If you are a frequent visitor to Mission Trails, you may have noticed the work that’s being done along the major trails throughout the park.  

Thanks to grant funding from the San Diego River Conservancy, a state agency established to enhance the San Diego River watershed, the nonprofit Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation launched a habitat restoration and invasive plant removal project this fall. The MTRP Foundation has contracted RECON Environmental to conduct the majority of the work and is collaborating with staff from City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department on this project.

Since September, our crews have been hard at work in several areas in the park.

So far, we have removed five nonnative palm trees from the Deerfield Trailhead, 15 eucalyptus trees from the base of Cowles Mountain, and have filled nine 40-yard dumpsters of invasive species and fire fuel from the Oak Grove Loop and Father Junipero Serra Trail. On the horizon, the crews will conduct this work along the Visitor Center Loop Trail, the grasslands area, and Kumeyaay Lake Trail in the coming months.

Removing dead brush and fire-prone invasive plant species, such as palm trees and fountain grass, helps reduce fire risk within the park and the nearby communities. Additionally, this work supports and maintains the critical habitat and biodiversity at Mission Trails. 

San Diego is a biodiversity hotspot, meaning there is great variety in the flora and fauna, and is one of the most biodiverse areas in the nation. Unfortunately, San Diego is also home to the greatest number of plant and animal species threatened with extinction. 

One of the greatest threats to biodiversity and endangered habitat is the introduction of invasive species. 

This project can help raise awareness of the importance of native plants, increase the park’s fire resiliency, reduce the likelihood of fire within the park and in nearby neighborhoods, as well as expand and improve critical native habitat. 

The project will have a resounding impact on the health of the ecosystems here at Mission Trails Regional Park, and we are excited to work on the multi-year project to benefit the park and our community.