Restoration and Connection in Otay Valley Regional Park

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded $409,000 to the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County to lead a project called “Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) Restoration Planning” that created plans to restore a 15-acre site within OVRP. The site,  a non-native eucalyptus grove, was identified as a priority for restoration in the OVRP Concept Plan. This planning project explored how the site can best conserve native wildlife and biodiversity while engaging the community, creating greater habitat connectivity within the park, and improving water quality. 

This collaborative project had many partners, including the San Diego Green Infrastructure Consortium, the Institute for Public Strategies, Policy & Innovation Center, Mongol Tribe, and Lumbercycle.  

PIC helped identify grant opportunities to support the implementation phase. PIC also helped identify and bring together partnerships with local governments, community members, and identify long-term maintenance and stewardship planning for the restoration project. 

“This project encompasses WCB’s mission by effectively conserving biodiversity and increasing access to nature in a highly urbanized and under-served community,” said Jennifer Norris, WCB Executive Director. “Not only does it bring a diverse group of project proponents to the table, but it also centers collaboration to ensure a meaningful outcome for the local community.” 

The agencies that form the Joint Exercise of Powers Authority responsible for management of the OVRP – San Diego County and the Cities of San Diego and Chula Vista – are also Project partners.