Tag Archive for: habitat restoration

A map display showing the new path as part of the Sweetwater Reservoir Recreation trail system. Sweetwater Reservoir Trail

New Sweetwater Reservoir Trail Open for Recreation

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A brand-new 2.2-mile trail is open along the east side of Sweetwater Reservoir. Originally a maintenance road, the trail has been transformed into a scenic pathway for walking, running, and mountain biking.

Previously accessible only as a maintenance road, the 2.2-mile route has been repurposed into a safe and inviting public trail ideal for walking, running, and mountain biking.

“Sweetwater is committed to increasing public recreation while protecting water quality and preserving the environment and habitats at Sweetwater Reservoir,” said Sweetwater Authority board chairman Manny Delgado. “This new trail and the accompanying improvements are a testament to those continued commitments.”

This enhancement was made possible through a $1.16 million grant awarded to the Urban Corps of San Diego County by the California Conservation Corps, dedicated to trail improvements and habitat restoration. Additional support came from the County of San Diego, through two generous grants to the San Diego Mountain Biking Association.

Trail Provides New Access to Open Space

(L to R) Sweetwater Authority Assistant General Manager Roberto Yano, Otay Water District board member Mark Robak, and National City Vice Mayor, Sweetwater Authority vice chair and San Diego County Water Authority board member Ditas Yamane at the ribbon cutting for the new Sweetwater Reservoir southern trail. Photo: Susie Murphy, @CVBikeMom63/Instagram for San Diego Mountain Biking Association

(L to R) Sweetwater Authority Assistant General Manager Roberto Yano, Otay Water District board member and San Diego County Water Authority board member Mark Robak, and National City Vice Mayor, Sweetwater Authority vice chair and San Diego County Water Authority board member Ditas Yamane at the ribbon cutting for the new Sweetwater Reservoir southern trail. Photo: Susie Murphy, @CVBikeMom63/Instagram for San Diego Mountain Biking Association

Dedicated in September, the new trail connects the Sweetwater Reservoir Recreation Area (SWRRA) with the County of San Diego’s Southern Trail, offering the South Bay community fresh opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors. The trail connects to existing paths in the area and was created while preserving native vegetation and sensitive habitats, benefitting local wildlife.

The trail runs parallel to the reservoir’s shoreline east of Bonita and south of Spring Valley. It provides beautiful views of the water and the surrounding open space. It also connects to the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area that preserves native plants and wildlife as part of a regional conservation effort.

The trail is designed to be more accessible for beginners and families than some of the more rugged trails in the adjacent Wildlife Refuge to encourage fitness and recreation. By linking with existing paths, the trail also strengthens the region’s recreation network, creating new opportunities for exploration and connectivity.

Along with opening the trail, Sweetwater Authority has taken steps to protect the environment. Crews are restoring nearby habitat by removing invasive weeds, improving drainage, and planting native vegetation. These improvements will make the area healthier, support local wildlife, and reduce wildfire risk.

Trail Preserves Local Environment

South Bay community leaders and members of the public gathered to celebrate the opening of the newest trail at the Sweetwater Authority Recreation Area. Photo: Photo: Susie Murphy, @CVBikeMom63/Instagram for San Diego Mountain Biking Association Sweetwater Reservoir Trail

South Bay community leaders and members of the public gathered to celebrate the opening of the newest trail at the Sweetwater Authority Recreation Area. Photo: Photo: Susie Murphy, @CVBikeMom63/Instagram for San Diego Mountain Biking Association

The addition of the new trail builds on Sweetwater Reservoir’s long tradition of outdoor recreation, which already includes a popular shoreline fishing program open Friday through Monday. With the new trail, visitors have another way to enjoy the natural beauty of Sweetwater Reservoir while also helping to protect the local environment.

The Sweetwater Reservoir Shared Maintenance Road and Trail officially opened to the public on September 5, 2025. Trail maps, visiting hours, and safety guidelines are available on Sweetwater Authority’s website at  www.sweetwater.org.

Environmentalists Sound the Alarm on Salton Sea as Oasis is Left in the Dust

/in , /by /ABC Newsby Lindsey Griswold, Jon Schlosberg, Seiji Yamashita, and Ivan Pereira

More than a century ago, an accidental oasis in the California desert created a popular residential and vacation spot for families.

But over the last few decades, environmental experts say climate change and drought in the Salton Sea have led to a destination that’s been plagued with dust bowls, receding waters and other hazards.

Salton Sea Habitat Restoration Project Touted

/in , , /by /Holtville Tribuneby Julio Morales

An ongoing species conservation habitat project at the Salton Sea’s southwestern shore is serving as a reminder that the sea’s restoration remains a key priority for Gov. Gavin Newsom.

So, too, is a tour that dozens of state, federal and local stakeholders took of the project site where the New River enters the Salton Sea several miles west of Westmorland on Friday, Dec. 10.

Among those present was California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, who said the tour was an acknowledgement of the ambitious Salton Sea Management Program’s progress and the overall work that remains to be done.

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Oceanside Gets $1 Million for Wetlands Restoration

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Phil Diehl

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has awarded a $1 million grant for the first phase of construction of the Loma Alta Slough wetlands enhancement project. The work, which could begin in late 2022, will restore and enhance six acres of coastal wetland and upland habitat along the Loma Alta Creek near Buccaneer Beach in south Oceanside. Plans include more than 1,500 feet of nature trails with educational signs and connections to nearby facilities such as Buccaneer Park.

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Researchers Exploring How San Diego County Wetlands Can Be Part of Climate-Saving Strategies

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union Tribuneby Deborah Sullivan Brennan

Buried in San Diego County’s lagoons are centuries worth of carbon, cached in muddy stockpiles that scientists say could help combat climate change. Recently, scientists with the conservation organization Wildcoast and Scripps Institution of Oceanography started studying how much carbon coastal wetlands can capture, and how to restore these environments to boost that capacity.

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Rep. Ruiz Introduces Salton Sea Bill in Congress to Provide Funding, Increase Air Quality Requirements

/in , , /by /Palm Springs Desert Sunby Mark Olalde

Southern California Democrats Rep. Raul Ruiz and Rep. Juan Vargas introduced a new bill on Thursday that would force the federal government to take a more active role in funding and managing Salton Sea habitat restoration and dust suppression.

HR 8775, the Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act, would create an interagency working group called the Salton Sea Management Council to coordinate projects around the lake’s receding shoreline.

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Oceanside Receives $175K Grant to Boost Restoration of Loma Alta Slough

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby City News Service

The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation awarded Oceanside’s water utilities department a $175,000 grant to assist with the city’s Loma Alta Slough wetlands project, officials said Thursday. The project is intended to restore and enhance approximately six acres of coastal wetland and upland habitat near Buccaneer Beach in south Oceanside.

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Westlands Celebrates Habitat Restoration Following Third Straight Year of Finding Zero Delta Smelt

/in , /by /The San Joaquin Valley Sunby Daniel Gligich

Westlands Water District announced Wednesday that it recently completed the Lower Yolo Restoration Project, which restored the habitat for fish and other wildlife species in part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

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Salton Sea’s Death Spiral Sparks Pleas for Congress to Help

/in , , /by /E&E News by Jeremy P. Jacobs

California officials pressed Congress yesterday to step up federal efforts to address the rapidly growing public health crisis at the Salton Sea. Located near the Mexico border, the sea is California’s largest lake, covering more than 300 square miles. But the Salton is rapidly drying up due to reduced agricultural runoff, drought, heat and a 2003 water transfer that let San Diego take its water.

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Murray Reservoir environment projects - City of San Diego

San Diego Projects Improve Water Quality, Fish Habitat

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Two projects underway will enhance fish habitat and water quality at Murray Reservoir.

The reservoir in Mission Trails Regional Park is owned by the City of San Diego and operated by its Public Utilities Department.

“As stewards of the area, it is important for us to improve and enhance the environment in and around Murray Reservoir,” said Shauna Lorance, director of the San Diego Public Utilities Department. “Working closely with state and local agencies allows us to better achieve this goal.”

Removing invasive plants

Over the next six months, the Urban Corps of San Diego County will remove non-native plants and trees along Airoso Avenue to Murray Dam as part of the Chaparral Canyon Habitat Restoration Project.

The removal of invasive plants and native habitat restoration will directly benefit the City of San Diego and the San Diego River Conservancy by improving water quality in the San Diego River, reducing the canyon’s vulnerability to wildfires.

Funding for the $382,513 project comes from the San Diego River Conservancy and the California’s Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.

Improving fish habitat

In addition, the city is working with California Department of Fish and Wildlife on a fisheries habitat enhancement project at Murray Reservoir through June 2020. The project is intended to increase fish abundance and angling opportunities for the public by adding fish habitat structures to the reservoir.

The fish habitat structures, including brush and synthetic materials, will provide the type of physical cover that several fish species prefer to nest near. The new structures are intended to increase reproduction and provide additional areas where juvenile and adult fish can avoid predation.

Murray Reservoir is open daily from sunrise to sunset and closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. A valid California Fishing License is required for anglers 16 years of age or older.