California

Saving San Diego's "Other Side"

Cielo Azul property in Elfin Forest San Diego San Diego is known for its miles of coastline and beautiful beaches. But there is more to this coastal ecosystem than just sand and surf: Other landscapes, such as coastal sage brush and forest habitat, also are critical to maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.

But population growth and the increasing demand for housing mean that land in the San Diego area is becoming scarce. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has put together a smart growth development plan, which includes more residential construction and expansion of public transportation. However, SANDAG and other organizations also are working to conserve some areas from development.

The Fund was asked to assist with local conservation efforts to protect lands within the Elfin Forest area that were under threat of residential development. The result? We protected nearly 400 acres of critical coastal sage scrub habitat that also supports a live oak forest and a freshwater marsh. Conservation of this land ensures access to recreational areas and the continued preservation of habitat essential to many vulnerable or threatened species.

Land Conservation In San Diego County: Del Dios Highlands County Preserve

In 2010, we helped conserve 100 acres of land in Elfin Forest, resulting in the expansion of the nearly 800-acre Del Dios Highlands County Preserve. The property is close to the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve and includes sections of existing reserve trails. We were able to conserve the land, known as Cielo Azul, by purchasing it from the landowner, then transferring it to the San Diego County once it had obtained funding.

The land, which provides panoramic views over the Escondido Creek watershed, from the city of Escondido to the Pacific Ocean, is known for extremely high levels of species diversity. The parcel is located within the California Coastal Sage and Chaparral ecoregion and is part of the last cohesive coastal sage habitat west of Interstate 15 in San Diego County. A number of threatened species make their home in this ecosystem of coastal sage scrub, including the California Gnatcatcher and the San Diego Horned Lizard.

Saving Land From Development In San Diego County

In 2009, we teamed with SANDAG and San Diego County to preserve Sage Hill, 234 pristine acres of sensitive habitat in the Elfin Forest area that had been slated for the development of 70 estate homes. “It is very rare to find such a large undeveloped parcel of such high-quality habitat in the northern San Diego County area,” said Scott Ferguson, the Fund's Southern California director.

The property is in the county’s proposed North County Multiple Species Conservation Program. The San Diego’s County's Parks and Recreation Department will manage the land permanently as open space. “This partnership achieves all our goals,” SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos said. “We preserve open space for future generations, mitigate for highway and local road construction, and expand the county’s park system for use by the public.”

Our work in San Diego is just one example of how we help save special places in communities across America. With your help, we can continue to make sure America's special places stay that way. Your gift makes a difference, please give today.

Beauty Mountain Wilderness Area, CA

Beauty Mountain Wilderness Area truly lives up to its name, with its dramatic rock formations and its namesake—the 5,500-foot Beauty Mountain—providing a stunning backdrop to the increasingly urbanized region around San Diego.

In 2007 The Conservation Fund and its partners built on years of strategic conservation purchases to protect significant natural and cultural resources in San Diego County, California.

Thanks to a grant from the state's Resources Legacy Fund Foundation and a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, we conserved more than 1,500 acres for addition to the Beauty Mountain Wilderness Area. Protection of these lands will also help to complete the protection of the upper reaches of Chihuahua Creek and its associated wetlands, which flow through adjacent protected lands.

California Hikers

The Beauty Mountain area supports a rich complement of wildlife species in part because of its location within a transition zone from the mountain chaparral of the eastern edge of the Peninsular Range to the creosote bush scrub at the western edge of the Colorado Desert. The presence of flowing water in Chihuahua Creek and Adobe Springs, along with associated riparian vegetation, provides support for many wildlife species.

Approximately 55 endangered, threatened, rare, protected, or declining species of animals and plants have been identified in this region of San Diego County. Portions of the lands protected contain habitat that can support many of these sensitive species including mountain lion, golden eagle, Coopers hawk, prairie falcon, San Diego horned lizard, and northern red-diamond rattlesnake.

The recently protected lands enhance important wildlife corridors and landscape connections to the expansive public lands on their border, managed by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, The Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department of Fish and Game. The properties we conserved will be transferred to the Bureau of Land Management for long-term stewardship.

The Beauty Mountain and Cooper Canyon area contains a wide range of important natural resources, exceptional scenic views, and important habitat for many threatened or endangered species. The valley is rich in cultural and historic resources. Already a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the conservation efforts here ensure that the area will continue to be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.