Preserve Calavera

10/19/2020

Hi Protectors of Natural LandsConservation Everyone,

Action Alert!!! Nancho Lilac is a 904 acre parcel that was purchased for conservation in 2011 and is still not being managed to protect its biological, cultural and historic resources. SANDAG will be holding a critical closed door meeting on Fri Oct 23,2020. We need your help to make sure a contract gets awarded to manage the land- and ensure the biological resources are protected. Please send a quick email by 4 pm Thursday and pass this alert on to 3 others to do the same. For more details see this LTE:

https://www.valleycenter.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-support-the-transfer-of-rancho-lilac-to-sdhc/

Thanks for whatever you can do !
Diane

Submit email comments to the Clerk of the SANDAG Board at: [email protected]:

Subject Line : October 23 Board Meeting: Item #13 ; Rancho Lilac - please award the contract to San Diego Habitat Conservancy

Talking Points: Use the followingas an informational basis, but please put in your own words:

Dear Chair and Members of the Board,

The following are points to choose from for your comments - all comments are encouraged to include point #1.

1. I urge you to vote to award the long-negotiated contract to the San Diego Habitat Conservancy (SDHC).- this land needs to be managed to protect the resources. This firm was selected through an open RFP process. (Note- we have worked with SDHC and find them competent land managers- and they are approved by the state and federal wildlife agencies.

2. This land was purchased for environmental mitigation of # 76 widening- so the environmental resources must be protected as first priority.

3. SANDAG staff have prepared a very thorough process to make sure that all stakeholder input will be considered- especially those who are very concerned about trails. But it is premature to proceed with part of the a project until a Land Manager is in place and the Habitat Management Plan has been completed.

4. The science is clear that trails can have an adverse impact on wildlife which is why this needs to proceed following a standard procedure that first identifies the location of all of the sensitive resources and what is needed to protect them. This ensures that potential conflicts between recreation uses like horseback riding do not conflict with mountain bikes - these are public safety issues
5. The County of San Diego has an important role to play in this process- and will get the benefit from added open space and reduced greenhouses gasses.

6. There are related plans in process-especially the Valley Center portion of the County's Community Trails Master Plan (CTMP). Trails need to be designed to connect- and not just be done piecemeal.

7 I support the staff recommendation - to follow a fair process that ensures this land will be protected for all.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME HERE

IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE BLIND COPY: Libby Lucas at [email protected]

Editor, Roadrunner: I would like to respond to Bruce Salerno's letter in The Roadrunner last week in regards to the Rancho Lilac property located across from the Yellow Deli in Couser Canyon. His

04/15/2020

Calling All Amateur Photographers!

Preserve Calavera is hosting a Nature Photo Contest and we want to share the snapshots that best “celebrate San Diego’s biodiversity.” From images of sweeping natural landscapes to intimate close-ups of fungi or googly-eyed insects, we invite you to inspire wonder and pride in the biologically diverse county we call home.

Guidelines:
You must be a resident of San Diego County
The photo(s) must be taken within San Diego County during 2019-2020
All ages welcome
Limit of 5 photos per entrant
EACH photo must be accompanied by an Entry Form

Contest is open from April 8- April 22
For more information and an Entry Form, check out our FLYER:https://preservecalavera.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Photo-Contest-Flyer.pdf

Send your photo(s) along with entry form(s) to: [email protected]

04/27/2019

What is Happening at Calavera Highlands?

There has been a lot of confusion over what has been called taking away trails from mountain bikers on the Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve (CHER). Mountain biking has never been an allowed use in that area- but enforcement has been inconsistent over the years- and the status of the land has changed. Since 2004 it is officially one of 136 ecological reserves in the state. These lands are managed by the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife in trust for the people of the state. They were set aside to protect native plants and wildlife that are at risk of becoming extinct. The rules for each reserve are site specific and are determined at the time th land is set aside. After observing damage to this land for many years, DFW is now stepping up to enforce their own rules- and try to stop any further damage to this land. We support this effort. But we are also working to find new places for people to enjoy this healthy outdoor sport. These lands benefit all of us. We all need to work to protect them - and to accommodate the recreational needs of a growing population.

04/07/2019

The California Conservation Corps were out in El Corazon Nature Park this beautiful Sunday, enjoying the weather and breaking their backs to help us remove the last of the fennel bulbs from our hillside test plots. Here they are in their dirty, exhausted glory!

03/21/2019

PROVIDE INPUT ON THE NEXT NEW PARK IN CARLSBAD

The input from the community at the workshop on Mar 9 was very clear- most people would like to see Veteran's Park developed as a peaceful place to enjoy nature and the magnificent views of Agua Hedionda Lagoon- while including some special recognition of our veterans.

What would you like to see there?
Please take a few minutes and complete the on-line survey by the Mar 23 deadline :

The City of Carlsbad is ready to develop a master plan for its next community park and we want your input. Veterans Memorial Park is located on 91.5 acres near the intersection of Faraday Avenue and Cannon Road. The first step in the master planning process is to get input on the community s values....

03/14/2019

Among the contributing factors identified for butterfly decline: "general loss of open spaces that mean fewer flowers and leaves for food, as well as changing agricultural practices that have reduced the number of butterfly-friendly plants along the edges of crop fields. The growing use of pesticides by farmers and home gardeners probably plays a role. So does climate change, which produces higher temperatures that can dry plants out and make them inedible."

Winter rains have caused the population of painted lady butterflies to explode in California. It's a welcome counterpoint to the demise of monarchs.

03/12/2019

Please help remove plastic debris from mowed slopes on the site of future Veteran's Park in Carlsbad. Plastic mesh from straw wattles has deteriorated and is a hazard for wildlife, and pollutes the Agua Hedionda watershed. Join us for a quick session to pick up pieces of plastic before it causes more damage.

WHEN : 8 - 9:30 am Wed, Mar 13, 2019

WHERE : Meet at trail head kiosk on Faraday Ave., just south of Cannon. Parking on street along Faraday.

WHAT : Wear closed toe, hiking shoes. Bring your own gloves/water.

We'll have buckets, bags and some grabbers.

03/07/2019

The egregious North River Farms project hearing has been cancelled !

We can only assume the developer knew they did not have the votes to get their egregious project approved so they are going back to the drawing boards. Thank you to everyone who shared their concerns about this terrible project ! See official cancellation notice below.

Enjoy the weekend. Take a breather. And then we'll get ready for round 3 to defeat this project permanently !

Diane


From: Michelle Skaggs Lawrence
Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2019 2:08 PM
To: City Council
Subject: North River Farms

Mayor and Council:

The North River Farms project was advertised for a public hearing on March 13, 2019. Prior to the printing of the Council agenda, the applicant advised the City that it will be presenting project modifications not previously considered by the Planning division staff and the Planning Commission. The applicant has requested that the March 13, 2019 Council hearing be vacated so the revisions to the project can be reviewed by City staff and a new public hearing conducted before the Planning Commission. Staff is not in receipt of the revisions at this time. A new public hearing will be scheduled before the Planning Commission after staff reviews the changes.

Michelle Skaggs Lawrence
City Manager

03/06/2019

Non Toxic Neighborhood's Advisor Dr. Dean Baker shares the flaws in our regulatory system, and the dangers of chemically dependent vegetation management. He ...

01/19/2019

Download this flyer for the Oppose North River Farms Project:

01/18/2019

98 signatures are still needed!

01/17/2019

Lunar eclipse blood moon Sunday--King tide too.

Eclipses visible in Oceanside, California, USA - Jan 21, 2019 Lunar Eclipse

Which upcoming lunar and solar eclipses are visible in Oceanside, California, USA and what do they look like?