April 2026 Newsletter – Preserve Wild Poway

Stewardship in action, conservation in practice, and why zoning alignment matters

This month, we turn our attention to the land—how you can actively help protect it through our Land Stewardship Program, explore it on a guided hike, and better understand how Poway’s conserved habitats are protected under the Poway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan (PSHCP).

Land Stewardship

Land stewards have been hard at work clearing invasive wild artichokes along the South Poway Trail (north of the business park). Preserve Wild Poway volunteers recently teamed up with Friends of Metate Meadows to reduce—and ultimately eliminate—this aggressive invasive plant.

Volunteering through the City of Poway’s Adopt-a-Trail Program, and led by Marianna Benedict-Bacilla and Barbara Diederichs, volunteers are restoring native habitat one shovel at a time.

Invasive artichokes form dense patches that spread quickly, crowding out native grasses and wildflowers. This reduces habitat value for wildlife and alters the natural landscape.

The removal strategy is simple and environmentally responsible: dig out new growth as it emerges and remove seed pods later in the season. This approach gradually reduces the population—without the use of chemical herbicides.

While the work is labor-intensive and may take several seasons, the results are already visible. Native grasses and wildflowers often begin returning within the first year.

Under the City’s Habitat Conservation Plan, this section of the South Poway Trail is zoned Open Space (OS) and Open Space–Resource Management (OS-RM). It lies within the South Poway Cornerstone Area, one of the plan’s key conservation areas—making community-led restoration efforts especially important.

Preserve Wild Poway’s Land Stewardship Program is also active in the Meadowbrook Ecological Reserve, where volunteers are working to remove another invasive species, Dyer’s rocket.

If you’d like to take part in these hands-on restoration efforts and help protect Poway’s open spaces:

👉 Volunteer with us: contact@preservewildpoway.org

🌎 Poway’s Conservation Promise: What Is the PSHCP?

Poway’s open spaces didn’t happen by accident—they are protected under the Poway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan (PSHCP).

The PSHCP was designed to balance responsible development with permanent habitat protection. It identifies sensitive lands that must be conserved to protect wildlife, native plants, and the connected open spaces that define our community. In exchange for allowing growth in certain areas, other lands were promised long-term protection.

That promise matters.

Conservation plans only succeed when they are both understood and upheld.

Zoning decisions, land use changes, and development pressures can test even the strongest plans. An informed community helps ensure the PSHCP is implemented as intended—protecting both our natural heritage and the integrity of city planning. Recent rezonings of approximately 311 acres to OS and OS-RM have renewed public attention to how conservation zoning supports the PSHCP’s long-term goals. These updates reinforce a key principle: land identified for habitat protection works best when zoning clearly reflects its conservation purpose.

Over the coming months, we’ll continue to break down how the plan works—and why it matters. Because once habitat is lost or fragmented, it cannot simply be replaced.

Join us in protecting Poway’s conservation legacy.

Conservation Term of the Month

OS (Open Space) and OS-RM (Open Space–Resource Management) are zoning designations that help protect land intended for conservation under the PSHCP.

OS-RM generally reflects a stronger emphasis on habitat protection and long-term resource management within the preserve system.

Why it matters:
Clear zoning alignment helps ensure conserved lands function as intended—protecting habitat for generations to come.

🌿 Earth Day Volunteer Event – April 22

Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to the land.

Join us on Wednesday, April 22 from 4:00–6:00 PM at the Metate Meadows South Poway Staging Area as we work together to remove invasive artichokes.

• Wear long pants and sturdy shoes or hiking boots

• Bring gloves and a shovel (extras will be available)

Even if you can’t stay for the full work session, feel free to stop by afterward to enjoy a drink, a snack, and good conversation in a beautiful setting.

📅 Upcoming Events

April 19 – Guided Hike
8:45 AM | Wild Horse Trail (meet at the trailhead)
We hike on the third Sunday of cooler months.

April 22 – Earth Day Invasive Plant Removal
4:00–6:00 PM | Metate Meadows South Poway Staging Area

April 25 – Poway Farmers Market
8:00 AM–1:00 PM 
Visit the Preserve Wild Poway booth and help share information about Poway’s habitat.

We’d love your input

What conservation topic would you like us to cover next?
Simply reply to this email and let us know.

Thank you for staying engaged as we work to protect Poway’s open spaces, wildlife habitat, and community character.

With appreciation,
Preserve Wild Poway 
contact@preservewildpoway.org
www.preservewildpoway.org

Preserve Wild Poway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting Poway’s open spaces and natural heritage. All donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID: 88-2805005.