A comprehensive post-fire tree assessment was conducted by a team of certified arborists, who determined that the fire compromised the structural integrity of the eucalyptus trees. This made the trees unstable and prone to falling, so trees are being removed due to imminent safety concerns. The City of Irvine estimated the tree removal would take about two years due to the long, complicated process of removing the large eucalyptus trees. Tree removal efforts are ongoing, but once complete, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will begin rebuilding and rerouting the trails.
Orchard Hills Staging Area In fall 2020, the Orchard Hills area of the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve was caught in the path of the Silverado Fire, causing significant damage. Once the fire subsided, a complete survey of the area found that over 1,000 eucalyptus trees were damaged and needed to be removed to ensure the safety of visitors.
A comprehensive post-fire tree assessment was conducted by a team of certified arborists, who determined that the fire compromised the structural integrity of the eucalyptus trees. This made the trees unstable and prone to falling, so trees are being removed due to imminent safety concerns. The City of Irvine estimated the tree removal would take about two years due to the long, complicated process of removing the large eucalyptus trees. Tree removal efforts are ongoing, but once complete, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will begin rebuilding and rerouting the trails. Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Orange County Fire Watch will once again host the annual Fire Watch Symposium in person and online during California Wildfire Awareness Week.
On Saturday, May 7, the community will have the opportunity to learn about the upcoming fire season and the steps being taken by local agencies and organizations to prepare for potential wildfires in Orange County. During the program, attendees will hear presentations from fire prevention specialists, wildland resource planners, parks rangers and fire agency representatives. This year’s keynote presentation will feature Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Executive Director, Peggy Chase. Throughout her presentation, Peggy will share her wisdom on “Wildfire Impacts on Raptors (and other local wildlife)”. ![]() Native plants are the foundation of our local ecosystems, and the restoration work Irvine Ranch Conservancy conducts cannot happen without the key species that make up the rich and diverse plant community found on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. To ensure a robust inventory of native plants and seeds are on hand for restoration projects, IRC staff and volunteers collect small, genetically diverse samples of seed from naturally occurring plant populations and use traditional agricultural and nursery techniques to cultivate enough plant material to support restoration. Plant Material Development Project Manager Sunny Saroa is one of the IRC team members working at the heart of the plant materials program. Having worked at IRC for a year and a half, Sunny handles the supply chain of native plants and seed for IRC’s restoration and enhancement projects. Day-to-day, Sunny oversees activities within the plant development program, working with IRC staff, volunteers, and contractors to develop plant materials through wild collection, seed production at the Native Seed Farm, and nursery production... Often seen fluttering around the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is the Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum), a type of butterfly found in eastern Washington, south to western Colorado, southern California, Arizona, Baja California, and northwest Mexico.
Known to be a fast-flying species, the Northern White Skipper’s preferred habitats include open woodlands, chaparral, dry washes, desert mountains, and arid land. They can usually be seen flying low to the ground and through gullies, stopping to feed on sage and buckwheat flower. With a wingspan of approximately 3.2-3.8 cm, male butterflies can be identified by their predominantly white coloring with brown “zig-zag” markings, while females have thicker, darker brown markings with cream-colored wings. |
AboutWelcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Archives
September 2023
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