East County Magazine
Trump administration’s impact on California’s enviornment and the agencies that work to protect it
Printer-friendly version Federal budget cuts have closed an EPA office and pose significant threat to California’s clean air, water, and clean energy sources By G. A. McNeeley July 25, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — On Thursday, July 10, California’s top leaders in wildfire response, water resources, natural lands and clean energy assembled to discuss budget cuts, staff reductions and more significant
Fanita Ranch challenged again in new lawsuit
Printer-friendly version By Mike Allen July 23, 2025 (Santee) — As expected, a coalition of environmental groups including Preserve Wild Santee have filed a new legal challenge against Santee’s biggest residential project, Fanita Ranch, which the City Council most recently approved in June. It was the third time in five years that the Santee City Council gave its approval to
State Parks Photo Contest Running Through Sept. 30
Printer-friendly versionAnza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman East County News Service July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks. The California State Parks Foundation
Cottonwood Sand Mine Backers Fail to Dredge Up Enough Votes, as Planners Deadlock
Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman …”I have never seen such a destructive project with such negative impacts on the people who live in a community.” — former Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a Jamul resident (photo, left) July 9, 2025 (San Diego) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine is a wash, at least for now. After nearly six hours of testimony, presentations and
INJURED MOUNTAIN LION RETURNS TO WILD; 2 OTHER CUBS CONTINUE REHAB AT RAMONA WILDLIFE CENTER
Printer-friendly versionStory and photos via San Diego Humane Society June 29, 2025 (Ramona) — After nearly five months of rehabilitation at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, a young mountain lion injured in a vehicle strike has been successfully released back into the wild. The male mountain lion, estimated to be around 10 months old, was released
WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN LOSES SD COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY FUNDING
Printer-friendly version Photo and story by Karen Pearlman June 26, 2025 (San Diego) – The fate of public access to the Water Conservation Garden in Rancho San Diego is a little less certain after another partner, the San Diego County Water Authority, on Thursday voted to withdraw its funding and participation from the Water Conservation Authority, operators of
SAN DIEGO RIVER CLEANUP IN SANTEE ON SATURDAY
Printer-friendly version Photo at Forester Creek in Santee by Karen Pearlman East County News Services June 27, 2025 (Santee) — If you care about the environment and don’t mind getting a little dirty, then a clean up at Forester Creek may be the perfect fit for you! The San Diego River Park Foundation is having a cleanup event from 8
COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY VOTES JUNE 26 WHETHER TO WITHDRAW FROM WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN: PETITION LAUNCHED TO SAVE GARDEN’S FUNDING
Printer-friendly version By Kristin Kjaero June 21, 2025 (San Diego) – – On June 26, San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) will vote on a staff recommendation to end its sponsorship and funding for the Water Conservation Garden. The Garden says accessibility to the public is at risk if SDCWA withdraws, and started an online petition campaign to request that
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SOUND ALARM OVER BUDGET AMENDMENT TO SELL OFF PUBLIC LANDS—INCLUDING FOREST LANDS IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Image: Lands proposed for sale in Rep. Darrell Issa’s district June 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Senate Republicans have slipped language into the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” budget reconciliation measure that would allow sale of up to 250 million acres of federal public lands in 11 states including California. The Wilderness Society
COTTONWOOD SAND MINE HEARING POSTPONED DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES; PLANNERS RECOMMEND DENIAL OF PROJECT
Printer-friendly versionUpdate: The hearing has been postponed until July 9. By Karen Pearlman June 13, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Technical difficulties with audiovisual needs postponed the San Diego County Planning Commission meeting today, delaying for at least a month an agenda item about a controversial sand mine being planned for East County. The 9 a.m. meeting at the county’s
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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.
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
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
AFTER OTAY FIRE, LA MESA CITY MANAGER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON SAFETY OF PROPOSED BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: Rendering of proposed Murray Project in La Mesa, via Enersmart’s project website July 8, 2024 (La Mesa) – A battery fire at the Gateway energy storage facility in Otay Mesa in May forced evacuation of nearby businesses for nearly two weeks. Enersmart has proposed building a battery energy storage facility at 8131 El Paso
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: JUNE BLOOMS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)– Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jaracanda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea. Printer-friendly version
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: JUNE BLOOMS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)– Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jaracanda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea. Printer-friendly version
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS
Printer-friendly versionBy Mimi Pollack Photo: Finley the Fennec Fox July 6, 2024 (Ramona) — In the United States, there is a problem with people acquiring exotic animals without really doing their research. People bring these pets home as tiny babies, not realizing that they can grow to be quite large as adults. For example black and white Argentine
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS
Printer-friendly versionBy Mimi Pollack Photo: Finley the Fennec Fox July 6, 2024 (Ramona) — In the United States, there is a problem with people acquiring exotic animals without really doing their research. People bring these pets home as tiny babies, not realizing that they can grow to be quite large as adults. For example black and white Argentine
18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS; 16 MORE ARE AT RISK
Printer-friendly version Update: Hear our in-depth interviews with state water officials, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. By Miriam Raftery July 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The State of California has released its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, including a dashboard listing water systems that failed state or federal standards for safe drinking water. In San Diego
18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS; 16 MORE ARE AT RISK
Printer-friendly version Update: Hear our in-depth interviews with state water officials, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. By Miriam Raftery July 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The State of California has released its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, including a dashboard listing water systems that failed state or federal standards for safe drinking water. In San Diego
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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.