Letter from the FSDRV President

May 2006
Dear Friends:

This year we are celebrating our 20th year of work on behalf of the San Dieguito River Valley.

The good news is that after many years of litigation and delays the San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration was finally adopted by the California Coastal Commission in October 2005. What we did not know then was that a few lingering issues still needed to be resolved between the Commission staff and Southern California Edison. These final conditions were not completed before the beginning of the nesting season in early February 2006.

In the next few months, SCE may start building haul roads, the JPA will go to bids for a portion of the Coast-to-Crest trail west of I-5 , but real work on the restoration will only begin after the end of the nesting season in September 2006.

For up-to-date information on the progress of the project, down load the latest San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration Quarterly Report.
This year we started a docent program at the Strawberry Nature Center on Via de la Valle, and, on an ongoing basis, we help the City maintain the Grand Avenue Bridge site.

Meanwhile, through our participation with the Project Review Committee of the San Dieguito River Park we were able to shape the following issues:

      * We monitor the Del Mar Fairboard Master Plan for its environmental impact;

      * We seek the return of the South Parking Lot to a permanent wetland status;

      * We support a much reduced project at the Flower Hill shopping center;

      * We oppose the widening of Via De la Valle into a major thoroughfare;

      * We work with the Pueblo de la Valle project (across from the Strawberry Nature Center)
         toward a limited size and limited view impact on the Park;

      * We promoted the creation of a wetland reserve as part of the project at the NW corner 
         of El Camino Real and Via de la Valle;

      * We provided critical reports dating to the 1980s which document the Park’s right to 
         have a trail south of the Fairbanks Ranch Polo Club field;

      * We advocate maintaining public ownership of Fairbanks Ranch Country Club.

Every year at this time we solicit contributions from the public to allow us to continue our advocacy work. The money raised by this effort is used to distribute information, publish pamphlets, and maintain our organization and its website. Occasionally we seek legal advice on strategies to reach our goals.  Contributions may be sent to:
    FSDRV, PO Box 973, Del Mar, CA 92014

or contact us at:      info@fsdrv.org 

We are grateful for your support and send our sincere thanks to those who have made contributions this year. 

Jacqueline Winterer, President

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