San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy is an independent, non-regulatory state agency established to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River Area. Their mission is accomplished by conserving land, and protecting or providing recreational opportunities, open space, wildlife species and habitat, wetlands, water quality, natural flood conveyance, historical, cultural, and tribal resources, and educational opportunities. For example, one important Conservancy goal is to build, in conjunction with our partners, a River-long park and hiking trail stretching fifty-two miles from the River’s headwaters near Julian to the Pacific Ocean.
Grant Highlights
Wildfire Preparedness Grant
The San Diego River Conservancy has granted the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) $1.2 million for wildfire preparedness and vegetation management throughout the upper San Diego River watershed. This project includes purchasing equipment for both fire readiness and fuel treatments. Firefighters will utilize equipment on engines, crew buggies, helicopters, and patrol vehicles to increase their ability to respond to and extinguish wildfires. Facility improvements will increase readiness, especially during high wind events when power failures occur. Funding will improve nine fire stations/ranger stations/district offices and the preparedness of eleven fire engines, two hand crews, one helicopter, and four patrol units.
Progress on the 2024 Wildfire Preparedness Grant is off to a strong start! From January 1st through March 31, 2024, funding helped pay for several purchases made to support the Fuels Program and objectives.
Key purchases and work this quarter include:
Facilities maintenance at the following locations:
- Cameron Fire Station
- Descanso Fire Station
- Prevention Office
- Descanso Chief’s Office
- Alpine District Office
- Alpine Fire Station
- Sunrise Work Center
- Japatul Station
District Supplies including the following items:
- Stihl Chainsaws
- Felling Dogs
- Chainsaw Parts
- Fuel Drip
- Torches
- Plotter Ink for maps of fuel treatment areas
- Aircraft Monitor
- Aircraft Windsock
- Ice Machine for crew safety
Wildfire preparedness work utilizing supplies paid for by the San Diego River Conservancy occurred in the following watersheds:
- Mount Laguna/Descanso – 240 Acres of Hazardous Tree Mitigations
- Mount Laguna/Alpine - 360 Acres of Hazardous Fuels Reduction
- Mount Laguna/Cottonwood - 260 Acres of Prescribed Burning
Additionally, progress was made on the Road Brushing Contract including:
- The Road Brushing contract has been re-submitted into the contracting system and is being evaluated by Senior Procurement Executives.
Progress on the 2024 Wildfire Preparedness Grant continues. From June 6th through September 30, 2024, funding helped pay for several purchases to support the Fuels Program and objectives.
Key work this quarter includes:
- Project Administration and Financial Management work plan and salary of the Grant Administrator.
- Meetings with internal colleagues regarding implementation grant and reporting responsibilities required for reimbursement.
- Coordination structure for internal colleagues for tracking purchases and collaboration on grant progress.
- Implementation progress.
- Purchase of Respirator Fit Testing equipment.
Progress on the 2024 Wildfire Preparedness Grant continues. From October 1st through December 31, 2024, funding helped pay for several purchases to support the Fuels Program and objectives, though due to the extended fire season, many treatment activities have been delayed.
Key purchases and work this quarter include:
- Chain saw Bar Oil
- Pounders
- Wedges
- Chainsaw Parts
- Shovels
- Headlamps
- Gear Bags
Supplies purchased by fuels crew have been used on district projects for hazard tree removal, prescribed fire unit preparation, district hazardous fuels reduction on various projects, including:
- Mount Laguna Community Defense and Forest Health project units.
- Reestablishing Managed Fire in Oak Woodlands
- Bear Valley and Deer Park Units.
- Hose and Appliances Purchases
- Fittings and appliances purchased to repair fuels hose used for prescribed fire operations and projects in all district watersheds.
- New Fuels Positions Support Purchases, including computer monitors for Fuels Planner and Fuels Officer to support project planning and GIS work.
- UTV Rack for current Fuels UTV to attach pumps and necessary supply.
Additionally, progress was made on the Road Brushing Contract including:
- The contract package was submitted which included maps, estimate, etc.
- A contracting officer was assigned, and the contract is out for solicitation.
Progress on the Wildfire Preparedness Grant continues. From April 1st through June 30, 2025, funding helped pay for several purchases to support the Fuels Program and objectives.
Key purchases and work this quarter include:
This quarter, new trailhead signage acknowledging the San Diego River Conservancy’s support were installed at the following locations:
- Descanso Ranger District Office
- Laguna Mountain Visitors Center
- Penny Pines Trailhead
- Horsethief Canyon Trailhead
- Agua Dulce Trailhead
The following improvements occurred at Forest Service Fire Stations:
- Internet improvement at the Cameron Station.
- Enhance generators and generator transfer switches.
- Replacement fuel sampling oven.
District supply purchases, including the following items:
- Fire hoses and appliances.
- Gear for the existing fuels crew.
- Gear for the new fuels crew.
- Engine supplies.
- Fire extinguisher service and replacement.
- Prevention supplies for the district.
- General fire supplies for the district.
- Supplies for the new full time fuels position.
Wildfire preparedness work utilizing supplies paid for by the San Diego River Conservancy occurred in the following watersheds:
- Cottonwood Creek – 223 Acres of Prescribed Fire Preparation and Burning.
- Mount Laguna/Unit 32 - 119 Acres of Prescribed Fire Preparation and Burning.
- Laguna Mountain Recreation Area – 78 Acres of Hazard Tree Abatement.
- Mount Laguna/Units 57 and 35 – 56 Acres of Prescribed Burning and Public Safety Signage.
- Mount Laguna/Unit 12 - 10 Acres of Prescribed Burning.
Additionally, progress was made on the following contracts:
- Road Brushing
- Fuels Support/UTV
- Fuels Support/Tracked Chipper
San Diego River Conservancy Wildfire Resilience and Forest Health Grant
Since 2022, the San Diego River Conservancy has awarded the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) a total of $3,715,632 in grants to improve wildfire resiliency and forest health. With this funding, the Cleveland is able to:
- Promote wildfire risk reduction through fuel reduction practices, vegetative management and removal of dead or dying trees in high-risk zones such as the forests and along the wildland urban interfaces.
- Aid in wildfire suppression efforts and protect life and property from damage by implementing activities that reduce fuel loads.
- Accomplish fuels reduction on approximately 1,855 acres, 77 miles road brushing and 56 miles of road maintenance.
- Construct a helicopter landing zone and three 10,000-gallon underground water tanks will provide water to help reduce wildfire severity and improve safety of visitors and first responders.
- Identify methods to replace highly ignitable invasive plants with less-ignitable natives plant species within fuel breaks and roadsides.
- Fund Tribal monitoring for a variety of projects implemented within the San Diego River Conservancy's priority watersheds.
Photo Gallery
Related News & Resources
Prescribed Fire Operations Conclude for the Season
Fuels crews on the Cleveland National Forest wrapped up prescribed fire operations for the season. With the conclusion of prescribed fire operations, note that any smoke or flames seen on the Cleveland are not planned fires, and should be reported immediately by dialing 911.
News Release: San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy granted the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) $1.2 million for wildfire preparedness and vegetation management throughout the upper San Diego River watershed.
San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy is an independent, non-regulatory state agency established to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River Area.
Wildfire Risk Reduction
Funding from this Wildfire Preparedness Grant helps accomplish important prevention work which helps reduce wildfire risk. Learn more about Wildfire Risk Reduction efforts across Southern California.