ESCONDIDO, CA (September 2, 2025) – On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded $6.89 million in state and federal grants to The Escondido Creek Conservancy (Conservancy) for the purchase of the White-Atterbury and Elfin Acres properties. These critical parcels are part of the Conservancy’s Connecting Conservation Corridors campaign, aimed at safeguarding essential wildlife habitats in North San Diego County.

“Securing funding at this level is never easy,” said Richard Murphy, President of the Conservancy’s Board. “We are thrilled that the WCB recognizes the importance of preserving these vital wildlife corridors.”
 

The 160-acre White-Atterbury property links protected lands in Harmony Grove with those in the City of San Marcos, including the notable landmark Frank’s Peak. The 96-acre Elfin Acres property is nearly surrounded on three sides by the Conservancy’s 910-acre Keithley Preserve and contains a section of Escondido Creek.

These acquisitions are a result of a partnership between the Conservancy, the State of California, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided half of the funding through section 6 of the Federal Endangered Species Act. The properties include a diverse range of habitats, like southern mixed chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian zones, and seasonal wetlands, and are home to rare and sensitive species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, southwestern pond turtle, and western spadefoot toad.
 

“The acquisition of White-Atterbury and Elfin Acres have been years in the making and will soon complete and connect core habitat areas in the Escondido Creek watershed,” said Ann Van Leer, Executive Director of the Conservancy. “Purchasing and protecting these properties in perpetuity also opens up new opportunities for outdoor education, while helping to ensure the survival of rare species for generations to come.”
 

The White-Atterbury and Elfin Acres properties connect thousands of acres of protected open space, strengthening regional wildlife corridors. The Conservancy’s next steps include completing due diligence and closing escrow, with plans to finalize ownership of both properties later this fall.
 

Established in 1991, the mission of The Escondido Creek Conservancy is to preserve and restore the Escondido Creek watershed. Flowing from the mountains above Lake Wolford in Escondido to the San Elijo Lagoon and shores of Encinitas and Solana Beach, the Escondido Creek watershed encompasses over 75 square miles of land in North San Diego County. The Conservancy’s vision is to serve as a model of vibrant urban communities and viable natural ecosystems thriving together. For more information, visit escondidocreek.org.

 

The Wildlife Conservation Board is a state grant-making agency dedicated to safeguarding California’s spectacular biological diversity and wild spaces for the benefit of present and future generations. WCB works in partnership with tribes, conservation organizations, and government agencies to acquire lands and design and implement habitat restoration and public access projects statewide. For more information about WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov. To explore the newly funded projects, visit WCB’s StoryMaps pages.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov/office/carlsbad-fish-and-wildlife or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Flickr.