East County Magazine
Trump aims to open California coast to oil drilling; Senator Padilla and Governor Newsom denounce plan
Printer-friendly versionDraft proposal seeks six California lease sales despite clear legal limits and decades of bipartisan coastal protections By Miriam Raftery Photo: dead seabirds killed by the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska in 1989. Source. November 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – The Trump administration today released its draft 2027 to 2032 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing plan, the most
Long-awaited victory: Glorietta Canyon saved after two-decade quest
Printer-friendly version Some native plants have already begun to show up in Glorietta Canyon, like this chinchweed that’s growing on the pad where the previous owner of the property had his trailer. Photo courtesy Anza Borrego Foundation East County News Service Nov. 18, 2025 (Borrego Springs) — A nearly two-decade conservation effort has culminated in a major victory for the
Board of Supervisors to discuss land use on Nov. 19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is continuing a critical conversation about the future of housing and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Spring Valley, Lakeside and Casa de Oro. The Board of Supervisors will discuss land use legislations at its meeting
Governor Newsom attends COP30 Climate Summit that President Trump skips, after UN warns of highest C02 spikes in history
Printer-friendly versionCalifornia has reduced greenhouse gas emissions 20% since 2000, while state’s GDP rose 81% By G. A. McNeeley November 13, 2025 (Brazil) — Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the highest amount on record last year, soaring to levels never seen in human civilization. That’s “turbocharging” the earth’s climate and causing more extreme weather,
Pumpkin Smash event turns Halloween waste into environmental wins
Printer-friendly versionLocal students join I Love A Clean San Diego to divert organic waste from landfills Story and photo via I Love a Clean San Diego November 4, 2025 (Spring Valley) — On Monday, November 3, students at Sweetwater Springs Elementary School participated in a unique post-Halloween event aimed at reducing organic waste and promoting environmental education. Hosted by I
Vegetables sprout in new $1.67 billion County Crop Report
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office November 1, 2025 (San Diego) – Agriculture values rose by just over 1% to $1.67 billion, and vegetable and vine crops thrived in San Diego County’s Annual Crop Report released today. The new Crop Report, which covers the 2024 growing season, showed the county’s list of Top 10 crops changed
Federal government seeks to repeal protections for bighorn sheep on public land
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo by Susan Massey: Bighorn rams on Bureau of Land Management property in Ocotillo, adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Oct. 28, 2025 (East County) – The Trump administration is proposing to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule in order to fast-track oil and gas exploration. The rule protects
Nonprofit saves San Diego County’s tallest waterfall
Printer-friendly versionBy Taina Fonseca, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: Mildred Falls. Photo by Alexander S. Kunz October 26, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego River Park Foundation has successfully purchased a 58-acre parcel from a private owner, the organization announced this week. Why is that important? Because
Climate Action Plan and Green Building Incentive Program: County hosts virtual meeting Oct. 28
Printer-friendly versionSource: County of San Diego October 23, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about and share your input on the County’s implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the development of the Green Building
Full Moon Walk in Anza Borrego’s South Palm Wash Nov. 5
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 21, 2025 (Anza Borrego)—You’re invited to walk by the light of a full moon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park’s South Palm Canyon Wash on November 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. The hike will be led by Mike McElhatton, education director at the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA). “Experience the unique
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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.
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.
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.
EARTHTALK®: AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS HELPS MOVE U.S. TOWARD GREEN ECONOMY
Printer-friendly versionBy Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss Dear EarthTalk: What’s the idea behind the recent launch of the American Climate Corps by the Biden administration? —Paula B., Corpus Christi, TX July 27, 2024 (Texas) — The American Climate Corps (ACC) marks a significant step in the U.S.’s approach to climate change. It aims to engage young Americans in
EARTHTALK®: AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS HELPS MOVE U.S. TOWARD GREEN ECONOMY
Printer-friendly versionBy Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss Dear EarthTalk: What’s the idea behind the recent launch of the American Climate Corps by the Biden administration? —Paula B., Corpus Christi, TX July 27, 2024 (Texas) — The American Climate Corps (ACC) marks a significant step in the U.S.’s approach to climate change. It aims to engage young Americans in
ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: EAST COUNTY OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON YOUTH
Printer-friendly versionBy David R. Shorey, San Diego County Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies July 19, 2024 (San Diego) — The Institute for Public Strategies recently launched its East County Outdoor Opportunities (EcoOp) program. It is a transformative initiative to expand access to nature for low-income and disadvantaged youth in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley/La Presa, and El Cajon. With
ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: EAST COUNTY OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON YOUTH
Printer-friendly versionBy David R. Shorey, San Diego County Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies July 19, 2024 (San Diego) — The Institute for Public Strategies recently launched its East County Outdoor Opportunities (EcoOp) program. It is a transformative initiative to expand access to nature for low-income and disadvantaged youth in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley/La Presa, and El Cajon. With
SIERRA CLUB SUES TO BLOCK GREENHILLS RANCH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN LAKESIDE OVER WILDFIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery July 17, 2024 (Lakeside) – After San Diego County Supervisors unanimously approved the Greenhills Ranch housing development in Lakeside near Lake Jennings, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the County and Atlas Real Estate seeking to block the project. “Greenhills Ranch is textbook wasteful urban sprawl development on open space in a fire
SIERRA CLUB SUES TO BLOCK GREENHILLS RANCH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN LAKESIDE OVER WILDFIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery July 17, 2024 (Lakeside) – After San Diego County Supervisors unanimously approved the Greenhills Ranch housing development in Lakeside near Lake Jennings, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the County and Atlas Real Estate seeking to block the project. “Greenhills Ranch is textbook wasteful urban sprawl development on open space in a fire
FRIENDS OF LOVELAND RESERVOIR ASK PUBLIC HELP AFTER FOREST SERVICES DENIES REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RESTORE SUNRISE-TO-SUNSET ACCESS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery July 11, 2024 (Alpine) – The nonprofit Friends of Loveland Reservoir has been advocating for a return of sunrise-to-sunset hours at Sweetwater Reservoir. Such access was agreed to along with an easement as part of a land-swap deal between the U.S. Forest Service and Sweetwater Water Authority (SWA) years ago, but in recent years amid tightened
FRIENDS OF LOVELAND RESERVOIR ASK PUBLIC HELP AFTER FOREST SERVICES DENIES REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RESTORE SUNRISE-TO-SUNSET ACCESS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery July 11, 2024 (Alpine) – The nonprofit Friends of Loveland Reservoir has been advocating for a return of sunrise-to-sunset hours at Sweetwater Reservoir. Such access was agreed to along with an easement as part of a land-swap deal between the U.S. Forest Service and Sweetwater Water Authority (SWA) years ago, but in recent years amid tightened
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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.