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.
SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS MADE SIMPLE: HOW AND WHERE TO RECYCLE REAL CHRISTMAS TREES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionDrop-off locations and curbside pickup info for all San Diego County residents Source: I Love a Clean San Diego Image: CC via Bing December 14, 2024 (San Diego) — Did you know a Christmas tree can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill due to lack of oxygen? San Diego residents can help prevent waste and save
LA MESA CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS 2024 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC. November 27, 2024 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday adopted the 2024 Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update, a roadmap for reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in La Mesa. The 2024 CAP Update introduces six comprehensive strategies, an expansion
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN ABLOOM FOR ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo, left: Mark Robak, chair of the Water Conservation Garden’s joint powers authority November 21, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College celebrated its 25th anniversary on November 9 with a free celebration commemorating a quarter century of educating the public on water conservation and more. Visitors filled the garden to
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: RESTORED FISHING FLOAT RETURNS TO LOVELAND RESERVOIR
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery November 26, 2024 (Alpine) – Nearly two years after a severe storm damaged the floating fishing dock at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine back in January 2023, a restored fishing dock is back. When Sweetwater Water Authority drained the reservoir to dead pool status in late 2022, the fishing dock was left on dry land, subsequently torn
SANTEE LAKES RECREATION PRESERVE WINS NATIONAL AWARDS
Printer-friendly version Source: Santee Lakes November 13, 2024 (Santee) — Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve received “Large Park of the Year” for Park and Campgrounds and “Plan‐It Green Park of the Year” awards from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry (formerly ARVC) at its annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference in Oklahoma City on November 6, 2024. This marks the 5th year Santee Lakes has received Park of
SWEETWATER HOLDS MEETING IN ALPINE TONIGHT ON LOVELAND TRAILIMPROVEMENTS, PRIORITIES FOR GRANT FUNDS
Printer-friendly versionHear our interview with Sierra Club Conservation Chair Ron Askeland and Loveland advocate Russell Walsh, aired on KNSJ By Miriam Raftery November 12, 2024 (Alpine) – Supporters of Loveland Reservoir are urging the public to attend a community worksh op hosted by Sweetwater Water Authority tonight on trail improvements at Loveland Reservoir. The meeting will be held from 5
WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH FREE CELEBRATION NOV. 9
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 7, 2024 (Rancho San Diego, CA) – The Water Conservation Garden is hosting a free 25th anniversary celebration this Saturday, November 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrating 25 years of educating the public about water conservation, this event features animal encounters, garden talks, food, live music, activities and fun for all
TRAIL NAMED AFTER LONGTIME RAMONA RESIDENT
Printer-friendly versionBy Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: John Degenfelder stands next to Degenfelder trail sign. November 4, 2024 (Ramona) – In a surprise ceremony, a trail at the Luelf Pond County Preserve was named for a nearby and long-time resident who has spent decades championing trails and the community of Ramona. County Parks and
TRAIL NAMED AFTER LONGTIME RAMONA RESIDENT
Printer-friendly versionBy Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: John Degenfelder stands next to Degenfelder trail sign. November 4, 2024 (Ramona) – In a surprise ceremony, a trail at the Luelf Pond County Preserve was named for a nearby and long-time resident who has spent decades championing trails and the community of Ramona. County Parks and
COUNTY OFFERS FREE PROGRAMS TO PREVENT FOOD WASTE, COMPOST WITH WORMS, AND COMPOST AT FARMS AND RANCHES
Printer-friendly version By East County News Service October 9, 2024 (San Diego) — The County of San Diego is offering free webinars in November to help live and grow sustainably, in partnership with Solana Center and the Water Conservation Garden. Food scraps produce harmful greenhouse gases in a landfill and little to none in a compost pile. Preventing
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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.