Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary participates in important environmental program

By Jan Parsons,

DMSB Rotary Public Relations

On a recent Saturday, members of the Del Mar – Solana Beach Rotary could be found working at our plot in the Los Penasquitos Lagoon Natural Preserve along Carmel Valley Road. Over five years ago, we committed to clearing a 100-foot long block near the Via Aprilia intersection as part of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve program to remove non-indigenous plants, and restore the area to its natural habitat. The hardest part of this project was in the early years when we spent many Saturdays removing large quantities of Carpobrotus edulis (pickle weed) that had taken over the area.

Easier was the planting of indigenous plants, helping set up an irrigation system, and weeding to remove unwanted plants such as black mustard, dandelion, reemerging pickle weed, and others. Our recent work day, organized by Community Service Chair Ken Barrett, focused in the drainage area pulling out the stinging nettle and asylum. It was here that Mark Hennenfent was surprised by one of the local inhabitants, a large rattle-snake who, happily, decided not to rattle nor strike. (This encounter is not typical, so don’t let it discourage you from coming out and helping the California State Parks system with this important program.)

The Del Mar – Solana Beach Rotary Club is an active service club of 35 business, professional, and volunteer leaders from the Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Carmel Valley area who belong to the 1.2 million-member Rotary International. To learn more about our projects such as this, please join us at our weekly meetings on Friday mornings at the DoubleTree Hotel in Carmel Valley from 7:15 – 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact President Kirk Collins at 619-254-8234 or visit dmsbRotary.com.