Walker Preserve, Santee

The historical artifact is called a sand dredging tool. Along with some interpretive signs like information about the local flora and fauna of the newly opened preserve, the place was teeming with hikers and bikers of all ages on a Saturday morning. Wilfredo, the organzer of the San Diego International meet-up group also invited Robin, a director of a   San Diego River conservancy group in the Lakeside-Santee area to tell us more of the newly opened preserve. 

The trailhead at Magnolia Avenue in Santee stretches 1.3 miles into the eastern trailhead by the Lakeside baseball court. The path that was opened to bike riders, equestrians and hikers barely a year ago is fenced with wooden poles. On the south side is the San Diego River and the north side is a residential area teeming with backyard lemon trees. 
The preserve is named after the previous owners of the property: the Walkers. According to Robin, the city of Santee along with the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been eyeing on the property  because it's the habitat for at least three federally protected bird species: the Southwestern willow flycatcher, the California gnatcatcher and the least Bell's vireo. 
A whatchamacallit shrub reminded of the pussy willows I have been looking forward to find on my next visit to Idyllwild. 
Is it a dogwood? 
Is it a willow? 
"It's a maple tree!" Djeline thinks. 
I should ask a Canadian.
 The Walker Preserve is part of the 52 mile watershed trail that begins in the Julian upstream. The river anus is by the Mission Bay where the jetty cats are. 
The hike culminated with the Walker Preserve group photo. With Wilfredo's cue: put your right foot in...
I do praise the Lord for Wilfredo, he's one  Fiipino I know who would not vote for Donald Trump in this year's presidential election. 






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