Primrose Removal Project at Kumeyaay Lake

Focus

Freshwater habitat restoration
Where

Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego, California
Habitat Type

Freshwater lake surrounded by riparian vegetation
Implementation

Non-native biomass removal
Maintenance

RECON trained City of San Diego park rangers for long-term monitoring and treatment of regrowing populations
Monitoring

Drone surveys, photography, and visual assessment

The Primrose Removal Project at Kumeyaay Lake is located at Kumeyaay Lake within Mission Trails Regional Park in the city of San Diego, California. Project activities focused on the removal of floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides), a non-native invasive aquatic species forming dense surface mats across portions of the lake and adjacent river channel. Restoration activities included targeted aquatic-approved herbicide application followed by extensive manual removal of treated biomass from both nearshore and open-water areas using boat-based and shoreline crews. Removed material was staged, dried, and disposed of off-site.

RECON coordinated closely with the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, City of San Diego staff, and park rangers to ensure safe access, minimize impacts to recreation and wildlife, and transition long-term monitoring and management responsibilities following project completion.