SAN MARCOS — The Escondido Creek Conservancy is fundraising to purchase a 51-acre piece of land just south of San Marcos to preserve it as existing wildlife habitat.
Known as the Altmann property, the site is visible from the San Elijo Hills community and is located near Double Peak, acting as a connection between nearby conserved lands, including the Sage Hill Preserve and San Elijo Ridge Preserve.
The conservancy launched its fundraising campaign after the property was recently put up for sale. Their goal is to raise $1.2 million, and they are matching all donations dollar for dollar, up to $1 million.
Executive Director Ann Van Leer said some people may assume the land is already preserved since it is currently open space, but that’s not the case.
“It’s only when the bulldozers show up that people realize it’s not protected,” Van Leer said. “It doesn’t take much to see how much has already been developed in North County … We have an opportunity to save one of these last pieces, if people can donate and be part of this.”
Established in 1991, the conservancy works to preserve and restore the Escondido Creek watershed encompassing over 75 square miles of land in North County. The watershed flows from the mountains above Lake Wohlford in Escondido through Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest down to the San Elijo Lagoon and empties into Cardiff Reef.
Over its years of operation, the conservancy has helped to preserve more than 7,000 acres of open space. It also owns and manages over 3,400 acres of wildlife habitat.
Last year, the conservancy purchased the nearby 160-acre White-Atterbury property that extends from Harmony Grove into San Marcos, including Frank’s Peak, as well as the 96-acre Elfin Acres property to the south.
If it can raise the funds, the conservancy will add the Altmann property to its conservation portfolio, expanding wildlife corridors and buffering other natural areas like Sage Canyon.
“We’re trying to act quickly, because this could be snatched up by a different purchaser that has a different agenda for that property,” said Sheri Lees, conservancy brand and marketing director.
The Altmann property includes two adjacent parcels of land south of Questhaven Road. By preserving these lands, the conservancy hopes to “keep Altmann wild” while also preserving views that are beloved by the San Elijo Hills community.
“This is one of the last opportunities to protect a property of this scale in the special community of San Elijo Hills,” said conservancy board member Ed Philbrick, who also lives in San Elijo Hills. “Many generous supporters helped us save Frank’s Peak. Now it is time to protect the Altmann property before it is lost forever.”
Those interested in helping the conservancy to obtain the property can donate through the conservancy’s website at escondidocreek.org/donate or by contacting the organization at [email protected].
