Once conditions mapping has been completed its time to assemble a group of stakeholders and begin holding planning

workshops aimed at creating a comprehensive Enhancement Action Plan for the targeted canyon.

Step 3: Hold Stakeholder Planning Workshops & Create a Canyon Enhancement Action Plan
Summary of Steps
1. Assemble Canyon Stakeholder Group. 2. Hold Planning Workshops. 3. Compile Canyon Enhancement Action Plan. 4. Gain Additional Public Review. 5. Create Project-Specific Designs

1 - Assemble Stakeholder Group

A stakeholder is anyone that may have an interest in a project or geographic area, so your canyon stakeholder group should include anyone with a stake/interest in the canyon area, including canyon rim property owners, other residents, local community groups and non-profits, schools, planning groups, recreation councils, etc. Key stakeholders include representatives from agencies with jurisdiction of the canyon and its immediate surroundings, such as rangers from the Citys Open Space and Community Parks divisions (they most likely manage the majority of the publicly-owned area of the canyon, the Citys Stormwater/Wastewater and Transportation Departments (they may have infrastructure in the canyon), the US Fish & Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game (the canyon may contain protected sensitive species and/or wetlands), and others (Figure 27).

Figure 27. Manzanita Canyon stakeholders exploring access opportunities, including a short trail segment that was ground-truthed (field verified) to be a feasible connection with Azalea Park (September 2010). 44

To allow for a wide base of community and jurisdictional input on a plan to enhance a canyon, a stakeholders group should be formed including representatives and participants from the following list (not exhaustive): 1. All agencies with jurisdiction and authority, including the City of San Diego (Planning Division, Park & Recreation Open Space Division often a Ranger, appropriate City Council Districts, Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Community Police), US Fish & Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Game, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, US Army Corps of Engineers (if any projects are proposed in wetlands or jurisdictional waters of the federal government), and utility companies with infrastructure in the canyon (e.g. SDG&E). 2. Local Groups such as community planning groups, Town Councils, Recreation Councils, Canyon Friends Group(s), neighborhood associations, and nearby businesses and their employees. 3. Local Residents such as the residents in neighborhoods surrounding the canyon and property owners (could be residential, churches, schools, vacant lot owners, businesses, etc.). 4. Representatives from Other Non-Profit Groups such as the San Diego Audubon Society, Sierra Club, C-3, San Diego Bicycle, and/or Mountain Bike Coalition, California Native Plants Society, Ocean Discovery Institute, (formerly Aquatic Adventures), churches in the community, and schools in the immediate area. 5. Volunteer Professionals such as habitat restoration consultants and urban design and planning professionals. There is a likelihood that professionals live or are interested in the area. 6. Others as necessary and appropriate

Outreach
Youll want as much community involvement and input as possible, in order to have a thorough and successful public planning process. Please see the SDCL publication Canyon Friends Group Handbook: How to Create a Friends Group For Your Local Canyon for information on how to conduct community outreach. You can also contact SDCL to take advantage of its outreach capabilities.

2 - Hold Planning Workshops

Stakeholders should come together over the course of several indoor and outdoor planning workshops and canyon walkthroughs (Figure 28 and Figure 30). The aim of these meetings is to examine opportunities and constraints for planning enhancements, consider connections within the context of the neighborhood, determine locations to provide or close access, trails, any trail improvements (e.g. on steep, eroding access trail on a hillside), and areas prioritized for restoration and any other issues/projects deemed worthy of consideration and planning for the targeted canyon.

Workshop Logistics
How Many? There is no hard and fast rule for how many workshops will be necessary to create a comprehensive action plan, but your canyon should require at least three (SDCL averaged five per canyon in City Heights), and you should use as many as are necessary.

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Where? For the indoor workshops, try and reserve/rent community spaces at a library, school, recreation center, etc. These areas are typically provided free of charge or at a discount to nonprofit groups. Try to use a place as close to the canyon as possible, in order to be able to perhaps split a workshop between a short indoor session and a short walk-through to review the issues discussed. It should be noted that an internet connection often proves itself necessary, particularly if you plan to use Google Earth during your review (Figure 29). When? Try to schedule a mix weekday and weekend options (e.g. weekday afternoons for working representatives, weekend mornings for residents and others). What To Bring? Copies of existing conditions maps, CEP orientation sheet, laptop and projector with existing conditions maps and Google Earth prepared, etc. (Figure 31). Reporting? Identify someone to take and share notes of what was discussed at each workshop, to keep a record and to keep stakeholders informed throughout the CEP process.

Figure 28. Swan Canyon stakeholders reviewing existing conditions maps at the first (orientation) planning workshop at Hamilton Elementary (August 2011).

Schedule of Agendas
Workshops should consist of both indoor and outdoor (canyon walkthru) meetings, beginning with an indoor orientation and followed by subsequent canyon walk-thrus and indoor meetings as appropriate. A typical schedule of agendas (though you should be prepared to be flexible, as agenda items may take more or less time than expected) is provided below. 1. Indoor Orientation a. Self-introductions. b. Introduction to CEP process and goals. LINK: Example CEP Stakeholder Orientation Sheet
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2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

c. Review of Existing Conditions Maps and Information (make subsequent updates as needed). d. Review of Maps to Identify Opportunities & Constraints Report i. Land Ownership, Public Access constraints ii. Geological and Biological constraints iii. Constraints posed by infrastructure (sewer, electric and gas lines) iv. Other Canyon Walk Through (e.g. north half of canyon). Canyon Walk Through (e.g. south half of canyon). Indoor - Draft Action Plan. Canyon Walk Through (review draft plan). Finalize/Vote on Action Plan.

Figure 29. A screenshot of FREE Google Earth showing GIS data and pin notes of Swan Canyon. If possible, using this 3-D virtual globe program can greatly enhance stakeholder review and consideration during indoor workshops. Layers created from the GIS conditions data can be prepared ahead of time and turned on/off as needed. Or, the program can simply be used to fly around the canyon, investigate issues and drop marker notes. The programs street view functionality is also very helpful to orientate participants to otherwise unfamiliar areas.

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Figure 30. Hollywood Canyon stakeholders maps in hand as they conduct a walk to review their draft trail plan (May 2012).

Figure 31. A screenshot of a PDF map of Hollywood Canyon, zoomed in to a given area. Use of a projector to display and zoom in to a given map helps to focus stakeholder discussions during indoor workshops.

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3 - Compile Canyon Enhancement Action Plan

The result of these workshops should culminate in a Canyon Enhancement Action Plan that addresses the following: Trail Plan Decisions Locations of access points. Locations of vista points. Trail segments to keep open & maintain. Trail segments to keep open and improve to address safety/erosion issues (discuss feasibility of designs). Trail segments to close and discourage the use of. Trail segments to keep open during restoration phase, but to close once restoration is completed. Trail Signage Locations Type (welcome, name, rules/regs, trail marker) Design Restoration Decisions Wetland restoration areas (prioritized). Upland restoration areas (prioritized). Connectivity Decisions How to provide canyon connectivity to other nearby parks or canyons, schools, library and other community centers, pedestrian/cycling opportunities, etc. Other Decisions Other decisions as necessary and appropriate. It should be noted that the components of the action plan are generally at the canyon-scale, and that the specifics of each enhancement project (e.g. design of a switchback trail improvement) although good to have are not necessarily required at this stage, but may be required later for permitting and/or funding. The goal is to have identified a trail/access system, areas for prioritized restoration, and other discrete projects for which permits and funding can be acquired, if necessary.

Examples
Maps: See Figure 32, Figure 33 and Figure 34 for examples of Enhancement Action Plan maps. Written Description: Click here for a LINK to a written description of an action plan for Manzanita Canyon.

4 Gain Additional Public Review

Stakeholder CEP provides valuable community input on planning decisions. SDCL suggest you gain also gain formal approval from any applicable local City community planning group(s) and/or recreation council(s), even if representatives from these groups have attended the stakeholder workshops.

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Figure 32. Example of a Canyon Enhancement Action Plan (Hollywood Canyon, City Heights). Note the trail and access plan, signage, areas for wetland and upland restoration, connection to nearby canyons, and other projects.

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Figure 33. Example of a Canyon Enhancement Action Plan (Swan Canyon, City Heights). Note the trail and access plan, signage, areas for wetland and upland restoration, connection to nearby canyons, integration with existing maintenance project and their mitigation, and other projects.

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Figure 34. Example of an action plan created by adding simple notes to a socio-infrastructural map (Manzanita Canyon, City Heights).

5 Create Project-Specific Designs

Again, although not required at this stage, it will be helpful to create specific designs/plans for the projects identified in the enhancement action plan. This is particularly true of projects that will require review/permission from the City Development Services Department (DSD). This is also true for projects that may require funding, since the more shovel-ready you can demonstrate your projects to be, the more successful any grant applications will tend to be. Figures Figure 35 through Figure 40 provide examples of project-specific designs that include much of the necessary information and details required for permitting from the City Development Services Department (DSD).

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Figure 35. A route identified as an excellent potential "canyon corridor" between Manzanita and Hollywood Canyons (City Heights). that has been targeted for improvements to enhance the pedestrian experience along this segment.

Figure 36. A simulation depicting possible enhancements to a planned "canyon corridor" between Manzanita and Hollywood Canyons (Jamie's Way, City Heights). The goal of "canyon corridors" is to maintain the canyon/open space experience in the urban streetscape. 53

Figure 37. Example of a trail improvement design (connection between Manzanita Canyon and Azalea Park, City Heights). Whenever possible, the use of materials that require long-term maintenance (e.g. wood) should be avoided, although some situations may require them. Design: John Holloway of KTU+A.

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Figure 38. Map of a proposed trail access/improvement at 39th Street (Manzanita Canyon, City Heights).

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Figure 39. First of two maps of proposed improvements to east Olive Street access in Swan Canyon, City Heights.

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Figure 40. Second of two maps of proposed improvements to Olive Street access in Swan Canyon, City Heights.

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Step 4: Seek Necessary Permits & Funding and Execute Action Plan Projects
IMPORTANT NOTE
SDCL is still moving forward with the permitting process for many projects in City Heights. We will update and embellish this section of the CEP Guide as we move forward with this project.

Once the Action Plan is completed, stakeholders can begin pursuing any necessary project permits and funding and begin performing work to enhance access and trails, restore degraded habitat, and accomplish other enhancements.

Permits
Statement of Regulatory Compliance
Projects in open spaces will often impact sensitive habitat and other environmentally sensitive lands such as steep hillsides. The lands are regulated and protected by agencies and regulations. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is essential and requires documented analysis of potential environmental impacts and a public review process. Some projects, particularly restoration projects, may be exempt from CEQA requirements but a checklist of environmental analysis is still required by the Citys Development Services Department (DSD). Sensitive habitats are also regulated by several agencies which may require permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The City DSD requires Site Development Permits for many activities including some that might be exempt from CEQA. The Park and Recreation Department requires a Right of Entry Permit process for specific project areas on City land.

SDCL Seeking Master Permit

At the time of this writing, SDCL is working with the City of San Diego Park & Recreation Department Open Space Division to obtain a Master Permit for Canyon Enhancement Planning that will streamline the process for environmental review and permitting for related projects that are consistent with the goals of this CEP Guide.

Funding
San Diego Canyonlands may be willing to serve as fiscal sponsor for stewardship groups that apply for grants aimed at canyon enhancement projects. Please contact SDCL Executive Director Eric Bowlby (eric@sdcanyonlands.org) for more information.

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