Friends to Celebrate 40 Years
By Mary Lueking
The Friends of los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve was incorporated Sept. 14, 1984 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to:
- Promote the preservation of sensitive land forms and wildlife habitat in Penasquitos and Lopez Canyons and adjacent areas;
- Retain the integrity of the preserve; and
- Promote public awareness of the preserve’s cultural and natural resources.
Over the years, the scope of the Friends has expanded to include activities and events in Del Mar Mesa, Carmel Mountain Preserve, and Black Mountain Open Space. As the 40-year anniversary approaches, we would like to take the opportunity to highlight some of our past accomplishments.
The Friends began leading public educational hikes on Nov. 11, 1984 with a trip to the mysteriously marked “treasure trees” led by Mike McCormick. Since that first hike, the Friends have led over 1800 hikes! That’s an average of over 45 hikes each year. The themes have included history, wildflowers, birds, geology, general nature, uses of plants, native American themes, night hikes, fitness, and others.
The current hike schedule is published at the first of each quarter so go to our website to check it out to see what is available currently. In addition, we are always looking for new hike leaders, so please let us know if you, or someone you know, would be interested in leading hikes.
The Friends newsletter began in February, 1985 to inform members about our group’s activities and developments affecting the preserve. These newsletters have all been archived and are available for viewing from our website. We currently publish the newsletter once a quarter to keep everyone informed. Again, please let us know if you have topics that you would like covered, want to write articles, or even if you have pictures that would be of interest to our members.
Listed below is a sampling of some of the canyon protection activities the Friends were involved with over the years:
1985 - 1987: Friends, Sierra Club and others oppose the development of Lopez Ridge and lose (opposition existed before the Friends even existed)
1985 - 1991: SANDAG recommendation to build Camino Ruiz and Camino Santa Fe Extensions across the canyon were opposed by the Friends. Finally in 1992 the recommendation was removed from the. Mira Mesa Community Plan. SANDAG again made the proposal in 1999 for these extensions but in 2000 was defeated again.
1987 - the Friends supported the construction of a wildlife tunnel between Lopez and Peñasquitos Canyons. As late as 2003, Sorrento Valley Road remained closed due to dangers for wildlife. The San Diego Tracking Team, begun as a committee of the Friends, report consistent use of the tunnel by a range of animal species.
1990 - There was a proposal to protect Carmel Mountain from development using Prop 70 funding. In 1995, the Carmel Mountain Conservancy formed to help save the area from development.
1992 - the Friends opposed a new sewer line through the canyon and the project was defeated in 1995.
1992 - Representing the Friends, Mike Kelly cofounded and became a two-term president of the California Invasive Plant Council.
1993 - late in the year Barry Martin put out a call in the newsletter for volunteers for wildlife surveys that led to the formation of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve Tracking Team that, ten years or so later, became the independent San Diego Tracking Team.
1994 - 1997: SR 56 development was under discussion. Opposition led by the Friends, EHL, and the Sierra Club led to a new alignment for SR 56, to take it out of Deer Canyon and Del Mar Mesa which was finally approved. SR-56 was fully opened between I-5 and I-15 in 2004.
1995 - Voters approve a land swap approved by the Friends. About 86 acres of Preserve land at the west end of the canyon, in what is now Sorrento Hills was swapped for 288 acres of privately owned land at and north of the waterfall and $1.9 million dollars. The voter approval was required because the 86 acres of Preserve had been designated as Preserve under a state statute.
1999 - a developer transferred title to 400 acres on Carmel Mountain at no cost after a 15-year fight led by Friends’ board member Anne Harvey and other activists from Carmel Valley and supported by the Friends.
1999 - another developer donated Santa Luz grasslands at no cost to Black Mountain Open Space Park.
2004 -: Friends’ Mike Kelly headed up a coalition of about 26 conservation groups to support the Transnet Transportation ballot measure that included $850 million for mitigation of road and transit improvements and monies for restoration projects.
2006 - SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink threatened the preserve and alternate routes were proposed and adopted.
2010 - at the request of the California Coastal Commission, the Friends take ownership of easements designed to protect park land from encroachment or development by bordering landowners.
2010 - The Friends receive 8 parcels of land in Rancho Peñasquitos after another non-profit goes bankrupt.
2021 - Friends oppose proposed Del Mar Mesa Fire Station because of the sensitive nature of the site.
2021 - 2023. Friends join POPs and Sierra Club in opposing the Cisterra development of the last privately owned parcel in the Del Mar Mesa. The Friends lost at City Council, then in the courts.
The friends have also been involved in numerous restoration projects over the years, under the direction of Mike Kelly, the Friends’ Conservation Chairman. Here is a sampling of the projects, some of which are still active.
2000 - Cottonwoods planted as restoration. There had been no young cottonwoods for many decades due to cattle grazing.
2002 - Fire in February burned west end of preserve. Native plants made a comeback but weed mitigation was needed.
2004 - Restoration planting and eucalyptus removal.
2007 - Willowy Monardella project completed; Annual Monardella surveys continue.
2009 - Cactus Wren habitat restoration in Black Mountain Open Space; In 2013, the NRCS grant expired but Friends continued to monitor and manage the sites.
2010 - Pacific Highlands Ranch wetland restoration.
2010 - Restoration of lands surrounding the waterfall.
2014 - Santa Luz grasslands restoration begins and continue to this day.
2018 - The presence of the Gold spotted Oak Borer (GSOB) was confirmed in the canyon and annual mitigation activities have been ongoing.
2021 - Monarch caterpillars moved by hand to native milkweeds.
2023 - Darkwood Canyon Restoration project funded
2023 - Restoration of Northern harrier nesting sites at Harrier Hill near the west end of the canyon funded.
There is still plenty of work to do and with the help of our supporters, we will continue to promote the important work that makes our canyon so special. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the various projects. Please check our event and hike schedule to see upcoming opportunities. As the year progresses, we will try to highlight the past and future accomplishments in our newsletters and display booths at local street fairs and other park events
