We are Powegians helping to protect open spaces.
Our Mission
Preserve Wild Poway (PWP) is the only nonprofit organization in the Poway area entirely dedicated to safeguarding local land. Through education, participation in community and regional planning processes, and collaboration with other stakeholders, PWP works to raise awareness, and develop solutions that serve the needs of all area residents and preserve our native landscapes.
San Diego County is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Urban sprawl has already severely destabilized the balance of nature. Now is the time to do something for the sake of survival for our native species.
Established in June 2022, Preserve Wild Poway was formed to preserve, protect, and maintain open spaces in the City of Poway. We are concerned about the disappearing mixed chaparral habitat vital to our watershed, and the plants and wildlife that rely upon it.
We strive to create a model habitat reserve system consistent with the Poway Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), be ecologically stable and to sustain our wild inhabitants in perpetuity.
We want to lead San Diego County, not fall behind in the area of habitat conservation. Poway residents want our city to maintain its “City in the Country” feel. This can be done by using the guidelines set forth in the HCP. With thoughtful planning, our last open spaces can be protected with zero to minimal harm.
ONCE IT IS GONE - ITS GONE FOREVER
Find out how you can help PWP in our mission.
Contact PWP at contact@preservewildpoway.org
Preserve Wild Poway is a nonprofit public 501 (c)(3) charity. EIN 88-2805005
Meet the Board Members
Jeff Schmidt
Jeff Schmidt spent his youth in the open spaces of Wyoming where he developed an affinity for the outdoors. When he moved to the San Diego area he carried this rapport with him, spending his free time in the diverse climes of the county.
For the more than 30 years Jeff has lived in San Diego County he has seen the native habitat disappear. He understood that if something wasn’t done it could be too late for the survival of California Coastal Sage Scrub and the indigenous flora and fauna that inhabit it. He has become a kind of expert on Poway’s Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan, partnering with the California Fish and Wildlife, Sierra Club, Endangered Habitat League, and other grass root organizations of like-minded people, who are committed to protecting the last open spaces around not only his community of Poway but all of San Diego County, one of the world’s most ecologically diverse systems.
Lori Grennan
Lori grew up in San Diego. As a youngster, she enjoyed hiking and camping with her family. Her father, a botany professor, instilled in her a love of native plants. Lori continues his work by educating others to the importance of our native habitat and wildlife.
Lori is a retired educator. During her career, she inspired the same love of nature in her students. Lori started a recycling program, organized outdoor field trips and led beach clean-up days with her students and their families.
Lori thought she would spend her retirement years writing children's books, but as fate would have it, she met Jeff Schmidt on a hiking trail. She soon realized she wanted to dedicate her time to educating people about preserving our disappearing habitat. Thus, Preserve Wild Poway was born.
Lori is a long-time Poway resident. She is married and has three grown children.
Shari Dunbar
Shari was raised in Scripps Ranch and Poway and has seen open spaces drastically disappear with heavy urban sprawl in the last 35 years. As a youngster she enjoyed seeing all the deer along the Old Pomerado Road and living in east Poway passing farm stands and open spaces along Poway Road.
Shari has lived next to Twin Peaks Mountain for the last 15 years and has loved learning about the local wildlife. After learning much about the wildlife and then watching it slowly decrease, she has decided to actively advocate for this beautiful hometown and participate in Preserve Wild Poway. Shari believes Poway’s open spaces are crucial to the survival of our wildlife.