We are the San Diego Regional Group of the Power In Nature Coalition

Otay Valley Regional Park

Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) is a large major natural asset located within populated areas in our South Bay region, some of which are underserved. Numerous environmental and social forces degrade the park’s capacity to provide both a healthy place for native wildlife and opportunities for park users to have adequate accessibility. California’s Wildlife Conservation Board has provided funding for a shovel-ready plan to restore and connect an existing piece of park land. The project site is 15-acres within OVRP that is currently mostly a non-native eucalyptus grove. It is a priority for restoration in OVRP’s Concept Plan. This plan will include a site design that best conserves native wildlife and biodiversity while engaging the community, creating greater habitat connectivity within the park, and improving water quality.

OVRP Location
OVRP Skyline

About This Project

Who is proposing this project?

Project Partners

  • Resource Conservation District (RCD) Greater San Diego County – The project’s lead organization providing overall project management.
  • City of San Diego; City of Chula Vista; County of San Diego – City of San Diego is the lead landowner/jurisdiction, also working through OVRP’s Joint Exercise of Powers Authority (JEPA) governance structure comprised of these three jurisdictions.
  • San Diego Green Infrastructure Consortium – Applying its state-of-the-art expertise to introduce as many nature-based solutions as possible and create synergies through a coalition of partners.
  • Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) – Using its expertise in upstream prevention of health problems and its network of grassroots organizations in South Bay.
  • San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center (PIC) – Applying its expertise and broad network of local jurisdictions to this multi-jurisdictional area.
  • Mongol Tribe – Applying restorative land management practices to habitat restoration..
  • Lumbercycle – As an urban forestry organization, using it expertise in repurposing and upcycling local urban wood.

 

What is proposed?

The five goals below support the overall goal of developing a holistic plan to not only improve the wildlife habitat and connectivity within the property but also connectivity to adjacent park property and the surrounding residents. Benefits would accrue for native habitat. water availability and quality, fire and heat resilience, air quality and public accessibility.

  • Restore native habitat appropriate to supporting local wildlife, especially native and at risk species, while reducing air and water pollution, erosion, and fire risk.
  • Enable native wildlife to connect both within the property and adjacent OVRP property through natural patterns such as water and air flows, and wildlife corridors.
  • Improve water quality, availability and drought tolerance through stormwater reduction, improved infiltration, and reduced erosion, using nature-based solutions to the extent feasible.
  • Increase public access to enable more park use, especially by local community members, so they can directly experience native plants, animals, and supporting natural features.
  • Create community engagement and stewardship, especially from grassroots and tribes/bands, getting their input and support for the plan.

 Project Location

The site is located in the western section of OVRP. On one side it is adjacent to Rt. 805. The rest of it is surrounded by other parts of OVRP. Another side is close to but not directly bordering the Otay River.

Why is this project on the 30×30 list?

Our project supports the State’s Pathways to 30×30 strategy by laying the groundwork for restoring another piece of property into an appropriate natural state. One of the Governor’s goals, as described in his Executive Order, is advancing biodiversity conservation as a priority and elevating the role of nature in the fight against climate change, and the 30 x 30 initiative is a supporting initiative to that goal. This project supports the following 30 x 30 pathways:

  • Accelerate Regionally Led Conservation
  • Enhance Conservation of Existing Public Lands and Coastal Waters
  • Expand and Accelerate Environmental Restoration and Stewardship
  • Strengthen Coordination Among Governments
  • Advance and Promote Complementary Conservation Measures

 How will this project be completed?

  • The project began in December 2023. The objective is to complete it by January 2026 but there is leeway to complete it up until March 2027.
  • The current potential roadblock pertains to uncertainty about cost and time required to get the necessary permits. For example, we want to get a CEQA exemption under the SERP Program, but that program may expire at the end of 2024 before we can complete the steps necessary to get the exemption.
  • It is fully funded by California’s Wildlife Conservation Board. However, once the plan is completed, funding will be needed to implement the plan.
  • Support for the project will be needed to secure funding for project implementation. Any ideas for potential funding sources are appreciated.

For more information and project updates, go to: https://www.rcdsandiego.org/otay-connections

 

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