In northern San Diego County, little of Valley Center’s original wildlife heritage has survived estate lot subdivision. Now, thanks to a TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) acquisition, we can add Lilac Ranch to that list.

Once planned for more than 100 estate lots, this 980-acre property straddles Keys Creek, a major wildlife movement corridor. Lilac Ranch contains a mosaic of more than a dozen different vegetation communities, and resident species include the spadefoot toad, horned lizard, orange-throated whiptail, California gnatcatcher, rufous-crowned sparrow, and yellow-breasted chat. There is potential habitat for the endangered least Bell’s vireo, as well as other neotropical riparian birds on the property. 

The proposed development would have fragmented the County’s future North County Multiple Species Conservation Plan (NC-MSCP), even though unwisely and tentatively accepted by the state and federal wildlife agencies. With the economic downturn, conservation made better sense for all parties, and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and CalTrans completed a conservation purchase using mitigation funds from San Diego’s TransNet regional sales tax. EHL served as a strong advocate for this conservation acquisition and continues to play an active role in the implementation of TransNet’s Environmental Mitigation Program. We commend the landowners for consummating a conservation sale.

Lilac Ranch is a true “core area” of substantial contiguous habitat, as well as a unique historical and cultural resource. It will now be an open space legacy rather than a greenhouse gas-intensive development for long distance commuters.