Navajo Canyon Open
Space and Chollas Radio Canyon Open Space both have recent recorded occurrences of Coastal Cactus
Wren.
The primary goal is to create, enhance and expand existing Coastal Cactus Wren (CACW) habitat and
reduce the threat of wildfire and invasive plant conversion by replacing areas of invasive flashy fuels with
native cactus in City of SD Chollas Radio Canyon and Navajo Canyon Open Spaces. The main objectives to
reach these goals are 1) to perform brush removal and invasive weed control within newly proposed and
existing CACW sites, and 2) harvest and plant cactus cuttings from existing mature native prickly pear and
coast cholla to create more CACW habitat. Urban Corps crews will be hired to perform initial and ongoing
brush and weed clearing so that City staff can perform herbicide applications to control the weeds in the
CACW habitat. Urban Corps labor will also be used to harvest cactus cuttings from existing specimens
onsite at both locations and install them in the CACW habitat enhancement sites. Urban Corps crews will
also be used to install erosion control materials. City staff will oversee and manage the project. This
project will build on past projects performed by AECOM and Urban Corps that worked to create and
enhance Coastal Cactus Wren habitat in Chollas Radio Canyon Open Space.
In 2002, the City of San Diego (City) received funding through a U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) Section 6 Planning Grant to complete an inventory and
management plan of vernal pools within the City's jurisdiction.
This inventory builds on several previous studies and surveys, which were used
to determine the general locations of individual vernal pools and complexes.
Beauchamp (1979) and Bauder (1986) covered the greater portion of San Diego
County, and represent complexes as polygons. Villasenor and Riggan (1979) and
Zedler and Ebert (1979) mapped the boundaries of individual vernal pool basins within
Kearny Mesa and Del Mar Mesa, respectively. Much of the area currently owned by
the City and other jurisdictions has never been surveyed for specific vernal pools and,
in many cases, historical maps do not accurately represent the existing basins. This
inventory does not, however, include vernal pools known to occur on military lands
(i.e., MCAS Miramar, Navy Chollas Heights) within the City but not under City
jurisdiction.
BACKGROUND
In collaboration with Groundwork San Diego and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG),
AECOM was selected to enhance and restore existing and potential coastal cactus wren
(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) habitat
in Encanto and Radio Canyons. Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek (Groundwork) is an independent,
not-for-profit, environmental business that works within San Diego's Chollas Creek Watershed to
improve the environment, economy, and quality of life in the area through local community projects.
Over the past several years, Groundwork has been an integral part of the restoration and enhancement
of the Chollas Creek area. The project was funded by SANDAG under the Transnet Environmental
Mitigation Program (EMP).
This project was identified as an opportunity to create and enhance habitat for the coastal cactus wren
(Photo 1) and California gnatcatcher and offer a more native landscape for the community surrounding
the sites. The habitat enhancement and restoration objectives included removal of nonnative plant
cover and planting of approximately 20,000 new cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia prolifera), which is
preferred nesting habitat for the coastal cactus wren. The California gnatcatcher would also benefit from
the improved habitat, since this species is also present in the project area and uses maritime succulent
scrub habitat in conjunction with coastal sage scrub habitat. Enhancement and expansion of areas with
existing occupied gnatcatcher and cactus wren habitats improves and expands habitat for both species,
improving the chances for the long-term health of local and regional populations. This project also
offered a unique opportunity for students and residents within the surrounding canyon communities to
play an important role in project planning and implementing of the coastal cactus wren.
AECOM and Groundwork collaborated in the execution of project tasks. AECOM led the site mapping,
habitat restoration, monitoring, maintenance, and reporting tasks, and Groundwork led the educational,
community involvement, and publicity aspects of the project.
The project is located in the community of Encanto in southern San Diego, California, north of Market
Street between Euclid Avenue and Merlin Drive (Figures 1 and 2). The total area of both canyons
combined is 73.62 acres. Encanto Canyon consists of 37.24 acres and Radio Canyon consists of 36
In collaboration with Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek (Groundwork) and the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG), AECOM was selected to enhance and restore existing
and potential coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and coastal California
gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) habitat in Encanto and Radio Canyons.
Groundwork is an independent, not-for-profit environmental organization that works within San
Diego’s Chollas Creek Watershed to improve the environment, economy, and quality of life in
the area through local community projects. Over the past several years, Groundwork has been
an integral part of the restoration and enhancement of the Chollas Creek area. The project was
funded by SANDAG under the Transnet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP).
In collaboration with Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek (Groundwork) and the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG), AECOM was selected to enhance and restore existing
and potential coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and coastal California
gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) habitat in Encanto and Radio Canyons.
Groundwork is an independent, not-for-profit environmental organization that works within San
Diego’s Chollas Creek Watershed to improve the environment, economy, and quality of life in
the area through local community projects. Over the past several years, Groundwork has been
an integral part of the restoration and enhancement of the Chollas Creek area. The project was
funded by SANDAG under the Transnet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP).
In collaboration with Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek (Groundwork) and the San Diego Association
of Governments (SANDAG), AECOM was selected to enhance and restore existing and potential coastal
cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica
californica) habitat in Encanto and Radio Canyons. Groundwork is an independent, not-for-profit,
environmental business that works within San Diego’s Chollas Creek Watershed to improve the
environment, economy, and quality of life in the area through local community projects. Over the past
several years, Groundwork has been an integral part of the restoration and enhancement of the Chollas
Creek area. The project was funded by SANDAG under the Transnet Environmental Mitigation Program
(EMP).
This project was identified as an opportunity to create and enhance habitat for the coastal cactus wren
(Photo 1) and California gnatcatcher and offer a more native landscape for the community surrounding
the sites. This is consistent with the goals as identified in the Chollas Creek Enhancement Plan (2001).
The habitat enhancement and restoration objectives included removal of nonnative plant cover and
planting of approximately 20,000 new coast cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia prolifera), which is preferred
nesting habitat for the coastal cactus wren. The California gnatcatcher would also benefit from the
improved habitat, since this species is also present in the project area and uses maritime succulent scrub
habitat in conjunction with coastal sage scrub habitat. Enhancement and expansion of areas with
existing occupied gnatcatcher and cactus wren habitats improve and expand habitat for both species,
improving the chances for the long-term health of local and regional populations. This project also
offered a unique opportunity for students and residents within the surrounding canyon communities to
play an important role in planning and implementing of the habitat restoration program.
