El Monte Hanson Pond
Restoration Project

RECON’s restoration team is working closely with Earth Discovery Institute and Endangered Habitats Conservancy to perform habitat restoration for coastal cactus wren funded by Proposition 68 through the California Wildlife Conservation Board. The 15-acre site located in the community of Lakeside within eastern San Diego County is being transformed from a disturbed field of non‑native weeds to a diverse and thriving habitat that supports numerous wildlife species. The primary goal of this project is to expand viable breeding habitat for the Lakeside population of coastal cactus wren, a California Species of Special Concern. After the initial weeding removal, RECON and Earth Discovery Institute’s staff and volunteers planted thousands of container plants and opuntia pads throughout the site. Hand‑seeding then occurred between the planting islands. Weed control has been ongoing to prevent non‑native weeds from outcompeting native species. RECON is currently assisting Earth Discovery Institute in pursuing additional grant funding for continued maintenance and restoration beyond the initial two-year project timeline.