EHL Newsletter, Summer 2006 Vol 16 No 3

Fifteen years ago this summer, conservationists convened at Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County. The US Fish and Wildlife Service had been petitioned to protect the California gnatcatcher – flagship for the imperiled coastal sage scrub ecosystem – under the Endangered Species Act. As the building industry organized in opposition, EHL formed to save the bird.

In 2001, EHL and the Sierra Club settled litigation with the City of Ontario over new development, establishing a mitigation fund anticipated to yield over $22 million for conservation. Now, with the selection of land trusts to implement the program, this partnership with the city has reached an important milestone.

EHL’s comments on an environmental impact report helped prevent a “donut hole” subject to development from forming in the emerging Ramona Grasslands reserve.

To complement EHL’s advocacy work, the Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC) was formed in late 2005 to work directly with property owners to conserve their land through purchase or easement. EHC can also hold and manage habitat lands.

EHL appeared in the news media on several topics: restoration of the upper San Diego River, protection of the magnificent Rancho Guejito near Escondido, threats to coastal sage scrub in the Baja California portion of our shared ecoregion, and on an ill-advised potential sale of public lands.

EHL gratefully acknowledges support from The San Diego Foundation’s Community Partnership Grants Program, H. William Kuni Fund, and Orca Fund. The San Diego Foundation is a broad-purpose community foundation with the common goal of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region.

Pizza

-- By Jess Morton