On November 10, 2010, the Santa Margarita Area, located in the southwest hills of Temecula and consisting 4,510 acres of land, became an official part of the City of Temecula Approximately 95% (4,285 acres) of the annexation area lie within the “Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve” (SMER) which is mostly open space area and dedicated to research managed by San Diego State University (SDSU). The remaining 5% (225 acres) are private lands. Four properties are occupied by permanent residences.
What is the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (“SMER”)? (95% of the proposed annexation area) .
Watch video footage below of the Santa Margarita River flowing through the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (January 2005).
The pristine nature of the Ecological Reserve provides a rare resource for ecological and environmental research. The Ecological Reserve’s unique habitat and pristine environment attracts students from many universities, as well as various regional, state and federal organizations, and researchers/scientists nationally and internationally, to perform studies within the SMER based upon its irreplaceable setting. Hundreds of research projects have been conducted on the property. Millions of dollars of have been invested in the SMER to provide scientific data; all of which support job opportunities as well as important information on the environment, historical data, and the future forecasts. Lists of hundreds of research projects are available on the SMER’s website. The SMER’s distinctive natural setting and location provides the optimum place for a wide range of research programs. For example, the following are just three programs that show the vast array of different types of research projects conducted on SMER premises such as (1) technology studies that investigate the structure and evolution of the North American continent, (2) riparian corridor flora studies, and (3) evaluating seismic energy through the earth's surface. To visit the official Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve website and learn more please click here.
 The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve is thousands of acres of pristine open space surrounding the last free flowing River flowing into the ocean in Southern California. The subject property’s topographic character is comprised of steep hills with scattered outcroppings of granite boulders, sloping in a southwesterly direction, with elevations ranging from approximately 500 to 2,000 feet above mean sea level. At the lower elevations of the project, a five-mile stretch of the protected Santa Margarita River flows southwesterly through the Ecological Reserve from the northeast portion to the southwest portion of the subject property. The Santa Margarita River begins at the confluence of Temecula Creek and Murrieta Creek at the Temecula City Limits. The river flows through the Temecula Gorge traversing through the Ecological Reserve and primarily undeveloped lands of Camp Pendleton to the west and ultimately empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Margarita River is the last intact riparian corridor in southern California and an important water source for Camp Pendleton.
 The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve is in the center of the last viable linkage for wildlife that connects the Inland Mountains to the Coastal Mountain Range. This wildlife corridor is the only remaining natural habitat connection for the coastal Santa Ana Mountains to the inland ranges often referred to as the “Palomar to Pacific” wildlife linkage. The protection of wildlife movement is critical to the vitality of the ecosystem connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Inland Coastal Mountain Range.
What about the residential area? (5% of the proposed annexation area)
 225 acres of the annexation area is rural residential. Surrounding the annexation is a rural and agricultural community. One of the objectives of the annexation is to retain the existing rural residential/agricultural character of privately-owned lands.
Currently, there are four developed ranch homes within the annexation area and less than 12 registered voters. The residential density allowance of 1 unit per 10 acres will remain in this area.
To view the Certified Final Environmental Impact Report and Addendum to the Certified Final Environmental Impact Report, click here.
If you have questions or would like additional information regarding the Santa Margarita Annexation proposal, please contact the project Planner: Betsy Lowrey 951-693-3959.
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