Wildlife Corridor
Regional and Local Wildlife Corridors
Besides preserving Hellhole Canyon itself, one of our major concerns is preserving regional and local connectivity between undeveloped and public lands east and southeast of Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve and the San Luis Rey River Valley to the northwest of the Preserve. Hell Creek runs through Hellhole Canyon. The creek’s headwaters begin on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands to the east, flow west briefly through private lands east of the Preserve (Upper Hellhole) and then flow through the Preserve and the Brown parcel in Lower Hellhole Canyon. Hell Creek joins Paradise Creek just west of the Preserve and then flows north to join the San Luis Rey River at the Rincon Indian Reservation. Hellhole Canyon provides an easily-traversed linkage between lands to the south and east and the San Luis Rey River Valley to the northwest.
The canyon facilitates animal movement from Guejito Ranch north to Palomar Mountain, northwest toward Pala and Temecula (and ultimately the Santa Rosa Plateau), and east to Lake Henshaw. Hellhole Canyon borders BLM lands that directly link to Guejito Ranch to the southeast. Guejito Ranch provides potential corridors south to San Pasqual Valley (and ultimately Lake Hodges), Ramona, Boden Canyon, Pamo Valley, and Black Mountain. Many of these lands are part of the Multiple Species Conservation Plan preserve area and constitute high quality core habitats. To the east of the BLM lands lay vast tracts of the Cleveland National Forest.
Hellhole Canyon is crucial in providing linkage between Guejito Ranch and the San Luis Rey River Valley. Land the Friends have acquired in the heart of the canyon provide optimal topography, cover, and habitat for facilitating animal movement through the canyon. It is important to note that Hellhole Canyon provides a funnel for animals moving between Guejito Ranch and the San Luis Rey River. To the west is fast-growing Valley Center where there are increasing constraints to animal movement from the loss of habitat to development, increased roads and traffic, fencing, and human disturbance. West of I-15, linkages are even more constrained by development in coastal north county. To the east are large expanses of undeveloped lands, but the terrain becomes very rugged, and north-south movement of animals is made difficult by very steep east-west running ridges. Habitats become more montane in these areas and may restrict movement of animals associated with coastal and foothill habitats.
We have evidence from mammal tracking stations and regular wildlife surveys that there is extensive movement of mammals and migrating/dispersing birds through the Preserve and through the Brown property. Based on topography, existing development, and our knowledge of wildlife in the area, the Brown property (as well as other properties surrounding the Preserve) are very important in maintaining regional connectivity. Disruption of this linkage could have impacts on a number of species, including mountain lions (Felis concolor) that travel through and breed in the Preserve.