This canyon, just a few miles from our office, is the largest in City Heights. We host monthly volunteer events where we remove invasive species, pick up trash, and plant native plants. We have made many partnerships along the way, including with Ocean Discovery Institute, SeaGrant, I Love A Clean San Diego, City Open Space Division, and several volunteer groups. This project was made possible by support from many funders, including an Urban Greening Grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, a Prop 1 Grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy, an Opening the Outdoors Grant from The San Diego Foundation, and grant funding from REI.
invasive species control
Invasive species are a huge threat to the native habitat in Manzanita Canyon. Our field crew, with the help of volunteers, remove thousands of pounds of invasive plants here each year.
native plantings
We have planted 5000 plants with over 1000 volunteers over the last 10 years and counting!
Fire prevention
Removing dry, fire-prone invasive plants and replacing them with San Diego natives can help reduce the risk of fires in urban canyons.
The Living lab
Ocean Discovery Institute’s Living Lab is situated at the mouth of Manzanita Canyon. We partner with ODI on volunteer events and habitat restoration efforts. Learn more about ODI.