Blog Archives

Take a Morning Nature Hike in Orchard Hills

1/31/2014

Nature hikes are the perfect way to connect with nature and refresh your spirit.

A walk in nature can give you the small dose of wilderness needed to refresh your spirit. Nature hikes are a great way to soothe the mind, and walking can help to increase your ability to focus and concentrate.

Whether you see nature walks as a time for introspection or a chance to learn about wildlife, make the most of your stroll in wilderness. Listen closely to birds and insects. Look for a tree, flower, or rock that stands out to you. Bring a camera and take photos to share with friends and family, as well as a basic field guide to help identify animals and plants.

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Restoring the Emerald Canyon Trail

1/24/2014

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Volunteers needed to help rebuild rain-damaged trail in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

While rain has eluded us this year, in 2010 the storms were so strong that local trails sustained heavy damage. One of those affected was Emerald Canyon Trail in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, and now OC Parks has announced a trail restoration and construction project that will repair this popular trail.

Volunteers are needed to help complete the project, which includes trail trimming, re-routing and maintenance along with the bridge installation. The first, up-trail bridge is a 16-foot long wooden structure, while the second bridge will span a 60-foot wide, 20-foot deep gully created by the storm damage. The work will span approximately 1.75 miles of the Emerald Canyon Trail. The first volunteer opportunity is February 1.

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Help Plant Acorns in Limestone Canyon

1/17/2014

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Volunteers are welcome to help the coast live oak thrive in our local wilderness.

One of the most common trees seen in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is the coast live oak. These majestic, sprawling trees can live hundreds of years and produce hundreds of thousands of acorns over its lifetime, yet very few acorns survive to sprout and produce new oak trees. To help this critical species thrive, Irvine Ranch Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help plant acorns for these trees in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

Coast live oaks are a vital and important component of the vegetation of California. Oak woodlands profoundly affect the variety and abundance of wildlife, providing food, water and cover for approximately 350 native animal species.

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Volunteers Needed to Help Restore Trail in Bommer Canyon

1/10/2014

Residents are invited to help City’s land stewardship partner repair trails and restore adjacent habitat.

The popular Bommer Pass Trail in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve will be closed starting January 13 for repair and restoration by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve. Residents are invited to help participate and work with Conservancy staff to restore habitat in Bommer Canyon.

This is the first time the trail has been closed for restoration since it was opened to daily self-guided access in 2011. Immediate work is necessary to make rapid repairs and replant habitat before the rainy season. The closure is expected to last until April 1.

Volunteers Needed for Restoration in Big Canyon

1/10/2014

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Project will include trail improvements and replacing invasive plants with natives.

Winter is the perfect time to plant the native coastal sage scrub species found in local nature preserves, and this month the City of Newport Beach seeks volunteers to help with planting in Big Canyon. The volunteer effort is part of a trail improvement project led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy, on behalf of the City.

Over about 2.5 acres, Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff will lead volunteers in planting small native plants and sowing native seeds. Volunteer work in Big Canyon will also include the removal of invasive species such as ice plant and pampas grass. These non-native plants compete for resources with native plants, which are critical to supporting healthy habitat for wildlife in Big Canyon and other preserve areas. The project will focus on trail-side improvements, and will include trail clearing and the installation of a temporary footbridge to allow for easier passage along the trail loop.

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Thwarting Thistle in Quail Hill

1/3/2014

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You can help bring back native plants – and wildlife – to this nature preserve.

The rolling pastures peppered with shrubs and rock outcroppings along the 405 between Sand Canyon and University are a stark contrast to the usual freeway scenery. This not-so-hidden spot is Quail Hill, a 733-acre area of permanently protected open space that is part of the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve.

Like much of the historic Irvine Ranch, cattle grazed Quail Hill for decades in the twentieth century. Grazing likely transformed the original plant community from one composed of native perennial flowers, grasses, and shrubs to one dominated by annual grasses and other invasive plants. After the cattle left the hills, the invasive artichoke thistle(Cynara cardunculus) has thrived, blanketing the hills around the Quail Hill Loop trail. Originally from Spain, this plant is a wild ancestor of the globe artichoke found in the supermarket.

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Interpreting the Word “Interpretive” in Recreation

1/3/2014

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Interpretive programs help visitors discover nature in a variety of ways.

Do you enjoy discovering the detail of nature, like identifying birds by their calls or learning about native plants? You’ve probably noticed that these programs are labeled as “Interpretive” on the LetsGoOutside.org website. Participating in one of these activities is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks while learning something new, and understanding what that word means in the context of outdoor activities will help you select and enjoy outdoor activities.

Interpretive activities are generally easier, shorter, and slower-paced than other programs, with multiple stops for discussions. These programs are often family-friendly, but not all interpretive programs are for all ages. “Interpretive programs focus heavily on a specific topic, explained at different levels,” says Kelley Reetz, an Interpretive Specialist at Irvine Ranch Conservancy. “Certain topics may be too intense to discuss with little ones, such as endangered species or fire ecology, or there might be different levels of detail given in a kids’ program about animals than in an adult-targeted wildlife program.”

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‘Social’ Trails: A Nice Name for a Pesky Problem

1/3/2014

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Informal and unauthorized trails can damage habitat and lead to trail closures.

Trekking along in Bommer Canyon, you see a narrow path that cuts straight down through a curving switchback trail. The path is not marked, but it looks like a shortcut. While the shortest route between two points may be a straight line, that is not always what’s best for the surrounding habitat. And that little shortcut may also lead to a citation or fine.

Why is taking a shortcut such a big deal? Unmarked paths like these are known as “social” or “informal” trails, and are not legal. Landowners have obligations to various local, state and federal agencies to maintain local open space; preserving habitat while providing recreation opportunities. These agencies require landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach to develop Recreation and Resource Management Plans for the open space and wilderness areas they own. These plans not only include strategies for stewardship of the land, but they also include a system of authorized trails that will be maintained by the landowner for public use.

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Take a Morning Nature Hike in Orchard Hills

Restoring the Emerald Canyon Trail

Help Plant Acorns in Limestone Canyon

Volunteers Needed to Help Restore Trail in Bommer Canyon

Volunteers Needed for Restoration in Big Canyon

Thwarting Thistle in Quail Hill

Interpreting the Word “Interpretive” in Recreation

‘Social’ Trails: A Nice Name for a Pesky Problem

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