Blog Archives

Zumba on Sundays, Yoga on Wednesdays, and Lots in Between

9/27/2013

A variety of fitness classes available daily in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

October is on the horizon, bringing a chill to the air and new opportunities to get fit outdoors in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. There are opportunities to explore Orange County’s only National Natural Landmark every day of the week, and now Irvine Ranch Conservancy offers free weekly Zumba and Yoga classes.

Here is a sampling of activities for every day of the week; all are free and require online pre-registration (unless otherwise noted). For more activities, or to register, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org.

Studying Climate Change from Space with JPL

9/20/2013

Family-friendly event will include satellite images, kids’ crafts and telescope viewing.

Right now, there are more than a dozen Earth science satellites in orbit, helping NASA scientists better understand the effects of climate change. Through their Eyes on the Earth interactive website, you can “fly” along with the satellites, taking in a view of the Earth from space. Here on the ground, you and your family can also meet a member of the team working on the climate change project during the JPL Mars & Stars event on Saturday, September 28.

OC Parks welcomes back NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for a series of educational public programs showcasing various deep space missions. The second event in a three-part series will come to Limestone Canyon on Saturday, September 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with a special presentation called “Climate Change Overload: Reconnecting with Planet Earth.”

Trail Running: Major Workout, Major Rewards

9/13/2013

Mental and physical benefits await those hardy enough for a trail run.

For runners in Orange County, sticking to sidewalks can become boring. Some studies also show that running on concrete puts more stress on your joints than running on softer surfaces. Luckily, the extensive trails in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer a variety of alternatives.

Trail running is a sport that combines a fast pace with natural environs for a mind-and-body workout. A recent article in Runner's World magazine suggests that trail runners benefit from the lower impact of running on dirt or other trail surfaces. The article also cautions trail runners to start slow when they are just beginning the sport. Highly technical trails can present uneven surfaces that newer trail runners might not be ready for. Best to start on wider, flatter trails to build up the small stabilizing muscles needed for balance.

Buck Gully Gets Water Wise

9/5/2013

Habitat restoration project now includes WaterWise Native Plant Demonstration.

It may seem like a paradox, but the two biggest threats to the Buck Gully Reserve are fire and water. Non-native, fire-prone ornamental plants and runoff water from nearby homes are found throughout the preserve, but luckily, one project seeks to lessen the impact of both threats.

The City of Newport Beach has partnered with Irvine Ranch Conservancy for a WaterWise Native Plant Demonstration project, seeking to transform one acre of invasive ice plant with a plant assortment that is native to the area, fire-resistant and drought tolerant. While the ice plant has some of these qualities, there are other aspects of the plant that make it a nuisance to the health of Buck Gully. The shallow root system does not control erosion along the steep slopes, and the thatch that develops under large fields of the plant is extremely flammable.

Landfill is a ‘Good Neighbor’ to Local Nature Preserves

9/5/2013

New OC Waste & Recycling Project will repair landslide effects without increasing footprint.

Since 1990, the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine has served its useful purpose while respecting its placement near the protected Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The 725-acre property includes permanently protected habitat in addition to an award-winning landfill operation that represents the latest advancements in environmentally-friendly engineering and planning.

In 2002, there was a landslide within the landfill property, and a new project will shore up that area of the landfill, making sure it meets its capacity. The project area extends into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve to help stabilize the slope and restore that area of habitat, but the end result of the project will not increase the landfill footprint.

Zumba on Sundays, Yoga on Wednesdays, and Lots in Between

Studying Climate Change from Space with JPL

Trail Running: Major Workout, Major Rewards

Buck Gully Gets Water Wise

Landfill is a ‘Good Neighbor’ to Local Nature Preserves

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