Blog Archives

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Volunteers Awarded for Service in Buck Gully

4/30/2020

Volunteers in Buck Gully

Since forming in 2005, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has relied on the help of its volunteers to protect and preserve the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. From habitat restoration to leading public activities, IRC volunteers play a crucial role in caring for the land and connecting people to these natural resources.

Every year, the California Parks and Recreation Society awards local residents for their outstanding efforts in volunteerism. We are proud to have three Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers nominated this year for their incredible efforts at Buck Gully in the City of Newport Beach.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the History of Irvine Ranch

4/21/2020

April 22nd is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which commemorates the unified response to an environment in crisis and the beginning of an environmental movement. For Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Earth Day has special meaning, marking the anniversaries of the City of Irvine’s Open Space Initiative and the designation as the first-ever California Natural Landmark.

What we know today as the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks was once one of California’s earliest and most productive large-scale agricultural enterprises. Under the leadership of James Irvine Jr., the land known as the Irvine Ranch produced a variety of crops including beans, oranges, barley, cauliflower, grapes, papayas and more. A portion of the land was also home to the Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp and housed hundreds of head of cattle from the late 1800s until 2001. You can still find some of the original structures on the land to this day!

Landmarks Focus - Arroyo Lupine

4/15/2020

Many visitors to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks get an instant mood boost from seeing the beautiful springtime colors of wildflowers blanketing the hills. If you’re not a botanist, you might have wondered what some of the colorful species dotting the landscape are called. Some are less easy to identify, but a standout beauty is the arroyo lupine. Impress your friends with your botanical knowledge the next time you’re out on the trail.

Part of the pea family, this vibrant purple bloom has a recognizably lupine shape, with clusters of flowers forming a narrow, tapering bloom. Arroyo lupine is native to California and does well in a number of habitats, including the chaparral habitat found in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and is more water-tolerant than other lupine family members. It is one of the more than 50 species grown at Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Native Seed Farm, where it is used along with other native plants for restoration projects. Lupines are attractive to pollinators like bees, birds and butterflies. Arroyo lupine’s water tolerance and appeal to pollinators makes it a great choice for a home garden.

Wildlife Spotlight: Gray Fox

4/8/2020

A gray fox caught on an Irvine Ranch Conservancy wildlife camera

There is a little-seen but very special mammal living on the Landmarks. This animal comes out mostly at night, hunting for fauna and flora to eat, and is one of the few creatures of its kind with the ability to climb trees. During the day, it sleeps in a den it has made from a hollow tree, stump, burrow or cave. Some might be tempted to describe this animal as cute!

The gray fox was once the most common fox in the United States, widely spread through both eastern and western states. Thought the red fox is now more dominant in the East, gray foxes can still be found in large numbers in the West, particularly in Pacific states like California. Though they’re seldom seen, there are gray foxes living across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, hiding from the sun during the day and hunting at night. The gray fox is distinguishable from other foxes by its markings. Its underside is white, with a gray coat fading into red, and a distinctive black stripe down its tail.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff Spotlight: Infrastructure & Planning Crew

4/2/2020

From left: Tomas, Carlos and Chalio, IRC's Infrastructure & Planning Crew

Ensuring the protection, restoration and enhancement of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is a pivotal part of Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s mission. The Infrastructure & Planning Crew collaborates with land management partners OC Parks, City of Irvine, the Irvine Company, and the City of Newport Beach to implement and maintain the 40,000 acres of natural resources right here in Orange County.

The three-person Infrastructure & Planning Crew designs, creates and maintains trail systems and visitor facilities throughout the Landmarks. Carlos Carrillo, Rosalio “Chalio” Gonzalez and Tomas Gonzalez are the three IRC staff members responsible for the maintenance of more than 200 miles of natural surface roads and recreation trails, staging areas, viewing decks, fences, water lines and so much more. The crew also implements new infrastructure projects, which to date includes 29 miles of new single-track multi-use recreation trails, 20 trail bridges, two viewing deck platforms, two shade sail structures, facility enhancements at primary staging areas and more than 200 lineal feet of trail retaining walls.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Volunteers Awarded for Service in Buck Gully

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the History of Irvine Ranch

Landmarks Focus - Arroyo Lupine

Wildlife Spotlight: Gray Fox

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff Spotlight: Infrastructure & Planning Crew

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