Those who frequent Tecolote Canyon's trails might have recently encountered caution tape threading through their favorite green escape. This isn't some outdoor crime scene investigation but rather the beginnings of a necessary infrastructural shake-up. According to the City of San Diego, the tape signals the start of a 4.7-mile trunk sewer rehabilitation and replacement project that promises to revitalize the local sewer system.

The work includes sewer line maintenance, installing and replacing manholes, and improving access paths. It is all conceived to preempt ruptures and ramp up capacity for a system that's been dutifully doing its job since the Eisenhower era. It's a large-scale task extending nearly five miles that will snake its way northward from the Tecolote Nature Center, commandeering sections of trail as it goes.

Hikers, cyclists, and nature buffs should brace themselves for "rolling impacts on trail accessibility," as parts of their beloved canyon will be a no-go for the short term, per the City of San Diego. However, not all those well-trodden pathways will be off-limits, so trail enthusiasts are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for up-to-the-minute signage indicating which routes are viable. There's a silver lining for nature lovers, too, as a five-year vegetation restoration project will succeed the sewer upgrades, ensuring the area remains a verdant retreat for many more years.