Current and Ongoing Projects
Protect Our Preserves, Inc. has been working with The Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon on the removal of invasive species in several locations within the canyon as well as the preservation of old growth oaks.
Darkwood Canyon
Located between I-56 and Park Village Road, this part of Darkwood Canyon is approximately 85 acres and is part of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. This area has been taken over by invasive pampas grass, fennel, artichoke, tamarisk, mustard palms, and euphorbia, all non-native species which stifle the growth of natural species critical to the survival of birds and mammals. The goal is to restore the native habitat. The project, started in February 2023, has been successful in removing the majority of the invasives and ongoing monitoring will continue through the summer of 2027.
Photo by Antonella Zampolli from Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
Harrier Hill
Located on the south side of the west end of the Los Penasquitos Canyon, Harrier Hill is home to the endangered Northern Harrier raptor. Northern Harriers are ground nesting raptors that need grasslands tall enough to hide from predators but not so tall as to prevent nesting. This particular area has tall artichoke thistle and sweet fennel that prevent the Harrier from gliding low and dropping in on their prey. Removal of the invasive plants is critical for the survival of the Harrier. The project started in February 2023 and is ongoing to approximately June 2026.
Old Growth Oaks
The oak trees have been a staple of the Los Penasquitos Canyon but are currently under threat from the adult gold spotted oak borer which feeds on oak foliage. Females lay eggs in cracks and crevices of oak bark. Once the eggs hatch, they burrow into the nutrient and water conducting tissue of the tree and eventually cause the tree to die.. Many trees have already succumbed to this borer. To prevent further destruction of the oak trees they must be treated in the spring with a pesticide to prevent the emergence of adult borers. The project started in June 2023 and ended the same month. The Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon will continue to monitor the canyon for further evidence of the borer.
Photo from Friends of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
Completed Projects
The Water Truck Project
The Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve thank POPs for the donation that made possible the purchase of the new 525 gallon Multiquip water trailer. We then donated it to the City Rangers for use in Penasquitos Canyon, Carmel Mtn. Preserve, and the Del Mar Mesa Preserve. The Friends are also using it for our restoration projects. This donation was done in this fashion since the city bureaucracy would have taken forever to make this happen. The trailer replaces a more primitive and inefficient way we use to deliver water to our sites. Both the rangers and ourselves have placed 50 gallon blue barrels at various places in our sites. Before a volunteer event we drive around and fill up each barrel. Volunteers now don’t have to walk long distances back to the Friends (or ranger’s truck) to fill up the watering jugs. We and our volunteers love it! By the way, we all now fill up with creek water, rather than paying for our city tap water.
