San Dieguito River Park - Riverscape
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One of the major goals of the San Dieguito River Park is to establish a continuous open space corridor throughout the length of the Park that preserves natural habitats, protects linkages for wildlife movement, and provides compatible areas for recreational opportunities.

In This Issue
Ribbon Cutting
Walk in the Park
South Clevenger Hike
Spring Fling
Earth Day
Lagoon Day
Earth Fair
Work Parties
Reach the Beach
Birdwatching
Good-Bad Plants
Out and About

  APRIL EVENTS 

   

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

Friday, April 8th
10:00am

 

Walk in the Lagoon 

Saturday, April 9th 

9:00am - 10:15am

 

Hike Clevenger Canyon 

Sunday, April 10th

1:00pm - 4:00pm  

 

Sikes Spring Fling 

Sunday, April 17th

1:00pm - 5:00pm  

 

Lagoon Day 

Sunday, April 17th

11:00am

 

Earth Fair 

Sunday, April 17th

10:00am - 5:00pm  

 

Reach the Beach 

Wednesday, April 27th 

6:30pm - 7:30pm

 

Birdwatching Class

Saturday, April 30th

2:00pm - 3:30pm

 

 

Quick Links...
DIRECTIONS
  Bernardo Bay Natural Area: (for access to East Lake Hodges Trails and the Ribbon Bridge)Take I-15 to the West Bernardo Dr./Pomerado Rd. exit. Turn left onto West Bernardo Dr. Within a half mile you will come to the parking area on the right side of the road.(click here for map)

Highland Valley Trail Staging Area:

From I-15 head east on Pomerado Road about 1/4 mile.  Turn left onto Highland Valley Drive and then within about 300 feet turn right into the parking area. (click here for a map).  

 

San Andres Kiosk: (for east end Lagoon Trail access)  End of San Andres Drive in Del Mar, off Via de la Valle, behind the Albertsons Shopping Center. (click here for a map).  


Sunset Staging Area:

(access for Ribbon Bridge, Mule Hill Trail, North Shore Trail, Bernardo Mountain)  

Begin North Shore Trail and Mule Hill Trail here.   

Directions: Take I-15 to Via Rancho Parkway exit, and at the exit ramp turn right at the light. Go to the light at Sunset Drive (less than a 1/4 mile) and turn right onto Sunset Drive. North County Fair Mall is on the left side of the road. This is a cul-de-sac with plenty of parking in the gated staging/parking area on the left side of the street, or along the street and in the lot at the end of the cul-de-sac. (click here for a map)
DOWNLOAD
.PDF TRAIL MAPS
FROM THE
LINKS BELOW:

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Friday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m. at the Bernardo Bay Natural Area

The bike path that connects the south end of the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge to the Bernardo Bay Natural Area and Rancho Bernardo Community Park is now open.The bike path and cantilever opened for public use on February 26th, but the official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held this Friday.  It will be emceed by Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.

Two years after the grand opening and dedication of the 990 foot-long stressed-ribbon style bicycle/pedestrian bridge, the much-awaited 2,600 foot planned bikeway extension project is now complete. 760 feet of the bike path is built on a cantilevered viaduct because the section of West Bernardo Drive next to the lake proved too narrow to accommodate the width of the bike path. The design is by T.Y. Lin International and the bike path and cantilever was built by contractor Tri-Group Construction.  All hikers, bicyclists, and trails enthusiasts are invited!

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the Bernardo Bay Natural Area on the south end of the bridge at the beginning of the bike path.  There is ample parking. Directions: From Interstate 15 (I-15) exit West Bernardo/Pomerado Road. (Exit 26) Make a left from the freeway, heading west. Parking is available along a portion of the street, in the large parking area at Bernardo Bay Natural Area (on the right side of the road and well marked) or at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park.
TAKE A WALK IN THE PARK AT THE SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON
Saturday, April 9th   at 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.  
Enjoy a walk in the Lagoon.  Attend Trail Talk
Do you want someone to walk with, do you want to ask questions about the birds or the plants or the animals, or the Restoration Project or what makes a lagoon, Water Quality Testing, or the plans for extending the trail eastward ...
Check out this Activity and others at www.sdrp.org for more details!
SEE THE SPRING WILDFLOWERS - HIKE CLEVENGER CANYON SOUTH
Sunday, April 10th at 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  
See the wildflowers on the Clevenger Canyon hike.
Join this San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy-led hike and explore the rugged beauty of Clevenger Canyon South (off Highway 78 between Escondido and Ramona) by hiking up to the summit of the east fork and enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding canyons and mountains. 

Clevenger Canyon - named for John Clevenger, one of the first settlers in San Pasqual Valley in the late 1800s - is a little-visited and beautiful treat for those wanting a backcountry experience closer to home.  This 4.5-mile round trip journey has an elevation gain of 1000' and is strenuous for intermediate hikers. Reservations are required - contact [email protected] or (858) 674-2275 x12 for directions and to reserve a space.
SPRING FLING AT SIKES ADOBE HISTORIC FARMSTEAD
Sunday, April 17th from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Enjoy the festival at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead.
Enjoy Pony Rides, Wagon Rides, Trail Rides, an Easter Egg Hunt, Bounce House, Huge Slide, Inflatable Obstacle Course,  Drinks, Hot Dogs, Chips!  Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m.  This fund-raising event supports the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead.  Visit  www.sdrp.org or call (760) 432-8318.  If you would like to help with this event contact [email protected].
EARTH DAY, EARTH WEEK, AND EARTH FAIR CELEBRATIONS

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment.  First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day is now coordinated globally and celebrated in more than 175 countries every year!

LAGOON DAY
Sunday, April 17th at 11:00 a.m. at the Del Mar Powerhouse
Participate in Lagoon Day in Del Mar
Del Mar's San Dieguito Lagoon Preservation Committee announces an exciting addition to the annual San Dieguito Lagoon Day celebration:  the Inaugural San Dieguito Lagoon Day Photo Contest.  Winners will be announced during the celebration, which will take place this year on Sunday, April 17, doors opening at 10:45 a.m. with the event beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Del Mar Powerhouse, 1658 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar.   Entries in beginner, junior and adult categories are welcome and will be accepted online from March 8, 2011, to April 10, 2011, at LagoonDayDelMar.com.
EARTH FAIR 2011, THE 22ND SAN DIEGO EVENT
Sunday, April 17th at Balboa Park from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
 
This is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world --  It's impossible to list everything you'll find at Earth Fair: traditional conservation organizations, wildlife preservation groups, products made from natural and organically grown crops, organic gardening information, alternative energy vehicles, ecotourism opportunities, many alternative and traditional health care products and services, pet adoption services, clean air and clean water products, and rainforest preservation groups!
HELP THE EARTH AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Help your earth.  Volunteer at the San Dieguito River Park

Join an SDRP volunteer work party and help out with Trail Maintenance on Sunday, April 10th or Habitat Restoration on Saturday, April 16th.  The hours are from 8:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. Visit our website at www.SDRP.org and click on Activities for more details and information.  Be a part of the celebrations!
REACH THE BEACH MEETING AT THE COAST
Wednesday, April 27th   at 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Attend the Reach the Beach session in Del Mar
 The San Dieguito River Park received a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy to study and create a plan to complete the west end of the Coast to Crest Trail. The CTC Trail currently ends at Jimmy Durante and is planned to extend to the beach in Del Mar. The grant will be used to explore potential trail routes from Jimmy Durante to the beach and solicit input from local agencies, the community, and trail users. A preferred trail route will be identified based on input received and a detailed plan will be produced.

Attend the public workshop in Del Mar on April 27th to hear about potential trail routes and voice your opinions. The San Dieguito River Park expects to solicit grants to build the trail after the preferred route is selected.

Click here for a copy of the brochure.
BIRDWATCHING BASICS CLASS - APRIL 30th
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park/Center
American Kestrel

American Kestral, the smallest of the Falcons. Photo by Robert Harrington


Join us for this entertaining and informative classroom presentation at the Rancho Bernardo Community Center.  Hosted by longtime River Park birding enthusiast Paul Jeffs and Photographer Robert Harrington, this class will focus on finding and identifying birds in the San Dieguito River Park.  There are 498 species in San Diego County and Lake Hodges boasts 224 species alone!  What guides and books are best?  How do you choose a good pair of binoculars?  This class is a crash course about the places you'll go - there are nine distinct habitats in the River Park - and the things you'll see - the photographs are taken from the nearby Highland Valley Trail!  It's a must for beginners who want to get into birding and enjoy a lifelong passion for one of the fastest growing hobbies in America.  FREE but please send an email to [email protected] to let us know you're coming so we have plenty of refreshments! 
Directions:  From Interstate 15 (I-15) exit West Bernardo/Pomerado Road. (Exit 26) Make a leftoff the freeway, heading west.  At the light turn right into the park area.  The class is located in the main building.
GOOD PLANT / BAD PLANT
Good Plant vs Bad Plant
GOOD PLANT
Wild Cucumber (Marah oreganus) is a climbing perennial that grows from an underground root weighing as much as 100 pounds. It is because of this root that it is one of first plants to reseed after a fire. The fruit is a green gourd covered with stiff flattened prickles. Wild cucumber begins sending up rapidly-growing shoots in December and may begin blooming in January. It is a common plant of dry areas of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and foothill woodland communities.

BAD PLANT

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial, herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb with culinary and medicinal uses. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean, and has since become has become naturalized in many parts of the world, especially on dry soils near the coast and on river banks. It propagates well by seed, and is considered a highly invasive species because it out-competes native species for light, nutrients, and water, thus inhibiting the growth of any other plants around it.
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE SAN DIEGUITO RIVER PARK

Cub Scout Pack 4 from La Jolla, the Webelos, visited the San Dieguito Lagoon to earn their Conservation Badge. The Scouts learned about the San Dieguito River Park, the wetland restoration project, the importance of native plants, and some of the poisonous plants and venomous reptiles found in the Park. Then the Webelos helped the Rangers plant native plants!

The Webelos help the San Dieguito River Park 

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RIVER PARK THIS SPRING
Happy Trails from the San Dieguito River Park Staff.
Wild Cucumber is a good plant.