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.
FREE ADMISSIONS AT HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAS MUSEUM AND WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN: SECOND FRIDAY EACH MONTH
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service May 29, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – Two of East County’s most unique attractions, both at Cuyamaca College, are offering free admission on the second Friday each month: Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Water Conservation Garden. Visitors can enjoy tours of the garden and museum, participate in scavenger hunts, and pack
BOARD EXPANDS OPEN SPACE NEAR MOUNT OLYMPUS COUNTY PRESERVE
Printer-friendly version By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office May 28, 2024 (Pala-Pauma) The County took steps last Wednesday to buy more land within the Pala-Pauma community for open space and species protection. The Board of Supervisors approved spending $1.2 million to buy 222 acres adjacent to the existing Mount Olympus County Preserve. The additional acres expand the
BOARD EXPANDS OPEN SPACE NEAR MOUNT OLYMPUS COUNTY PRESERVE
Printer-friendly version By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office May 28, 2024 (Pala-Pauma) The County took steps last Wednesday to buy more land within the Pala-Pauma community for open space and species protection. The Board of Supervisors approved spending $1.2 million to buy 222 acres adjacent to the existing Mount Olympus County Preserve. The additional acres expand the
FLOATING FISHING DOCK REPAIRS ON AGENDA FOR SWEEWATER AUTHORITY ON WEDNESDAY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 20, 2024 (Alpine)—Sweetwater Authority has still not replaced or repaired the floating fishing dock that was partially destroyed at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine more than a year ago by heavy storms back in January 2023. On Wednesday, agenda item 9.1 asks the board to decide whether or not to authorize buying and installing a
FLOATING FISHING DOCK REPAIRS ON AGENDA FOR SWEEWATER AUTHORITY ON WEDNESDAY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 20, 2024 (Alpine)—Sweetwater Authority has still not replaced or repaired the floating fishing dock that was partially destroyed at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine more than a year ago by heavy storms back in January 2023. On Wednesday, agenda item 9.1 asks the board to decide whether or not to authorize buying and installing a
FLOATING FISHING DOCK REPAIRS ON AGENDA FOR SWEEWATER AUTHORITY ON WEDNESDAY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 20, 2024 (Alpine)—Sweetwater Authority has still not replaced or repaired the floating fishing dock that was partially destroyed at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine more than a year ago by heavy storms back in January 2023. On Wednesday, agenda item 9.1 asks the board to decide whether or not to authorize buying and installing a
LITTLE HOOVER COMMISSION HEARING ON CALIFORNIA’S HOME INSURANCE CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE THREATS BY ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
Printer-friendly version East County News Service Photo: The Little Hoover Commission, formally known as the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, is an independent state oversight agency created in 1962. May 17, 2024 (Sacramento) — In a stark warning at a Little Hoover Commission hearing on California’s homeowners insurance market, former California
LITTLE HOOVER COMMISSION HEARING ON CALIFORNIA’S HOME INSURANCE CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE THREATS BY ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
Printer-friendly version East County News Service Photo: The Little Hoover Commission, formally known as the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, is an independent state oversight agency created in 1962. May 17, 2024 (Sacramento) — In a stark warning at a Little Hoover Commission hearing on California’s homeowners insurance market, former California
GLOBAL CO2 INCREASE SETS NEW ALL-TIME RECORD
Printer-friendly versionBy Olivia Rosane, staff writer for Common Dreams May 17, 2024 (Hawaii) — The average monthly concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere jumped by a record 4.7 parts per million between March 2023 and March 2024, according to new data from NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The spike, reported by the University of California, San
GLOBAL CO2 INCREASE SETS NEW ALL-TIME RECORD
Printer-friendly versionBy Olivia Rosane, staff writer for Common Dreams May 17, 2024 (Hawaii) — The average monthly concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere jumped by a record 4.7 parts per million between March 2023 and March 2024, according to new data from NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The spike, reported by the University of California, San
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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.