Southern California’s urban wildlands are home to thousands of acres of rare and diverse plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. These wildlands are made up of an intricate network of interconnected habitats that over the course of history have faced many threats, and some have become degraded over time as a result. When a habitat becomes degraded, it can affect the health of an entire landscape.
 
The habitat restoration and enhancement program is the cornerstone of IRC’s conservation work on the Landmarks. IRC staff, volunteers and regional partners work to restore and enhance the ecological health, resilience, and connectivity of these native habitats to support the rare and diverse species that call it home. 

Part of the heron family (Ardeidae), the great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest of the North American herons and are commonly called cranes. Even with their impressive size, great blue herons usually only weigh about five to six pounds due to their hollow bones.
 
These birds are highly adaptable and can often be found near a variety of different water sources from freshwater to saltwater habitats foraging for food such as fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, insects and other small animals. They have been known to forage in grasslands and agricultural fields as well.

​The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are an important part of the natural wildlands in Orange County and here at Irvine Ranch Conservancy, it’s our mission to protect, restore and preserve these native lands. In order to continue our mission, we rely on the help of our strong network of IRC volunteers, who contribute tens of thousands of hours annually to protecting the Landmarks and engaging the community to ensure these beautiful wildlands remain healthy and can be enjoyed by future generations.
 
IRC volunteers are essential to the work being done on the Landmarks and are seen as an extension of IRC staff. One of the Conservancy staff members behind the team of IRC volunteers is Volunteer Coordinator Caytlin LeBlanc. An integral part of the IRC Volunteer Management team, Caytlin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, specializing in Wildlife and Natural Resource Management from Abilene Christian University in Texas. Joining the Conservancy team three years ago, Caytlin’s job duties revolve around coordinating trail patrols, stewardship patrols and public activities on the Landmarks, preparing volunteer training programs, and maintaining the LetsGoOutside.org website, so nature lovers can easily access the land.

​State and local COVID-19 guidelines forced many guided activities on the land to be postponed this past year.  However, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its land-owning partners, OC Parks, the City of Irvine, and the City of Newport Beach, decided to take advantage of the closures to make land improvements and conduct wildfire recovery efforts in preparation for the resumption of public activities and access as guidelines are eased.
 
Increased wildfire danger has become more of a threat to the Landmarks in recent years, with fires occurring 90% more frequently than natural return intervals of 70 to 150 years. In October 2020, the Silverado Fire burned about 12,466 acres of land in Orange County, damaging infrastructure and natural habitats on the Landmarks. With public activities halted due to the COVID-19 shutdown, IRC staff have been able to restore the damaged infrastructure at a quicker pace, while also improving areas of the Landmarks for future public enjoyment.
 
During the Silverado Fire, 80% of the Portola Staging Area was damaged, as well as the loss of the Sinks viewing decks and two 40-foot trail bridges in Limestone Canyon. IRC’s Infrastructure and Planning crew have since rebuilt the Portola Staging Area with enhancements, improving the size of the staging area, rehabilitating vegetation, and upgrading public amenities. In Limestone Canyon, the IRC team is planning a complete rebuild of the bridges and viewing decks in 2021, reconstructing the structures with fireproof materials and a one-way trail system leading to the viewing decks for easier visitor traffic flow.

​Springtime in Orange County is one of the most ideal seasons to get out and explore what nature has to offer. The first day of spring is quickly approaching on March 20, which means the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks will be filled with fresh blooms and a variety of wildlife, presenting the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy these native wildlands.
 
With 7-day access trails on the Landmarks, nature lovers can experience the first signs of spring from the heart of Irvine to the coast of Newport Beach. The City of Irvine is home to a variety of trails in Bommer Canyon and Quail Hill that are open for passive self-guided access daily from dawn to dusk.  Quail Hill is ideal for a quick escape into nature and is a delight in the springtime due to the abundance of birds and other wildlife foraging for food and shelter.  Meanwhile, Bommer Canyon offers a wider range of hiking opportunities perfect for hikers of all skill levels.