Physical Description: The Whelan Preserve is located between Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Oceanside municipal golf course in the City of Oceanside, California. The site lies approximately 0.5 miles north of the San Luis Rey River and near Pilgrim Creek. The 153 acre preserve is bordered by the golf course to the south, non-developed portions of Camp Pendleton to the north, the Oceanside sewage treatment plant to the west and the Caltrans "Pilgrim Creek" restoration site to the east. There is no public access.

Conservation Purpose: The preserve was set aside as a mitigation bank for non-native grassland and Diegan coastal sage. The threatened coastal California gnatcatcher will also be protected by conservation of this site.

Habitat Types: The site has approximately 125 acres of non-native grassland and 28 acres of Diegan coastal sage scrub. Notable species include 4 pairs of coastal California gnatcatchers, mule deer, grasshopper sparrows and road runners.

Management: The focus of management at the preserve is to restore the non-native grasslands to native grasslands and Diegan coastal sage scrub. Restoration includes prescribed fire to remove non-native grasses. The Center coordinated fires in 1999 and 2000 with the City of Oceanside fire department. To date, non-native grassland cover has decreased dramatically. Other management activities include avian community surveys, small mammal trapping and vegetation sampling.

For information and inquiries please contact:

Jessica S. Vinje
Preserve Manager
(760)294-8439 Phone/Fax
e-mail: jvinje@cnlm.org

Markus Spiegelberg
San Diego Area Manager
(619)295-4953 Phone/Fax
e-mail: mspiegelberg@cnlm.org