East County News Service

March 6, 2021 (Lakeside) -- San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to set aside $6.44 million to restore and improve roughly 98 acres of newly acquired open space, trails and recreational facilities in Lakeside’ scenic El Monte River Valley. The board hailed the action as a “great” project for the region.

The Board previously voted Feb. 10 to spend $3.2 million to buy the property that includes important coastal sage scrub, riparian scrub and riparian forest habitats, open space and already existing equestrian and youth sports playing fields. That action came after a petition signed by thousands and a march with hundreds of residents and Kumeyaay Native Americans urged support of the acquisition.

Board members envision the land as the home for future trail connections to other County parks, and recreational facilities for the public to enjoy in addition to the open space. The land is located nearby the County’s existing Cactus County and Louis A. Stelzer parks, and its future $18 million Lakeside Equestrian Park.

February 25, 2013 (Alpine) – Parks, housing, a proposed county equine ordinance, Forest Conservation Initiative lands, and Viejas’ plans for a parking garage are among the items on the agenda for the Alpine Community Planning Group this week.  For a full agenda and details, read more.

E - The Environmental Magazine

Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

Dear EarthTalk: What is the Burrowing Owl Conservation Network and why is it so important to put so much effort into saving one species?                               -- Ginny Bateman, Portland, OR

November 9, 2012 (California) --  Western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are tiny, long-legged members of the owl family, native to the Americas and preferring open landscapes where they can dig new holes or use existing ones (such as abandoned prairie dog, skunk or armadillo homes) to nest and rear their young. Unlike most other owl species, these small but charismatic birds are more often seen out and about during daylight hours, but they are most active and do their primary feeding at night, preferring a diet of small rodents and large insects.

Source: Water Conservation Garden

File photo of barn owls, by Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Last year, the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon installed a barn owl nesting box to provide a natural way of protecting the gardens from damage, mainly from rabbits because the natural predators were unable to enter the gardens, but the rabbits were. Now, the owls have returned for a second year to raise a family.  

 
January 23, (2012)--The County of San Diego is initiating a new agricultural conservation pilot program known as the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program. The PACE program is intended to promote the long term preservation of agriculture in the County. The program is based on the framework of what is traditionally referred to as a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program.

January 1, 2012 (Lemon Grove)—“Joe Young, for more than three decades the go-to guy at the Helix Water District for all things H2O, will star on the next "History Alive" lecture,” announced Helen M. Ofield, president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society.  The lecture will be held Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.