports conservation, restoration, preservation and enhancement of the natural scenic, ecological and open-space resources of the San Dieguito River Valley through advocacy, study, monitoring, and education.
What we do
Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley:
• Serve on the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and attend bimonthly meetings.
• Serve on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board.
• Serve on the Trails Committee of the San Dieguito River Park, advising the CAC on trail issues within the park.
• Serve on the important Project Review Committee of the San Dieguito River Park JPA/CAC.
• Attend the bimonthly board meetings of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority.
• Attend appropriate meetings of the California Coastal Commission, the San Diego Planning Commission, as well as the local San Diego Community Planning Groups.
• Attend the monthly board meetings of the 22nd District Agricultural Association when there are fairgrounds matters related to the river valley.
• Attend San Diego and Del Mar City Council meetings when appropriate.
We inform the public by:
• Maintaining this website with information on matters related to the River Park from the San Dieguito River mouth in Del Mar to Volcan Mountain near Julian. The site serves notice of coming events such as hikes, habitat renovation, and regional meetings as well as informative articles about and photographs of flora, fauna, river valley locations of interest, and proposed developments.
• Responding to environmental impact reports for projects that would impact the San Dieguito River Valley.
Our Logo
The Friends’ logo was designed by artist Jo Griffith, an illustrator at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Geological Research Division.
Board of Directors, 2025
Jeff Carmel, President – Rancho Santa Fe
Candy Bowman, Vice President – San Diego
Bill Farrell, Treasurer – San Diego
Kristina Leyva – Del Mar
Polly Wheatley – Rancho Santa Fe
Past presidents of the Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley
Alice Goodkind 1986-1997
Jacqueline Winterer 1997-2003
Ann Gardner 2004-2005
Jacqueline Winterer 2006-2013
Maggie Brown 2013-2025