Lakeside's River Park Conservancy
Strategic Plan
Mission Statement
Our mission is to preserve and restore the biological integrity and beauty of the San Diego River while integrating recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities for youth, seniors, families and citizens of East San Diego County.
Goals and Objectives
The Strategic Area of Lakeside’s River Park consists of land located within 0.5 miles from the centerline of the San Diego River and its major tributaries, with primary focus on land from the base of El Capitan Dam to the Santee border.
Within this area, the goals and objectives of Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy fall into three main categories:
- Habitat Preservation and Restoration
- Water Quality and Flood Conveyance
- Culture, Nature, and Science Education
- Recreation
Goal 1: Recreation
Acquire and develop land to provide active and/or passive recreation opportunities.
- Develop and/or support the development and connectivity of the main San Diego River core trail and connectivity with feeder trails within the Strategic Area.
- Develop and maintain appropriate community recreation facilities.
Goal 2: Culture, Nature, and Science Education
Acquire and develop land to provide interpretation of the natural and cultural history, and support scientific research and education.
- Develop and maintain facilities that interpret the natural and cultural history of the San Diego River.
- Plan and administer public outreach and education programs.
Goal 3: Habitat Preservation and Restoration
Acquire, restore, and preserve land within the Strategic Area.
- Acquire ownership or land tenure on property within the Strategic Area that has the potential to be preserved or restored as protected habitat.
- Restore and conserve land within the Strategic Area.
Goal 4: Water Quality and Flood Conveyance
Improve and protect water quality and create and/or expand the functional flood plain to create a more natural flood regime within the Strategic Area.
- Widen the flood plain and flood channel to the extent practicable.
- Improve surface and ground water quality
- Improve and protect the quality of water flowing into the river.
Project Criteria
The Conservancy has established the following three Project Criteria to evaluate and prioritize projects:
- Congruence with Mission/Goals
- Implementation of one or more Conservancy goals
- Consistency with existing River planning efforts of partners
- Addresses multiple objectives
- Enhances the visibility and reputation of Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy
- Feasibility
- Success (How likely is the project to succeed?)
- Need (desired project or result will not occur without Conservancy participation)
- Capacity
- Readiness (appropriate timing)
- Urgency (a threat or fleeting opportunity)
- Innovative
- Financial Resources
- Sufficient existing financial resources or achievable financial plan
- Consistency with purposes of the Conservancy’s funding sources
- Leverage (contribution of funds or services by more than one entity)
- Maintainability (the relative ease/cost or difficulty to maintain or manage the project annually)
- Potential for Self Sustainability (the relative ease/cost or difficulty to sustain the maintenance of the project in perpetuity)
- Support from the public and/or partners