Past News Releases

July, 2006: Weed Awareness Week CWN's Project NIIMBY Weed Warrior Awards

See the 2006 Weed Warrior press release on organizations, individuals, and cities honored for their contribution to invasive removal in Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit.

 

October, 2004: Invasives Removal Grant!

The Carlsbad Watershed Network (CWN) which is comprised of four lagoon foundations: Buena Vista, Agua Hedionda, Batiquitos, and San Elijo, plus The Escondido Creek Conservancy, has been awarded a $3.96M grant by the State Water Resource Control Board (Prop 13 funds) for an invasive species (Priority I, riparian zone) removal and management plan.

This project is dedicated to Dr. Alan Thum, whose brain child it was, and who penned the pre-proposal. This was Alan's last grant project before his untimely death on May 14th, 2003. Special thanks go out to CWN members for their dedicated work on the finalization of this grant: Isabelle Kay, Doug Gibson, Merle Okino O’Neill, and Juliette Nowak, and Brad Roth.
Courtesy of The Escondido Creek Conservancy Newsletter

April, 2000: Local citizens complete trail system

One hundred and thirty-one volunteers spent 1,315 hours of hard labor to construct a 2.5-mile system of trails in the Hosp Grove area of Carlsbad between January 23, 1999 to April 5, 2000.

"Our mission was to demonstrate that volunteers are willing and able to build and maintain trails and greenways" said Gary Hill volunteer coordinator and local resident. "This effort reduces the financial issues to acceptable levels allowing trail projects to go forward."

The project was divided into two phases. The first phase, 1 1/2 miles was constructed by 123 volunteers using only hand tools. The last mile was constructed in phase II using a compact tractor borrowed from the San Diego County Trails Council.

"We wanted to show that with the right equipment, trails could be built with only a few volunteers," Hill said. Fifteen people ultimately worked on phase II, two volunteers completed 76% of the trail, with just four working to complete 90% of the trail. The volunteers came from area businesses, civic organizations and interested citizens. The staff and their families of the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad supplied more than half of the hours worked on the trail.

"We have a committed group of people at GIA who want to do their part to better the community," said Hill who is a corporate director at GIA. "The trails allow people to get away from the stresses of the modern world, adding greatly to their quality of life."

A number of partnerships were formed to implement the volunteer trail program. The Carlsbad Watershed Network coordinated California Coastal Conservancy grant funding through the Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation. The City of Carlsbad issued the approvals and permits, and the citizens supplied the labor.

The City of Carlsbad recently provided a Community Activity Grant of $15,000 to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. This grant, the remaining funds from the Coastal Conservancy grant, and $1,000 from GIA allowed for the purchase of a compact tractor set-up for trail building. The tractor arrived just in time for the last weekend of trail construction.

"We now have a network of volunteers, the essential trail tools and a compact tractor, ready and waiting for the next trail project, Hill said. When the city of Carlsbad decides to take the next step forward with the Citywide Trail System and issues the approvals and permits, volunteers will begin work on the next section of trail."

For more information, or interested in volunteering, for the next phase of the Carlsbad Volunteer Trail Project visit our web site at http://www.sdctc.com/carlsbad or contact Gary Hill at GIA, (760) 603-4010

February, 1998: Protection for Coastal Wetlands in North County

See the 1998 RCDGSD press release on the formation of the Carlsbad Watershed Network.