All Categories

City of Irvine’s “What to Look Out For” Signage and Infrastructure

5/25/2023

City of Irvine's "Know Before You Go" trail signs

With warmer weather and longer days on the way, outdoor enthusiasts throughout Orange County are gearing up to hit the trails to enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty. However, with fluctuating weather, it’s imperative to know which trails are accessible, and what items you should carry with you before beginning your outdoor adventure.

At each trailhead throughout the City of Irvine’s (COI) trail system in the Irvine Ranch Open Space is a series of helpful “Know Before You Go” signs. These signs come in a variety of shapes and colors to grab your attention and provide important reminders, like carrying a sufficient amount of water with you in the heat. IRC’s Planning and Infrastructure team, led by Director Adam Maywhort, is responsible for maintaining these signs and gates, as well as designing, building and maintaining the comprehensive network of trails, roads, bridges, and anything else the public interacts with when on the land.

0 Comments

City of Irvine’s East Fork Restoration Project

5/18/2023

1 Comment

East Fork restoration site in Bommer Canyon Nature Preserve

The City of Irvine’s (COI) East Fork area in the Bommer Canyon Nature Preserve has been part of a large-scale restoration project with Irvine Ranch Conservancy since 2018. This 4.2-acre portion of Bommer Canyon, located where the East Fork trail meets the Bommer Pass trail, was historically used for agriculture, and severely degraded with invasive plant species such as mustard and non-native grasses. The site is typically only accessible during Wilderness Access Days and guided activities.

IRC’s Restoration and Enhancement Team took on this endeavor to restore habitat for threatened species such as the California gnatcatcher and cactus wren. This required removing invasive plants and replacing them with a diverse set of native shrubs. IRC’s team experimented with several restoration techniques in the process and involved community volunteers frequently.

1 Comment

Orange County Fire Watch Hosts 2023 Symposium

5/12/2023

0 Comments

2023 Orange County Fire Watch Symposium

This past weekend, Orange County Fire Watch and Irvine Ranch Conservancy hosted the 2023 Fire Watch Symposium to raise awareness about wildfires and wildfire prevention with their volunteers and the community. Alongside their partners, Orange County Fire Authority, National Weather Service, OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach, the symposium highlighted the crucial work that is done by their Fire Watch volunteers.

The Orange County Fire Watch program was designed to bring together volunteers and staff to provide early fire detection, deter arsonists, and help reduce the frequency of human-caused wildland fires, especially during high-risk circumstances and extreme weather conditions. Tony Pointer, OC Fire Watch Program Manager and IRC team member, kicked off the well-attended event and began the annual symposium by expressing gratitude for the existing 300 Fire Watch volunteers that deploy during Red Flag Warning days and explaining the work that they do.

0 Comments

Dr. Ramon Perez’s Oak Enhancement Project in Weir Canyon Nature Preserve

5/4/2023

1 Comment

Oak woodland in Weir Canyon Nature Preserve.

One of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmark’s most important plants is the coast live oak, the foundation of a healthy oak woodland habitat. OC Parks’ Weir Canyon Nature Preserve has been recognized for having one of the largest intact oak woodlands in Orange County. This oak tree population, however, has faced a number of challenges over the last few years.

A small, invasive pest known as the Gold Spotted Oak Borer beetle made its way from Arizona in recent years and has threatened oak trees throughout California. Oak trees in San Diego were devastated by the arrival of these beetles. After a population of beetles were found in Weir Canyon, the team quickly jumped into action to contain the threat, but the oak population was still impacted. The Canyon 2 Fire in 2017 provided an additional stress to the ecosystem, causing damage to the young oak trees and the surrounding habitat. The oak population in Weir Canyon was in need of assistance.

1 Comment

Plant Profile: Chaparral Yucca

4/27/2023

0 Comments

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are coming to life this spring and are covered with flowering plant life, including the unmissable sight of chaparral yucca. A native plant that can be found on the trails, chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is also known as Our Lord’s Candle, Spanish bayonet, or Quixote yucca.

Native to southern California and Baja California, Mexico, chaparral yucca can be found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland plant communities. This plant species is drought tolerant and thrives in dry, clay soils.

0 Comments

Contribute to Conservation with the City Nature Challenge

4/18/2023

2 Comments

Hikers in Bommer Canyon Preserve

Irvine Ranch Conservancy will host two City Nature Challenges on April 29th and 30th at City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon Preserve and OC Parks’ newly opened Saddleback Wilderness. These interactive events focus on finding and identifying as many rare and threatened plant and wildlife species as possible to gain better understanding of our ecosystem and aid in biodiversity conservation.

Attendees will search for plants and animals, learn how to identify them using the iNaturalist app and catalog their findings in a community iNaturalist project. High quality data uploaded to iNaturalist become part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an open-source database used by scientists and policy makers around the world.

2 Comments

Staff Spotlight: Isaac Ostmann, Invasive Species Control Program Manager

4/12/2023

1 Comment

Invasive Species Control Program Manager, Isaac Ostmann

In order for native plants and wildlife to thrive throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, invasive plant species must be closely monitored and removed before they quickly spread and degrade the surrounding habitat. This work is imperative to ensure that native plant species have the space and resources needed to thrive so that the wildlife that rely upon them for food or habitat are also able to thrive. For this reason, Irvine Ranch Conservancy is grateful to have paramount team members, like the Program Manager of Invasive Species Control, Isaac Ostmann.

Prior to joining Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Isaac worked with California State Parks to oversee invasive plant removal, habitat restoration and monitor rare and endangered species. Isaac joined IRC in 2008 and spent years working with the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement team to create and protect healthy and functional habitat throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Having worked at IRC for 14 years, Isaac has always been drawn to the satisfaction that comes from working on the land and seeing the direct results of his labor. Some efforts have immediate results, such as removing and bagging patches of Sahara mustard alongside volunteers or mowing degraded habitat to prepare it for restoration, while other projects have taken more than a decade for Isaac to see flourish.

1 Comment

Updates on Raptor Monitoring Throughout the Landmarks

4/6/2023

1 Comment

Raptor nest

Since 2008, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has partnered with internationally acclaimed raptor biologist, Peter H. Bloom to monitor raptor nests throughout the Landmarks and document other activities, such as egg laying, incubation, hatching and fledging. Studies at the time found that there were a variety of raptor species living in Orange County and most of them were likely born and raised on the Landmarks.

Peter, alongside Scott Thomas of Kidd Biological, now work together to survey Orange County’s open space and train volunteers to assist with nest monitoring efforts. According to Peter, raptor populations have seen significant declines in Orange County since he started surveying them in the 1970s. Since IRC’s raptor monitoring program began, the location and quantity of raptor nests within the landmarks have fluctuated over time, but overall have remained relatively stable. Experts continue to work to understand how variables such as wildfires or heavy rains are affecting fluctuations in nest numbers. Some of the raptors observed nesting within the Landmarks throughout IRC’s monitoring efforts include the Cooper’s Hawk, Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, White-tailed Kite, Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, and the Red-shouldered Hawk, with the Red-tailed Hawk proving to be the most abundant nesting raptor.

1 Comment

Invasive Plant Species: Castor Bean

3/30/2023

0 Comments

Castor Bean removal in Agua Chinon

Maintaining healthy plant communities is essential to preserving biodiversity on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Native plants have a close relationship with and are dependent on native wildlife, but invasive plants and animals can disrupt this relationship, creating degraded habitat over time. That is why it is so important to remove non-native and invasive plants, like castor bean (Ricinus communis) which can be found throughout Southern California. The spread of castor bean plants is one of the leading causes of native biodiversity loss because they spread quickly and displace and prevent growth of native plants.

Castor bean is a perennial shrub that can grow rapidly to be anywhere from three to fifteen feet in height. With thick, palm-like leaves, castor bean plants can shade the surrounding native plants, preventing the native plants from getting the sunlight needed for growth. Though the leaves are typically deep green in color, some varieties have a reddish tint and have an odor when crushed. Castor bean plants contain small, green flowers with separate male and female flowers present on the same plan. The fruit produced is a small, round, spiny capsule, often red and containing smooth seeds inside that can be fatal if consumed.

0 Comments

Bulking Plant Materials at the Native Seed Farm

3/23/2023

Growing plants at the Native Seed Farm

Native plants are the foundation of diverse ecosystems throughout the Landmarks, and restoration efforts rely on native plant materials to create healthy and resilient habitats. IRC’s Plant Material Development program is designed to produce the plant materials needed for a wide range of restoration projects in Orange County, like the butterfly habitat enhancement project currently underway in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon.

Sunny Saroa, Project Manager in the Plant Material Development program, helps facilitate the production of native plants and seeds for IRC’s restoration and enhancement projects by overseeing seed production at IRC’s Native Seed Farm, container plant production at our nurseries, coordinating wild seed collection, and maintaining an inventory of container plant and seed. Together, Sunny and the Plant Material Development team work to keep a robust inventory of native plants and seeds on hand at the Native Seed Farm to cultivate enough plant material to support major restoration projects. The Native Seed Farm currently has around 40 different plant species in production.

Butterfly Monitoring Progress Updates

3/16/2023

Butterfly habitat islands in Limestone Canyon.

With recent enhancement efforts to butterfly habitats in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has been focusing on the monitoring of these local pollinators to track population growth after recent nationwide declines. The monitoring efforts have been steered by IRC Project Coordinator, Catherine Le, who is responsible for analyzing wildlife activity throughout the Landmarks and works closely with teams of volunteers to enhance knowledge of wildlife patterns and study the effects of land management.

Butterfly monitoring in Limestone Canyon, where Catherine and her team of dedicated volunteers visit on a monthly basis, began years ago and includes data from as early as 2012. This abundance of data from over the years has shown a decline in butterfly populations, especially following recent wildfires in Limestone Canyon. During their monthly patrol, the volunteers are split into different groups that visit four separate routes, observing and recording the number of butterflies and flowering plants that are visible.

Wildlife Spotlight: Western Pond Turtles

3/8/2023

Western Pond Turtles

Irvine Ranch Conservancy is regularly involved in habitat restoration and enhancement projects that help restore and protect habitats for native plant and wildlife species. One current project includes managing and caring for a population of Western Pond Turtles living in City of Irvine’s Shady Canyon. What was formerly a cattle pond has been reconstructed to better hold water and provide more habitat for the turtles to hopefully support a threatened species in Orange County.

The Western Pond Turtle (Emys marmorata) is a freshwater turtle with shells averaging between seven and nine inches in length and can be recognized by their yellow stomachs and black spots and lines on their heads. Though these turtles could once be found all the way from Canada down to Baja, California, the number of Western Pond Turtles has significantly decreased over the years and populations can now be found mostly in southern Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada.

Happy World Wildlife Day!

3/2/2023

Today is World Wildlife Day–a day to celebrate all of the wild animals and plants in the world and the wonderful things they contribute to our lives and the health of the planet. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy is honoring this international day by highlighting a local, furry friend that can be spotted on the Landmarks: bobcats!

In celebration of World Wildlife Day, follow @irnlandmarks and follow the giveaway instructions for a chance to win an exciting prize perfect for outdoor enthusiasts!

OC Waste and Recycling’s Free Compost Program

2/22/2023

OCWR delivers compost to wetland enhancement project site.

Sustainability is a practice at the core of Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s mission of restoring, protecting, and enhancing the ecological health of urban wildlands throughout Orange County. A new program offered by OC Waste and Recycling (OCWR) supports the practice of sustainability by offering free compost and mulch to the community.

Composting is a process that takes organic materials and converts them into a nutrient-rich soil amendment, helping to revitalize degraded soil when mixed together. Composting also helps reduce methane emissions that come from organic waste in landfills and limits the need for chemical fertilizers. OCWR’s new program is offering STA Certified compost and mulch for free from Bee Canyon Greenery at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine and from Capistrano Greenery at Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano. Orange County residents, commercial businesses, local cities, and government agencies are now able to request and schedule an appointment to pick up free compost and mulch from OCWR.

Spadefoot Toad Pond Restoration and Enhancements

2/16/2023

IRC staff and volunteers monitoring a spadefoot toad pond

The Western spadefoot toad is a species that has been commonly found throughout California’s Central Valley and in coastal ranges from just south of Monterey County all the way to Baja California, Mexico. Though the spadefoot toad spends the majority of the year burrowing up to three feet underground, following the wet and rainy season they emerge to produce the next generation of toads. In order for the breeding season to be successful, spadefoot toads require temporary pools or shallow streams that retain water for at least 35 days. However, due to California’s historic drought, the population of spadefoot toads on the Landmarks and surrounding areas has significantly decreased in recent years, so much so that they’ve been listed as a species of special concern under the National Community Conservation Planning program.

The main cause of this population decline is likely southern California’s dry conditions, which make it challenging for spadefoot toads to locate the shallow bodies of water necessary for breeding. As a result, Irvine Ranch Conservancy alongside OC Parks, The Nature Conservancy and the USGS have joined forces to help spadefoot toad breeding and overall survival with the implementation of a major habitat restoration and enhancement project in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon.

Learn About Native Plants and Orange County’s Ranching History at the New Bommer Canyon Nature Garden

2/8/2023

Bommer Canyon Nature Garden before & after restoration work. Images courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

The City of Irvine and Irvine Ranch Conservancy welcome nature lovers to experience the new Bommer Canyon Nature Garden, where visitors can learn about native habitats, local plant life, Orange County’s rich ranching history and why the area developed into a nature preserve.

Originally overrun by weeds and invasive plant species, the area located near the Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp was designated as the perfect site for an interpretive nature garden, so visitors can learn more about why Orange County’s native wildlands are an important part of the local ecosystem. The Bommer Canyon Nature Garden will take visitors on a journey through the history of the Irvine Ranch, guided by interpretive informational panels installed by IRC’s Planning and Infrastructure team. These panels will help visitors learn more about ranching techniques and old cattle camp equipment, as well as native plants from local coastal sage scrub, riparian and grassland habitat.

Fire Watch Volunteer Program

2/2/2023

As Southern Californians enjoy the brief rainy season, the upcoming drier and warmer weather not only means more outdoor adventures, but also means that wildfire season is just around the corner. The wildlands in Orange County, covered in coastal sage scrub and chaparral, dry out significantly during the hot summer months and are left with very low moisture. This dry landscape combined with Santa Ana winds and high temperatures leads to extremely high fire risk.

Wildfires are a growing concern in California and are most often started by humans, igniting from roads or other urban wildland interface areas. These wildfires spread quickly and can damage acres of land at a time. Through a collaborative partnership with Irvine Ranch Conservancy, OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach and Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Fire Watch program calls on volunteers to help watch for accidental or intentional fire ignitions.

IRC’s 2022 Annual Report Recap

1/26/2023

IRC's 2022 Annual Report

Over the course of the last year, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has helped thousands of individuals connect with nature while advancing efforts to restore and preserve Orange County’s native wildlands, including the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The 2022 Annual Report recounts these efforts and highlights accomplishments from IRC’s core programs of work.

The Volunteer Management and Administration team is responsible for finding creative ways to not only recruit volunteers, but design pathways for volunteers to harness individual skills and passions in ways that give back to the land and visitors. In 2022 alone, IRC had 485 volunteers dedicate a total of 26,237 hours, translating to more than $933,000 worth of donated time.

Wet Weather Trail Etiquette

1/19/2023

Wet weather trail damage.

While the recent influx of rain has been great for the land, providing much needed water for native plants and animals, there is no denying that the resulting trail closures have been tough. With so much of the landscape turning green, it’s only natural to want to get outside and explore. However, wet trails can be dangerous, and using these trails before they dry out can result in long term damage that will likely require further closures and extensive repairs.

During wet weather, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy team and its partners work diligently to monitor storm damage and trail conditions so we can quickly address any issues and reopen the trails once they are safe for use. During closures, it is important that everyone does their part to minimize damage. Soil in our region tends to have a high clay content, which is great for capturing and retaining moisture during rare Southern Californian rainstorms. However, this also creates really slippery conditions for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. It also means that once the soil dries out, any ruts or footprints will harden, creating potentially hazardous conditions. In other words, using wet and muddy trails can not only cause long-lasting damage to the trails, but it can also be dangerous for visitors.

IRC Staff Spotlight - Tomas Gonzales

1/12/2023

IRC's Infrastructure and Planning Team Member, Tomas Gonzalez.

The many trails throughout Orange County’s open spaces are what draw and allow visitors to soak in the natural beauty of the Landmarks. It’s easy to forget how much work actually goes into maintaining these hiking and biking trails to keep them available to the public. If not for team members like Tomas Gonzalez, part of IRC’s Infrastructure and Planning team, many of these beloved trails would fall into disrepair.

Working for the Irvine Ranch Conservancy for nearly three years now, Tomas is responsible for maintaining and building trails, fences, bridges and staging areas. Tomas faces new situations every day and has to be adaptable and prepared to manage whatever problems may arise. Luckily, Tomas is qualified and has experience operating heavy equipment like the excavator, loader and landscaping hand tools that are utilized for major projects.

Invasive Plant Profile - Tree Tobacco

1/5/2023

Tree tobacco removal in Agua Chinon.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its partners make it a goal to preserve the land and support natural habitats. With this mission, most plants are welcome in the open spaces of Orange County, but there are a few invasive plant species that can disrupt the unique biodiversity that make up the Landmarks. Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), for example, is a species that has traveled far from its origins and continues to thrive throughout the lands.

Tree tobacco is a small, open tree that has rubbery, silver-blue leaves and grows clusters of tubular, yellow flowers. Originally native to South America, tree tobacco began as a decorative garden plant used to attract birds and has sprouted into something much larger, becoming an invasive plant throughout California. Growing rather quickly, tree tobacco seeds can bloom into trees of six to ten feet in height and are often found along trails, fields and roadsides in many native wildlands.

Happy New Year from Irvine Ranch Conservancy!

12/28/2022

Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy team is wishing all our friends and family a healthy and happy new year! IRC is extremely grateful for the hard work of our volunteers and a community of nature lovers whose continuing efforts enhance the Landmarks for everyone to enjoy.

As this holiday marks a clean slate, it’s a great time to set personal goals for the upcoming year. This year, IRC is encouraging the community to make getting outdoors and getting involved a priority for 2023.

Bird Monitoring on the Landmarks

12/21/2022

IRC's bird monitoring volunteers.

For years now, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has dedicated its efforts to bird monitoring and habitat restoration throughout the open spaces of Orange County, including OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Agua Chinon and Weir Canyon. The data findings from these monitoring projects are significant as they contribute to IRC’s understanding of wildlife populations and the impact of rehabilitation and enhancement efforts.

Using a “point count survey,” 2-3 volunteers visit specific points on the land together and count every bird that’s seen or heard within five-minute intervals, recording the total number and species of birds observed. These point count surveys typically take place during the spring migration, April-June, and the fall migration, September-October, with an additional survey of overwintering birds occurring in January.

Butterfly Monitoring & Habitat Restoration

12/14/2022

Butterfly restoration and enhancement plots in Limestone Canyon.

Local pollinators, such as butterflies, are key to the health of native habitats on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Native plants rely on them to help produce new seeds, which then create new plants, supporting a wide range of native wildlife. However, scientists have seen a general decline in pollinator populations throughout the world in recent years. In order to try and bolster local butterfly populations and ensure they thrive in Orange County for years to come, IRC staff and volunteers have been monitoring several species through regular butterfly counts and have begun enhancing butterfly habitat through a new project in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon.

For more than a decade now, IRC volunteers have been doing point count surveys throughout the landmarks; counting the number and types of butterflies for a fixed period of time in a designated area so that IRC staff can understand how these butterfly populations are changing over time. This data also helps IRC’s Habitat Restoration and Enhancement team identify which butterfly species are in need of the most help, such as the Bernardino Blue and Monarch butterflies, and where to focus restoration efforts to have the most impact.

Landmarks Spotlight: Red Rocks

12/2/2022

With a fascinating history of beekeeping and mining, legends of hauntings, unique geological formations and rich plant and wildlife, Black Star Canyon has been a prominent talking point throughout Orange County for years. As the gateway to the backcountry of the Cleveland National Forest and the Santa Ana Mountains, Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park contains countless natural wonders that continue to attract visitors from day to day.

One of the major attractions of Black Star Canyon is a striking geological formation known as the Red Rocks. The two-toned Red Rocks highlight the ever-changing landscape and the rich history that has carved its way through the canyon. These sedimentary rocks were formed approximately 20-40 millions years ago during the Cenozoic Era, when the climate was changing from humid to dry.

<<Previous

About

Archives

Categories