The Conservancy is pleased to announce that three habitat restoration projects are now underway following years of planning, permitting, and other preparation: The Carmel Mountain Vernal Pool and Uplands Habitat Restoration Project, the Proctor Valley ORV Site A Vernal Pool and Uplands Habitat Restoration Project, and the Rose Creek Watershed Invasive Plant Control Project. The Conservancy has retained expert consultants HELIX Environmental Planning for the two vernal pool projects, and RECON Environmental for the Rose Creek project. Most grading has been completed for the vernal pool projects though follow-up work will be conducted after this rainy season. In Rose Creek, most invasive plant removal work this season will be conducted prior to the breeding bird season that begins February 15.

Long before any shovel can touch ground or seeds spread in our habitat restoration projects, complicated and time-consuming paperwork is needed to secure permits from several local, state, and federal agencies. For the Conservancy’s two flagship vernal pool restoration projects, six different permits were required, ranging from a right-of entry permit to conduct work on City of San Diego properties, to state and federal clean water and endangered species permits. These permits in turn required review under seven different environmental laws, the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Quality Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and others. The Conservancy has been dedicated to complying with all regulations to make for the best possible projects and is thankful for the incredible support and assistance we’ve received from agency staff. We plan to finish permit processing this summer and restoration work on the ground this fall.