Rancho Guejito News, Guejito Ranch Conservation and Development, Guejito History, Biology, Plans and More
Brought to you as a public service of Open_Spaces_ GIS and Realty_Services specializing in Environmental Real Estate. This site is not affiliated or endorsed by owners of Rancho Guejito in any manner, or anybody else. It is only my record of events and observations.
Guejito.Info Story Links
Guejito Places Restraining Order on Former Employee. Rangeland manager and former employee Mitch Perdue who claims to be owed $300,000 by the ranch was issued a permanent restraining order by the Court. Mitch has become a vocal critic of Rancho Guejito practices since this dispute arose and has been a source for first hand information about violations occurring on the Ranch.
Guejito Grading Violation Documents Made Available I have received copies of letters and documents sent to Rancho Guejito regarding determination of grading and environmental violations. These pages may be viewed by following the headline link.
Investigator for Guejito Attorneys Delivers Intimidating Letter to this Website. An private investigator recently hand delivered a letter from attorneys representing the Guejito. The letter claimed I was infringing upon Guejito trademarks and was passing myself off as a representative of the ranch. I do not represent the ranch in any manner and added a disclaimer to this site. At least one other letter went out attempting to restrain commentary on the Guejito Ranch. These letters appear to be intended to stifle public discussion of activities on the ranch. The letter sent to me is scanned into record here.
Rangeland Manager Submits Cattle Mortality Report State certified rangeland manager Mitch Perdue who worked the Guejito Ranch documented numerous deaths of cattle in this report. He attributes the deaths to malnutrition and photographic evidence supports his argument. The Guejito has been divided into multiple ranges in order to effeciently graze the ranch's herd. Multiple sections allow for more precise control of the range but also require closer oversight to avoid damage. It may have been that pregnant cattle were held in one of these smaller sections through calving. The forage was exhausted and the new calves increased demand for grazing but were not relocated to better pasture in time to avoid these deaths. State officials investigated but did not find the Guejito blameworthy of more than poor management.. Mitch's photos also show what appears to be quick range burial of the corpses. Full report available here.
Guejito Representative states need for road connecting Rancho Guejito to Highway 78. On Feb., 2 2010 Rikki Schroeder made presentation to the Pala-Pauma Planning Group. She discussed options for development on the ranch. She stated that development would occur and that it was only a matter of time and an acceptable plan being adopted before it would happen. She said the Guejito had plenty of time and made no comment indicating development size except that the 10,000 home number reported was not suggested by the owner. I questioned her specifically about creating an access to Highway 78 in San Pasqual. She said that route would be created to access development. That connection was created by the illegal grading now under discussion. Minutes from that meeting can be viewed here with the access question highlighted.
What is Rancho Guejito?
The Guejito Ranch looms ahead as either the biggest development or conservation site remaining in San Diego County. The Guejito Ranch contains Rancho Guejito y Canada de Paloma, the last remaining intact Mexican land grant in California which dates back to 1845. Those were the days of the Dons, Ranchos, and Californios. At about 22,000 acres including the original Mexican land grant of around 13,000 acres and the historic Vineyard Ranch of 4500 acres, whatever happens on the Guejito is sure to have an impact on the future character of the County and on the people who live here. It is nearly as large as the nearby City of Escondido and could contain not just another planned development but an new community or might it be San Diego's premier natural preserve and a State Park as it very nearly was in 1974? The Guejito is located east of Escondido in the heart of North County back country.
It's unspoiled and entirely undeveloped nature with large tracts of scarce habitats, wide open grasslands, and oak covered hillsides make it the envy of conservation advocates. It virtually contains the entire 17,800 acre watershed of Guejito Creek. At last report there is not a paved road, a utility line, easement or underground pipeline, nor is there a permanent resident on it's uninterrupted 22,000 acres. It does appear that the ranch is a throw back to the days of yore but it is not entirely by chance that development has not occurred there previously. Although the Guejito is just outside Escondido it is out of the way of the routes of commerce. has a limited water supply, and is isolated by the rugged terrain that surrounds it.