News from Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park

Back-story: When we announced our intention to create FPMSP back in August, we specifically excluded combating the closure within the association’s scope. There were good reasons for doing this. However, there are now even more compelling reasons to no longer limit our mission. Now that all other options for keeping Palomar open have been exhausted, it is time for us to rise to the occasion and take up the banner to Save Palomar. Our website tells it all: http://www.friendsofpalomarsp.org

So, in light of the impending closure and the length of time required to set up as cooperating association, we’ve decided to start out as a temporary division of CRSPIA (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association), the non-profit 501(c)(3) association that has already been supporting Palomar for over two decades. Therefore, on December 3rd, the board of CRSPIA graciously voted to create a committee within CRSPIA called Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park. I happen to be chairman of this committee. This is a temporary arrangement until Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park can be established one day as a separate, independent cooperating association as originally intended. The purpose of this arrangement is to quickly create a focal point for assisting Palomar and raising money to keep Palomar open. Which brings me to my next point.

2. On December 16th, we submitted a proposal to the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) that outlines a way to keep Palomar open with the aid of financial contributions from the public.

Our proposal is simple: If DPR keeps Palomar open, Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park will fill the gap between income and expenses through donations from people like you. I’m not in a position at this time to specify the amount of the gap — this will depend on DPR’s response and the agreed-to level of operation. But once we determine what the gap is, this will become our target for fund raising purposes. Approval by DPR isn’t guaranteed, but at least we have a forum.

An October Interpretive Hike

by Kathleen Beck, Interpretive Specialist

Some people call this a sulfur mushroom. Others call it a chicken shelf mushroom. It grew in the Paso Picacho campground following the recent rains.  Some say it is called chicken because it looks like a rooster’s comb.  Others say it is called this because it tastes like chicken.  It is saprophytic in function to the forest as it generally grows on dead wood, thereby acting as a decomposer.  It digests cellulose and turns dead plant matter into soil, making itself useful to its ecosystem.

During October we can explore aspects of the turn of the seasons.  Photosynthesis begins to abate with shorter days and cooler temperatures.  Chlorophyll breaks down, removing the color green to display the fall yellows and reds.  The fall colors lie hidden until the change in season begins.  Visit the park to see many changes taking place in the plant kingdom!

Do not bring oak firewood to Palomar Mountain State Park

Due to the threat of the Goldspotted Oak Borer spreading throughout San Diego County, no oak firewood will be allowed into Palomar Mountain State Park.   Wood can be purchased at the park or you can bring other species of firewood, such as pine or eucalyptus.

To find out more about this pest, please go to http://groups.ucanr.org/GSOB/index.cfm

Trail Updates

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Weekly Trails Report
July 26, 2010

Please Note that all trail updates have been moved to the Trails page.

Pigs In The Park

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa), also known as wild pigs, wild hogs, wild boars, European wild boars, Russian wild boars, or razorbacks, are rangy-looking non-native members of the domestic swine family, Suidae. These transplants native to Europe and Asia are aggressive mammals posing serious ecological, economic, aesthetic, medical and veterinary threats. Feral pigs have recently been sighted in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and they are not welcome. read more..

What is Killing the Oaks?

The Goldspotted Oak Borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse

The goldspotted oak borer (GSOB) was first detected in 2004 in San Diego Co., California by the California Department of Food and Agriculture during a survey for exotic woodborers. In 2008, it was found attacking coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, canyon live oak, Q. chrysolepis, and California black oak, Q. kelloggii, on the Cleveland National Forest and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. GSOB is playing a major role in on-going oak mortality. read more..