Where We Work
Crestridge Ecological Reserve
1181 Horsemill Rd., El Cajon, CA 92021
Crestridge is located between the communities of El Cajon and Alpine, south of interstate 8. This nearly 2,800 acre reserve is owned by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and managed by the Endangered Habitats Conservancy. Crestridge contains many diverse and pristine landscapes and habitat types, including mature oak woodlands, riparian areas with perennial streams, stands of mature willow, sycamore, and cottonwood, as well as open woodlands, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral. Crestridge is home to many endangered species, including the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica), San Diego Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii), Orange Throated Whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi), Hermes Copper butterfly (Lycaena hermes), and Lakeside ceanothus (Ceanothus cyaneus), a rare wild lilac. Crestridge is one of the primary locations for our education program as it represents an upper watershed of San Diego County. This beautiful reserve is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Crestridge Ecological Reserve is many students' first experience with EDI, and for some, their first experience visiting a wild, native habitat. Crestridge is a perfect place to introduce students to nature exploration; with a variety of habitat types to hike through, students practice native plant and animal identification, making observations, and keeping notes in a field journal. Hands-on activities include learning about watersheds, groundwater and runoff, animal skulls, and ecosystem functions. Here, students work together to plant native grasses in the field to restore a native grassland habitat.
El Monte Ecological Preserve
13950 El Monte Rd., El Cajon, CA 92040
El Monte Ecological Preserve is a 142-acre former sand mine in Lakeside owned and managed by Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC). The preserve supports a diversity of habitats, including freshwater marsh, open water, coastal sage scrub, and willow riparian habitat, providing important habitat and connectivity for native wildlife. EDI is restoring 15 acres of cactus scrub habitat at the preserve to support the Coastal Cactus Wren and improve connectivity between nearby wren populations. Our work includes native habitat restoration, invasive species management, and long-term monitoring of vegetation and wildlife.
El Monte Ecological Preserve is protected for conservation and is not open to the public.
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Sweetwater Marsh
1080 Gunpowder Point Dr., Chula Vista, CA 91910
Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an important outdoor classroom for EDI’s environmental education programs. At Sweetwater Marsh, students explore coastal and salt marsh ecosystems through hands-on activities including water quality testing, science illustration, birding with binoculars, and activities exploring bird adaptations. Students also take part in habitat restoration by planting native species. For many students, these field trips provide their first opportunity to experience the coast and discover the wildlife that depends on salt marsh habitats. Paired with a field trip to Crestridge Ecological Reserve, the experience allows students to explore both inland and coastal habitats and understand how these ecosystems are connected.
EDI also hosts community activities at the refuge, including guided birding events that provide opportunities to explore the trails and observe the diverse birdlife of San Diego Bay.
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
Multiple locations
Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EDI staff and Tuesday morning volunteers frequently visit multiple sites within the refuge to support habitat restoration and stewardship. EDI is also restoring cactus scrub habitat for the imperiled Coastal Cactus Wren across 139 acres within the Sweetwater Reservoir sublocation of the San Miguel Mountain Management Area. This multi-year restoration project includes planting native cactus, habitat enhancement, and long-term monitoring to improve habitat for the Coastal Cactus Wren and other native wildlife.
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EDI also occasionally brings students to visit the refuge as part of our education program!
EDI's Native Milkweed Farm
Lakeside, CA
On land owned and managed by Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC), EDI operates a Native Milkweed Farm where we grow locally native Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) and Woollypod Milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa) to support Monarch Butterfly conservation. We harvest seed from the farm for use in local habitat restoration and community projects, donate seed to native plant nurseries to help increase the availability of locally sourced native milkweed, and grow plants for our annual native plant sale. The farm also serves as a site for Monarch larva monitoring, volunteer events, educational workshops, and community outreach focused on monarchs, pollinators, and native plants.
In addition to the locations above, we also bring families on recreational excursions to a variety of destinations across San Diego County. To learn more, visit our Family Days page!
