08/27/2026
Meet our Planning and Conservation Management Team 💙 🦺
Our Planning & Conservation Management (PCM) Division plays a key role in the protection and management of the District’s open spaces while planning and delivering transformative capital projects—including new trail systems and public amenities—that help our community experience and enjoy these iconic landscapes.
This year, we celebrated a major milestone with the successful completion of Phase 1 of the Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration Project at Palo Corona Regional Park. This historic restoration effort removed former golf course infrastructure and reconnected 7,600 feet of the Carmel River, creating healthier habitat and restoring natural river processes. At the same time, new and improved trails were constructed, providing the public with new opportunities to experience nature in this evolving landscape. Other notable projects by the PCM Division include:
🦺 A record year for wildfire preparedness: The PCM Division oversaw completion of more than 100 acres of critical fuel reduction across four properties, strengthening wildfire resilience throughout our open spaces. This work was made possible with contributions from key partners, including more than 6,000 labor hours contributed by the California Conservation Corps.
🦺 Expanding our conservation expertise: Just before the fiscal year, we welcomed two new Resource Conservation Specialists to our conservation team, increasing our ability to deliver key projects and monitor, protect, and manage sensitive resources and species.
🦺 Restoring the Marina Dunes Preserve: Through hands-on restoration events, we partnered with local students and community volunteers to plant native vegetation and support ongoing habitat recovery while protecting the threatened Western Snowy Plover.
Read more in our most recent eNews: https://bit.ly/4qfjmC3
