– Conservancy receives $840,000 grant from the State of California 30×30 program –
More native plants and animals, including the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (CAGN), will have a little more room to live and thrive throughout North San Diego County’s Escondido Creek watershed due to recent actions taken by The Escondido Creek Conservancy (Conservancy). On June 17, 2025, the Conservancy purchased a 10-acre property located in Seaquest Canyon in Olivenhain. This property will be managed as part of the Conservancy’s newest preserve, called LeoMar. The LeoMar Preserve formally began in 2021, when the Conservancy started purchasing a series of habitat-rich properties in the Olivenhain area of Encinitas, with a goal of eventually connecting them, where possible, as a contiguous preserve. This most recent acquisition is the Conservancy’s fifth land transaction since 2021 for the LeoMar Preserve, which now totals nearly 300 acres. This new Conservancy acquisition was made possible due to a $840,000 grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The purpose of the grant is to protect critical habitat for the CAGN, such as coastal sage shrub (CSS), and habitats and species identified in the San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Program. The San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan helps implement the state’s Natural Community Conservation Plan.“In October 2020, Governor Newsom issued an executive order that established a state goal of conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, known as 30×30. CDFW was provided funds via the 30×30 program for land acquisition to help meet this goal and to help accelerate conservation of critical habitats. We were pleased to award a grant to The Escondido Creek Conservancy to help preserve this property in perpetuity,” said Karen Weiss, environmental program manager for CDFW. Seaquest Canyon is an important wildlife corridor joining preserved lands in Encinitas with other preserved lands in Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove, connecting with the Conservancy’s LeoMar Preserve and San Diego County Parks and Recreation’s Sage Hill Preserve. These small but important land transactions link and support previously preserved wildlands in North County strengthening wildlife habitats. Additionally, on June 30, 2025, the Conservancy closed escrow on a land donation of 5 acres of CAGN CSS habitat in Elfin Forest. This donated property will be managed by the Conservancy as part of its 1,000+/- acre Keithley Preserve “Both of these transactions help build the Conservancy’s portfolio of preserved lands throughout the Escondido Creek watershed,” said Lisa Ruder, Board president for the Conservancy. The Conservancy is currently managing over 3,100 acres of conservation land and has helped protect over 7,000 acres in North San Diego County. The recent transactions are part of The Conservancy’s Missing Lynx Project, a land protection campaign to raise critical funds for preserving undeveloped areas throughout North County’s Escondido Creek watershed. Monies raised allow the Conservancy to acquire and maintain lands that serve as corridors for wildlife to live and traverse among increasingly fragmented urban development and human recreation. The Conservancy is currently working to protect additional properties in San Elijo Hills, Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove. “Securing these two properties, while small, helps the Conservancy preserve wildlife-rich spaces amidst disappearing habitats,” said Ann Van Leer, Executive Director of The Escondido Creek Conservancy. “We welcome the community to join our efforts through donating, volunteering, or participating in one of our many events throughout the year.” The Conservancy hosts monthly gatherings, such as guided hikes, native plant restoration projects, and outdoor yoga sessions as opportunities for the community to visit its preserves and appreciate the natural beauty of North San Diego County. The organization also offers comprehensive educational programming, including interactive school field trips, STEM-focused curriculum, and environmental studies internships.
Get involved at:
https://www.escondidocreek.org/events-1.
Established in 1991, the mission of The Escondido Creek Conservancy is to preserve and restore the Escondido Creek watershed. Flowing from the mountains above Lake Wolford to the San Elijo Lagoon in Encinitas and Solana Beach, the Escondido Creek watershed encompasses over 75 square miles of land in North San Diego County. The Conservancy’s vision is to serve as a model of vibrant urban communities and viable natural ecosystems thriving together. Visit escondidocreek.org.
