San Diego County is home to 18 Indian tribes, half of which operate casinos, generally in remote areas. Under state law, facility expansions trigger a negotiation between the tribe and local government to mitigate off-reservation impacts. In the North and East County, planned expansions pose serious challenges to this process.



A recently negotiated agreement between the Pala tribe and San Diego County failed to include any transit improvements, thus placing severe stress on Highway 76, which originates near Oceanside and leads to the rural backcounty. Further east along 76, planned expansion of the Pauma tribe’s casino threatens to “blow out” the road entirely. The resulting highway widening would facilitate sprawl development east of Interstate 15, as is already being proposed. EHL submitted extensive comments calling for negotiations with San Diego County that puts transit first and foremost.

In the East County, the environmental document for the Golden Acorn Casino in Campo was criticized by the County of San Diego for failing to disclose impacts to groundwater, whose levels are tenuous. Groundwater problems associated with the Barona Casino in Lakeside are currently the subject of local and federal government remediation efforts. Along Highway 94, the controversial Jamul casino is proposed next door to the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve.

EHL will continue to monitor ecological threats posed by urban development in rural locations. EHL recognizes that all parties have legitimate interests, and will work with tribes and local government to avoid or reduce impacts.