What We Do

The Friends actively promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of the San Dieguito River Valley resources: scenic, ecological and permanent open space.  The Board meets monthly and hosts a website to keep members up to date on activities.  Currently we are:

MONITORING:
  * the proposed widening of Via de la Valle between San Andres Drive and El Camino Real; we support a less urban/commercial design.

  * the application of the San Diego Polo Club, located on El Camino Real just south of Via de la Valle on publically owned land, to use 15 to 20 feet of River bank as an exercise track for their polo ponies. The area they propose as an exercise track is outside their lease boundaries and is mapped as part of the River Park's Coast to Crest trail for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.  The Friends oppose the use of the public trail as an exercise track for polo ponies.

  * the proposed wider bridge to replace the current El Camino Real Bridge and related relocation (to the east) and widening of El Camino Real between the bridge and Via de la Valle.

  *  the proposed new 35 unit residential development adjacent to and west of Santa Fe Downs and east of San Andres Drive on sloped hillside north of Via de la Valle. We are advocating for a reduction in the number of units and an increase in berms and landscaping to shield from the River Park viewscape.

  * the proposed expansion of Flower Hill Mall at Via de la Valle and I-5;
 the promised restoration of wetlands basin at Via de la Valle and El Camino Real North as part of office development on that corner.

ADVOCATING for preservation of the River Valley as members of  the:
  * Citizens Advisory Committee, Joint Powers Agency, San Dieguito River Park

  * Via de la Valle Task Force

  * San Dieguito Watershed Stewardship Initiative Group

  * Joint Powers Authority Sub-Committee on River Park memorials

INFORMING the public by:

  * Financing and guiding shuttle tours around the 450-acre San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Project with six stops to point out important aspects of the restoration as well as important historical information

  * Publication and distribution to local schools, libraries and conservation groups of the popular color pamphlet, Birds of the San Dieguito Lagoon.

Additionally the Friends host an annual Art Sale and Informational Booth, and a Silent Auction to support our activities and inform the public about the San Dieguito River Valley system, including the Lagoon and sensitive landforms, uplands and slopes in the watershed, reaching east 55 miles to Volcan Mountain near Julian.

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