$3MM California Urban Greening Grant for City Heights' Manzanita Canyon

San Diego Canyonlands and Ocean Discovery Institute announced a $3MM, three-year initiative to complete the Manzanita Greening and Canyon Health Project, lessening wildfire and flood risks, helping wildlife thrive, and enhancing community access to nature-based learning and recreation.

Funds were awarded by the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Program and build upon a history of support for Manzanita Canyon by City Heights community volunteers, who recognize that clean, safe, vibrant open spaces in urban canyons improves their quality of life.

The restored canyon, in addition to being more beautiful, will enhance the region's water quality, air quality, biodiversity, access to nature, climate resiliency, and property values.

"San Diego's canyons are precious community assets, and a saving grace in the face of climate change," commented Clayton Tschudy, Canyonlands CEO. "Twenty years from now, we need to be able to look back and know we did everything we could to help San Diego's canyons to survive and thrive. When properly restored, our canyon ecosystems purify our water and air; provide homes and passageways for wildlife; and offer all San Diegans restorative escapes to nature in the backyards of our urban environment. This grant ? the only urban greening grant issued by CNRA in the San Diego region this year ? will help achieve all of that."

To reduce local flooding risks and to protect stormwater infrastructure during climate-change driven rain events, the project will include 200 new streamside saplings, upgrade storm drains near Ocean Discovery Institute, and pilot a low-impact streambed bioengineering technique that should help sequester carbon without the need for irrigation, contributing to a more resilient urban forest.

Speakers include:

Kris McFadden - Deputy Chief Operating Officer, City of San Diego
Megan Cooper - Deputy Regional Manager, CA State Coastal Conservancy
Clayton Tschudy - CEO, San Diego Canyonlands
Shara Fisler - Executive Director, Ocean Discovery Institute

Members of the media are kindly requested to contact [email protected] for a full copy of the press release and associated photos, and/or to obtain a copy of the event agenda.

Parking at Ocean Discovery Institute will be reserved for members of the media and elected officials.