The Navajo Canyon Restoration Project aims to implement nature-based solutions to enhance sensitive native habitats and significantly decrease wildfire risk within Navajo Canyon, a large canyon system and in close proximity to Mission Trails Regional Park. Building on the successful completion of Phase I that removed 330 fire-prone non-native palms via helicopter, as well as and hundreds of smaller palms removed by hand, Phase II recognizes the urgent action needed to protect, enhance, and expand sensitive habitats. The City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department Open Space Division is the landowner and collaborative partner on this project, and the work is funded by the San Diego River Conservancy.
Project Goals:
Protect, enhance, and expand sensitive habitat, including maritime succulent scrub, coastal sage scrub, and riparian woodland, supporting critical habitat for numerous endangered, threatened, and listed species.
Reduce wildfire risk through removal of fire-prone palm trees that exist in dense stands throughout the 75.1 acre project area. This includes removal of 500 invasive palms via helicopter lift, as well as 350 smaller palms via hand-removal.
Utilize nature-based solutions to mitigate erosion and improve watershed health through installation of waddles on steep stream banks.
Engage with the community through volunteer stewardship, neighborhood flyering, and educational meetings.
Collaborate with Renascence Project on restoration design planning and project-specific cultural literacy training, bringing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into conversation with Western science throughout planning and implementation to support a more holistic approach to ecological restoration.
Our Approach:
1) Conduct comprehensive biological surveys for sensitive plant and wildlife species in the project area, as well as identifying and mapping exact coordinates for palms to be removed.
2) Create safe temporary paths for arborists to navigate through the project area and reach palms.
3) Prepare for felling operations by removing palm fronds up to 4 feet and clearing a 6 foot radius around the base of each large palm.
4) Large palms will be felled by West Coast Arborist and lifted out via helicopter. Smaller palms and other invasive species will be removed throughout the duration of the project.
5) Debris clean up and preparation of planting sites.
6) Installation of native plant species by Canyonlands Restoration team and community volunteers, from the riparian area up to the Brush Management Zone.
Getting Involved:
Our community is at the heart of everything we do! We want you engaged in every aspect of this project so we can achieve our goals in a way that aligns with community needs.
A few ways you can learn more and get involved include:
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Sign up for a volunteer event and come hang out with us in the City Heights canyons.
Follow us on Instagram for more consistent updates on project progress and our other programs.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the Navajo Canyon Restoration Project, please submit them here and we will get back to you as soon as possible.