Friends of Rose Canyon
2009 Accomplishments

Free nature events in Rose Canyon Open Space Park brought out hundreds of kids and adults

• "Insects at Night"events. Entomologist Michael Klein set up black lights to attract insects, then kids and adults alike caught them in bug boxes, and Michael identified each one before it was let go.
• Spring bird walks. Participants experienced the amazing sights and sounds of migrating and resident birds.
• Owl Prowls: one owl prowl began with a spectacular sunset over Rose Canyon. The other began with a Great-horned owl flying overhead, landing, then rising up to do an aerial dance with its mate against the evening sky.
• Spider Hunts. Participants found spiders with Jim Berrian, spider expert from the SD Natural History Museum.
• Star Party at Marcy Park. Over 200 people came to look through high-end telescopes brought by volunteers from the San Diego Astronomy Association. They saw the moon, Jupiter's moons, a double star, and more.
• Guided nature walks for numerous school groups and scout groups and an REI sponsored bi-lingual walk.

Proposed High Speed Rail Route: A Major Threat to Rose Canyon Open Space Park:
   134 trains per day, 12 foot high chain link security fences, poles and overhead wires (like the trolley) We learned to our shock that the proposed route for a high-speed rail line runs right through Rose Canyon, including past UC High School.  A previous environmental study that identified this route stated that high-speed rail projects are generally not compatible with parks, but the study failed to recognize the existence of Rose Canyon Open Space Park! Many people attended meetings of the local planning group (the UCPG) to protest the route through Rose Canyon and to call for the full study of an alternate route in the upcoming Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Also, many people sent emails in opposition. In the coming months, we will learn whether or not the CA High-Speed Rail Authority will drop the proposed route through Rose Canyon.  Friends of Rose Canyon has hired an attorney to represent us on this.

Legal action to preserve Rose Canyon Open Space Park
We filed a second lawsuit against the City of San Diego in November, 2007 when the city violated state environmental law by approving a $4.8 million contract to do final design of the proposed Regents Road bridge project when they had not first done an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  They shelved their previous inadequate EIR in order to settle our fist lawsuit.  This lawsuit is ongoing.

SD Children and Nature Collaborative: Votes by our supporters helped win it a second $50,000 grant!
We helped to found this collaboration of many organizations to share ideas and resources on programs that bring children out into nature. This local effort reflects the national movement to connect kids and nature (the Children and Nature Network) inspired by Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods about how today’s children are growing up disconnected from nature.  The San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative received a $50,000 grant from Sempra Energy, and in response to our email alert, many people voted for the collaborative to receive a second $50,000 grant. The big surge of votes our supporters generated helped put the organization over the top to win.

Flyway Cities Coalition
We received a $1,200 grant to hold bird walks and a native plant restoration project and educate the public about the important role San Diego County plays (including areas like Rose Canyon) as a stopover for migrating birds to rest and feed. We also distributed the Coalition’s flyers on 10 native plants for your garden that benefit birds and other wildlife.

Mitigation areas in Rose Canyon Open Space Park
The fenced areas in Rose Canyon are mitigation projects being carried out by the Metropolitan Wastewater Department to restore native plants in four areas of Rose Canyon Open Space Park. The project appears to be going well.  We support this effort and are monitoring it.  Native plants benefit wildlife – and many birds do seem to be liking it.

Patagonia Grant
We received a $2,000 grant from Patagonia. They are regular supporters. Please visit their store in Cardiff – mention us.

Water Quality Monitoring of Rose Creek
Our volunteers regularly collect water samples in Rose Creek as part of San Diego Coastkeeper’s citizen monitoring program. The samples are analyzed, and the results are building a picture of water quality in Rose Creek over time. Rose Creek flows into Mission Bay, so its water quality affects that of Mission Bay.