Fallbrook Land Conservancy...preserving a rural lifestyle

Fallbrook epitomizes rural Southern California lifestyle at its best, with its combination of Mediterranean climate, rolling hills, year-round streams, groves, open space, and quaint downtown district. The Fallbrook Land Conservancy (FLC) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing this rural lifestyle and natural beauty. Formed in 1988, the FLC enjoys broad community support and works toward its goals in many ways.

The FLC protects land of conservation value through acquisitions and conservation easements. These can come from gifts, purchases using funds from gifts or grants, limited development, or mitigation connected with the development process.

Using these methods, FLC has protected more than 500 acres of open space. These lands are managed by a full-time preserve manager with the help of volunteer groups such as the Friends of Los Jilgueros, the Native Plant and Wildflower Team, and the Invasive Plant Team.

Two other active FLC interest groups are Save Our Forest (SOF) and the Trails Council. Save Our Forest has planted thousands of trees and plants on the preserves and throughout the Fallbrook area. Highlights include the downtown Treescape project and the planting of trees along South Mission Road. SOF has also established a nursery to provide a supply of native plants and trees for public and private beautification projects.

The Trails Council manages a trail system and provides docent-led tours along Fallbrook Public Utility District’s land on the Santa Margarita River. They are currently working with the county of San Diego to restore a trail between the county’s 170-acre Santa Margarita Open Space Preserve and the Sandia Creek Park on Sandia Creek Road.

For more information about how to support and participate in the Fallbrook Land Conservancy’s programs, please contact us at the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, P.O. Box 2701, Fallbrook, CA 92028; telephone 728-0889, or visit our website at www.sdlcc.org/flc.

Enjoy nature from Fallbrook Land Conservancy’s preserves, trails, and open spaces.

Los Jilgueros Preserve is a popular walking and bird-watching destination just south of town. The 46-acre preserve features a 1.5-mile loop trail, ponds and wetlands, a Firescape Demonstration garden, and a native plant restoration area. More than 130 species of birds have been identified on FLC’s preserves, including the endangered Bell’s Least Vireo. The Friends of Los Jilgueros emphasize that LJP is “a preserve, not a park,” and encourage safe and respectful use.

The 10-acre Engel Family Preserve has live oak trees, a prominent rock outcropping, and panoramic views of the I-15 corridor, Palomar Mountain and beyond. This preserve has a healthy population of California Gnatcatchers—an endangered species—and is a favorite site for artists.

Overlooking the Santa Margarita River Valley north of Fallbrook is the dramatic rock formation known as Rock Mountain. A 90-acre preserve with views, oaks, and coastal sage habitat protects this Fallbrook landmark.

On the 350-acre Monserate Mountain Preserve east of I-15, across from Pala Mesa Resort, a steep trail winds to the 1570-foot summit where hikers are rewarded with vistas of the Peninsular ranges to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

A few miles south of Los Jilgueros Preserve along the Ostrich Farms Creek corridor, the Heller's Bend Preserve protects 47 acres of beautiful habitat. A paved walkway climbs to the top of a hill where it affords views of Fallbrook and beyond. You will also find stately sycamores, willows, and live oak trees adorning a peaceful meadow.

Also bordering Ostrich Farms Creek just west of the River Village Shopping Center is another bird-rich wetlands habitat, the 27-acre Bonsall Preserve.

The Dinwiddie Preserve, made possible by a bequest of Nancy and Howard Dinwiddie, consists of 13 acres of open field, trees, and a meandering year-round stream, known historically as Cienega Creek. A half-mile loop for walkers and joggers has been installed. The convenient location of the preserve, on the corner of Brook Road and Stage Coach Lane, makes it very accessible to the people of Fallbrook who enjoy nature.

The 1890’s vintage Palomares House, restored by the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, serves as the FLC office and community meeting place. An adjacent park contains an arboretum of dedicated trees, a rock creek bed, picnic tables and shade structures built as Eagle Scout projects, and a wheelchair accessible walkway.

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