East County Magazine

Supervisors greenlight pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir, promising expanded access
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram By Karen Pearlman Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) — In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to

Orphaned Mountain Lion Cubs Return to Wild
Printer-friendly version San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program helps young big cats reclaim their place in nature Source: San Diego Humane Society September 29, 2025 (Ramona) — Two mountain lion cubs who arrived at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center as orphans in March have been returned to the wild. The young carnivores were released into suitable habitat

Clean swimming: San Vicente Reservoir gets new floating restroom
Printer-friendly versionThe floating restroom at San Vicente Reservoir. (Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego) By JW August, Times of San Diego Sept. 13, 2025 (Lakeside) — Good news for anyone who uses San Vicente Reservoir to fish, swim or boat — the 1,600-acre reservoir has a new floating bathroom. The previous floating john is past

Cottonwood sand mine in Rancho San Diego rejected by Board of Supervisors
Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Karen Pearlman contributed to this report Sept. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine project in Rancho San Diego was rejected unanimously Wednesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. In a packed board room, the supervisors heard from more than 100 speakers in a span of over two hours,

City of La Mesa gifting trees, hosting education series
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 10, 2025 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is hoping more trees will sprout up after it hosts a four-event educations series from September through November. As part of the series, thanks to partner Tree San Diego, 100 free trees will be distributed to La Mesa residents. La Mesa is partnering with Tree

Proposed Lakeside Sand Mine Owner Sues City of San Diego for Damages From Water Release at El Capitan Dam
Printer-friendly version 91-year-old dam is too dangerous for city to keep reservoir filled, leading to massive water waste and now, damage claims downstream Updated Sept. 5, 2025 with additional seismic risk details. By Karen Pearlman Sept. 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – A lawsuit against the city of San Diego is highlighting safety and management concerns at the El

Rollback of “Roadless Rule” to allow logging and road construction in National Forests draws opposition from tribes and ecologists
Printer-friendly version Trump administration opens 21-day public comment period Aug. 29-Sept. 19 By Miriam Raftery Photo: Cedar Creek Falls, one of the most scenic hiking destinations in San Diego’s East County, is in a roadless portion of Cleveland National Forest. August 29, 2025 (San Diego) — The Trump administration announced it is seeking public comment on its proposal to rescind the

Toxic Algae Bloom at Mission Trails Dam Site
Printer-friendly versionSource: San Diego River Park Foundation August 28, 2025 (San Diego) – Water samples collected last week at Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park have tested positive for a cyanotoxin that can be harmful to people and pets. The San Diego River Foundation has posted caution signs, in cooperation with the California Water Boards San Diego Region

California Supreme Court hands victory to rooftop solar panel owners
Printer-friendly versionBy Malena Carollo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: rooftop solar panels on a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, on Feb. 18, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters August 7, 2025 (Oakland) – The California Supreme Court today sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the

County closes three parks in August to protect hikers from heat
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: El Capitan County Preserve August 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – As summer temperatures rise, the County of San Diego has closed three parks that it shuts down every year for the month of August to protect residents during what is often the hottest time of the year. Parks officials announced
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

JUDGE RULES AGAINST SANTEE’S FANITA RANCH; CITY MULLS APPEAL
Printer-friendly version Court finds City Council should have allowed citizens to vote on ballot initiative before approving project By Mike Allen Photo: Fanita Ranch site, courtesy of Preserve Wild Santee August 15, 2024 (Santee) — Santee’s Fanita Ranch project, which would put about 3,000 new homes into the northwest quarter of the city, was dealt another set back last week

JUDGE RULES AGAINST SANTEE’S FANITA RANCH; CITY MULLS APPEAL
Printer-friendly version Court finds City Council should have allowed citizens to vote on ballot initiative before approving project By Mike Allen Photo: Fanita Ranch site, courtesy of Preserve Wild Santee August 15, 2024 (Santee) — Santee’s Fanita Ranch project, which would put about 3,000 new homes into the northwest quarter of the city, was dealt another set back last week

JUDGE RULES AGAINST SANTEE’S FANITA RANCH; CITY MULLS APPEAL
Printer-friendly version Court finds City Council should have allowed citizens to vote on ballot initiative before approving project By Mike Allen Photo: Fanita Ranch site, courtesy of Preserve Wild Santee August 15, 2024 (Santee) — Santee’s Fanita Ranch project, which would put about 3,000 new homes into the northwest quarter of the city, was dealt another set back last week
SUPERVISOR ANDERSON SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO OPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET
Printer-friendly version East County News Service August 11, 2024 (Alpine)—Supervisor Joel Anderson is asking the public to sign a petition which he will deliver to Sweetwater Water Authority asking the agency to restore sunrise-to-sunset hours at Loveland Reservoir. You can sign the petition here. Anderson has emerged as a champion for local recreational enthusiasts seeking to protect access at several
SUPERVISOR ANDERSON SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO OPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET
Printer-friendly version East County News Service August 11, 2024 (Alpine)—Supervisor Joel Anderson is asking the public to sign a petition which he will deliver to Sweetwater Water Authority asking the agency to restore sunrise-to-sunset hours at Loveland Reservoir. You can sign the petition here. Anderson has emerged as a champion for local recreational enthusiasts seeking to protect access at several
SUPERVISOR ANDERSON SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO OPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET
Printer-friendly version East County News Service August 11, 2024 (Alpine)—Supervisor Joel Anderson is asking the public to sign a petition which he will deliver to Sweetwater Water Authority asking the agency to restore sunrise-to-sunset hours at Loveland Reservoir. You can sign the petition here. Anderson has emerged as a champion for local recreational enthusiasts seeking to protect access at several

COUNTY “LEEDS” THE WAY ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Printer-friendly version By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office August 7, 2024 (San Diego) –When the County broke ground last month on its seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit in El Cajon—a place to give people in the midst of crisis a calm place to recover—it wasn’t just a boon for behavioral health. It was also a boost for the

COUNTY “LEEDS” THE WAY ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Printer-friendly version By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office August 7, 2024 (San Diego) –When the County broke ground last month on its seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit in El Cajon—a place to give people in the midst of crisis a calm place to recover—it wasn’t just a boon for behavioral health. It was also a boost for the

COUNTY “LEEDS” THE WAY ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Printer-friendly version By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office August 7, 2024 (San Diego) –When the County broke ground last month on its seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit in El Cajon—a place to give people in the midst of crisis a calm place to recover—it wasn’t just a boon for behavioral health. It was also a boost for the

TWO COUNTY PARKS IN EAST COUNTY CLOSE FOR AUGUST DUE TO HIGH HEAT
Printer-friendly version Photo: El Capitan County Preserve By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office August 7, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)– Due to triple-digit temperatures, two County parks will be closed for the month of August. They are El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside and Mt. Gower County Preserve in Ramona. These locations have difficult trails that end in isolated areas.
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.