RiverWatch October 2024: LRPC Receives National Award

Coast Live Oak tree at Pete's Park donated by the Linares Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

The conservancy has been awarded the Conservation Medal from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in Washington, D.C.

“… it’s not an easy medal or recognition to earn. It is a prestigious honor and we are extremely proud to present the medal to the Conservancy,” said Linares NSDAR Chapter Regent Brenda Kaesler.

The Linares chapter nominated Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy for the national award after Ruthe Plache, the chapter’s Conservation Committee chair in 2023, had a chance meetng with Julie Turko, the Conservancy’s executve director. Plache liked what she heard about the restoration, environmental and educational work being done by Turko’s group, and asked her Linares Chapter to sponsor a tree planting in the newly opened pocket park - "Pete's Park" -along the river trail (photo above).

Following that event, the chapter decided to submit the Conservancy’s work for the NSDAR Conservation Award. “Our national society encourages chapters to identify conservation eﬀorts in their community,” Kaesler said. “A recipient for the National Medal should have a distinguished conservation record, and exhibit sustained eﬀorts to improve the environment or to educate the public on conservation issues.”

“The Conservancy’s work and mission to preserve the biological integrity of the San Diego River while integrating recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities for youth, seniors, and families is a perfect fit,” Kaesler said.

In addition to restoration, preservation and maintenance work, the Conservancy’s Field Crew works with the community to oﬀer ﬁre and ﬂood protection through vegetation management. “Non-native species such as palm trees and Arundo donax are highly ﬂammable and can create a corridor of ﬁre transmission along dr river beds,” Turko explained.

“Through state grant funding, our Field Crew reduces ﬁre fuel by removing invasive, non-native plants from the San Diego River and its tributaries, a service that is free for property owners. This also reduces the risk of blocked waterways and local ﬂooding. By allowing native species to thrive, we are helping to create a healthier watershed,” Turko said.

“Once we learned how Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy turned a barren sand mine into a beautiful, useful park, we knew we had to nominate their work for the NSDAR national Conservancy Award,” Kaesler said. “The Conservancy staﬀ and its volunteers have truly made a diﬀerence, not just for the Lakeside community but for all of San Diego County.”

From the left: Newsletter Editor Gary Mitrovich, Executive Director Julie Turko, Linares Chapter Regent Brenda Kaesler, and Linares Chapter Member Pauline Jimenez. Photo courtesy of Jan Nevitt (Chapter Member)