– Land Parcels Will Help Protect Regional Wildlife Corridors in North San Diego County
Hundreds of acres of land in North San Diego County are now protected in perpetuity by The Escondido Creek Conservancy (Conservancy) following the recent acquisition of two key properties: the White-Atterbury property, which extends from Harmony Grove into San Marcos and the Elfin Acres property in Elfin Forest. These acquisitions represent critical components of the Conservancy’s Connecting Conservation Corridors Campaign, which aims to link fragmented native habitats so wildlife can survive in an increasingly developed region. The purchase of these properties was made possible through nearly $7 million in state and federal grants awarded to the Conservancy by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), as recommended by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The acquisitions reflect an ongoing partnership among the Conservancy, the State of California, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which provided half of the funding through Section 6 of the Federal Endangered Species Act. “We are thrilled about the preservation of the White-Atterbury and Elfin Acres properties. These acquisitions have been years in the making,” said Ann Van Leer, Executive Director of the Conservancy “Purchasing and protecting these properties will create new opportunities for outdoor education and community engagement, and ultimately ensure the survival of rare and threatened species in the Escondido Creek watershed for future generations.”
The 160-acre White-Atterbury property connects Conservancy-protected lands in Harmony Grove with those in the City of San Marcos, including the notable landmark Frank’s Peak. The 96-acre Elfin Acres property is bordered on three sides by the Conservancy’s 910-acre Keithley Preserve and includes nearly two miles of Escondido Creek. Both properties contain a diverse range of native habitats, including southern mixed chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian zones, and seasonal wetlands, and support rare and sensitive species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, southwestern pond turtle, and western spadefoot toad. Next steps for these sites include integrating them into the Conservancy’s land management system, engaging neighbors and community partners, and developing a sustainable habitat management plan for each property. Until that is completed, the Conservancy invites the public to join regular hikes and restoration events throughout the year to help enjoy and care for its preserves. Register in advance on Eventbrite.
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 in Escondido to the San Elijo Lagoon and shores of 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. For more information, visit escondidocreek.org. The Wildlife Conservation Board is a state grant-making agency dedicated to safeguarding California’s spectacular biological diversity and wild spaces for the benefit of present and future generations. WCB works in partnership with tribes, conservation organizations, and government agencies to acquire lands and design and implement habitat restoration and public access projects statewide. For more information about WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov. To explore the newly funded projects, visit WCB’s StoryMaps pages. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov/office/carlsbad-fish-and-wildlife or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Flickr.
