Category: Habitat Restoration

Reviving a Rare Tree Species in Fremont Canyon

4/1/2016

Tecate cypress seedlings planted at the Fremont Canyon Staging Area need volunteer support to thrive.

The rare Tecate cypress needs fire to reproduce. The seed cones use fire as an ecological trigger to know when to release the seeds, a process which optimally happens every 30 years or longer. When mature trees burn, the cones pop open, and the seeds are released, germinate and become seedlings to replace the mature trees. However, if another fire happens before the young plants can mature, the grove is destroyed before new seeds can be produced.

Volunteers Can 'Adopt a Grassland' This Spring

4/1/2016

A gust of wind blows through the native grass littleseed muhly (Muhlenbergia microsperma) along Agua Chinon in Limestone Canyon.

Public support is needed to help large-scale restoration project re-introducing native grasses to the Landmarks.

The spring green you see covering the hills hides a dirty secret: A lot of that green comes from non-native grass that will die in the summer and become potential fuel for wildfire. The ranching history of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks includes plants that were brought here to support cattle grazing in the hills. Now that land managers are restoring local habitat for the benefit of wildlife, attention is being turned to the importance of re-introducing native grasses.

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

2/5/2016

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to spot hearts out in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Give those who matter most to you the gift of quality time together outdoors this Valentine’s Day.

Wildflowers are starting to bloom; the sun is out a bit longer each night; and if you look up in the sky, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of raptors courting – all sure signs Valentine’s Day is nearing in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Rather than book a reservation at a crowded, overpriced restaurant to celebrate, surprise your loved one this year with an outdoor adventure.

Whether it’s a romantic night hike, an adventurous outing, or an excursion for the whole family, show the people who matter most to you one of the most special sights in Orange County by exploring the Landmarks together this Valentine’s Day. Read more below to see which activity is right for you.

Learn Something New in Nature This Weekend

10/9/2015

Photo courtesy of lupgv on Instagram.

Activities held Saturday and Sunday will teach skills you can use forever.

If you’ve visited the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you know that there is always something new to discover. Learn a new way to look at the land this weekend, through hikes, walks, rides and workouts that will introduce you to skills such as wildlife tracking, cactus planting, mountain biking and even Zumba.

Two very exciting Saturday activities will help visitors learn about the easiest way to “see” wildlife on the trails: animal tracking. By learning which prints are which and “whose scat is that,” you can tell what type of critter was on the trail before you. In Round Canyon, the City of Irvine presents Beginner Animal Tracking, which covers the basics of spotting and identifying animal tracks over a short, 1.5-mile walk. OC Parks is presenting Watching Wildlife in Fremont Canyon, a program that also covers tracking, and will include information about raptors flying overhead near Irvine Lake. This program includes a 4 mile hike with some hills and spectacular views. Both programs are for visitors age 12 and up, and are led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy naturalists.

How to Volunteer on the Landmarks

10/1/2015

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Volunteer Docent Peter Ridley leads a nature walk.

Whether it’s one day at a time, or volunteering every week, there are so many ways to give back.

Did you know that volunteers lead nearly every single recreation activity on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks? Specially-trained naturalists lead and support hikes, mountain bike rides, educational nature walks, horseback rides, birding excursions and even photography journeys. From the mountains to the sea, volunteers help connect people to the land in numerous ways.

There are many ways to volunteer without any specialized advance training. You can find a list of Volunteer Activities at LetsGoOutside.org/volunteer. Filtering the LetsGoOutside.org/activities page for “Stewardship” or “Trail Work” categories will also result in volunteer opportunities happening nearly every day of the week. The site lists short-term volunteer opportunities for the general public offered by groups such as OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Crystal Cove State Park. You can also find these types of public volunteer events with Laguna Canyon Foundation, Newport Bay Conservancy, and the California Coastal Commission by visiting their websites.

Challenging Yet Rewarding Activities in Quail Hill

9/11/2015

Quail Hill weed removal benefits local wildlife. Photo courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer Bill Braly.

Quail Hill is a choice location for family hiking, with the wide, flat loop trail offering an easy nature walk. However, more challenging adventures await for those who want a longer trek or who want to help restore wildlife habitat in this Irvine nature preserve area.

The Quail Hill Trailhead is conveniently located right off of the 405 freeway Sand Canyon exit. While it is freeway-close, a trip into the Irvine Open Space Preserve quickly helps you forget any freeway hustle and noise. At the trailhead, you can park and then choose your adventure: either straight ahead to the Quail Hill Loop, or to the left along the Shady Canyon Bikeway to the Quail Trail.

Volunteers Needed to ‘Adopt’ Local Canyons

9/4/2015

Each time you hike or ride past a hill in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and see a little brightly-colored flag, that’s a sign of native habitat on the rebound. Land managers develop and plan ongoing restoration and invasive plant removal projects, but long-term health of local wildlands depends on long-term support from community volunteers. If you have a favorite trail or view, consider pitching in and “adopting” that canyon. OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach all have opportunities to help restore habitat in the natural places you love.

To further the goal of long-term habitat health, organizations such as Irvine Ranch Conservancy organize monthly volunteer stewardship opportunities to allow members of the community to give their time in the same location over time. This rewarding habit allows volunteers to see the fruits of their efforts every time the revisit the canyon they love. The difficulty level of each activity varies, but all tools and training are provided. There are a few of these monthly activities coming up this week, and you can click here to see all of the volunteer stewardship opportunities that happen monthly.

Grasslands Make a Comeback in Limestone Canyon

7/3/2015

An ongoing native grassland restoration project aims to rehabilitate this endangered habitat and reduce wildfire risk.

As summer months turn green hills to gold, the extremely dry grassy hillsides begin to pose a significant fire risk. Non-native and invasive annual grasses dry up and die, becoming fuel waiting for a spark. Many of these grasses are left behind from former ranching days, and replacing them with native grasslands is one critical step in restoring valuable habitat and reducing wildfire risk.

An ongoing native grasslands restoration project in the West Loma and Bee Flat areas of OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve aims to restore former cattle grazing fields to the native grasslands and oak savannas that once thrived there. Land managers are already seeing the fruits of their labor, and at over 50 acres, this is the largest grasslands restoration project within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks to date. For many years, grassland habitats in California have been on the decline, since non-native annual grasses can very quickly take over a habitat and choke out the native grasses.

AmeriCorps Working in the Landmarks

5/15/2015

AmeriCorps workers are providing added labor to help sustain several ongoing habitat restoration projects.

One of the biggest challenges of overseeing habitat restoration projects on a large scale across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is having enough manpower during especially busy seasons. Harvesting, weeding and planting are often done by hand in sensitive habitats, and this season the efforts of Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff are being bolstered by a crew from AmeriCorps.

Seven AmeriCorps volunteers have been working full time to help keep stewardship projects moving forward. These members rotate around to various restoration areas in the Landmarks and work with Conservancy staff and volunteers to remove invasive weeds, to plant native seed and seedlings, and to help with harvesting at the Native Seed Farm. The AmeriCorps team is learning about our local habitats while they contribute to these projects.

Be a Friend to a Cactus Wren

4/10/2015

Coastal cactus wren photo courtesy of Irvine Open Space Patrol Officer Dave Gibbs.

Simple activities like weeding and watering make a big impact on healthy habitat.

Birds make nests in all kinds of places. Some carefully arrange sticks and twigs up high in the branches of tall trees. Others make nests out of mud or nest right on the ground. The coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis) makes its home in patches of old-growth prickly pear cactus, which protects it from predators and the elements. Recent fires and past land uses have diminished the number of mature cactus stands in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, so local organizations are working to bring back coastal cactus wren habitat – and you can help.

Getting Students in Touch with Nature

4/3/2015

Local students get the opportunity to help with habitat restoration projects through a partnership between the City of Irvine’s Youth Action Team and Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

As kids are more likely to look at a smart phone screen than a sunset these days, it’s harder to ensure that the next generation has an appreciation for local wilderness and open space. In the City of Irvine, a youth-oriented volunteer program is helping by encouraging kids to be environmentally-aware and give back to nature.

The Middle School Youth Action Team program is “an after-school community service based program where students have an opportunity to be actively involved in their community,” according to the city’s website, and one of the areas of volunteer focus is the environment. This group has partnered with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to provide local teens a way to give back and learn about preserving and restoring local wildlife habitat.

Why Excess Water in Buck Gully is Bad News for Conservation

4/3/2015

Irrigation water flowing into Buck Gully is a waste of fresh water and erodes hillsides and trails.

When you see water flowing from someone’s landscaping and down the rain gutter, it’s a sign that too much water is being used. While certainly wasteful, this excess irrigation water may seem pretty harmless to the surrounding environment. You might even suspect that neighboring wildlands benefit when runoff flows into them. More water for thirsty plants and animals, right? However, the damage it does to nearby canyons becomes clear when you hit the trails.

Restoring Habitat Across the Landmarks

4/3/2015

Landowners and partner groups are restoring hundreds of acres of open space wildlife habitat.

There are hundreds of acres of habitat restoration projects currently underway across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Restoring native habitat at a large scale is a challenge but is the most effective means of improving long-term habitat health in areas overrun by weeds. Many different landowners and partner groups perform habitat restoration projects, and there are many opportunities for the public to get involved. On behalf of landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach, as well as agencies such as Orange County Transportation Authority, Irvine Ranch Conservancy currently manages nearly 200 acres of active habitat restoration, ranging in intensity from sites that need two years of site preparation, seeding, transplanting and site maintenance to sites with some existing native vegetation that just need weed control. Here are details for some of those projects:

Life as a Seed: Harvest, Plant, Grow, Repeat

2/27/2015

Seeds used in habitat restoration on much of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are set up for success by using a “go local” approach.

Landscape-scale habitat restoration over hundreds of acres starts small-scale, with the seed. One seed planted will hopefully become a mature plant producing many more seeds, in turn becoming many more healthy plants. Active habitat restoration is all about making that first seed as successful as possible, and Irvine Ranch Conservancy scientists have developed a strategy to give as many successful seeds as possible back to the land. Their success weighs in at more than 600 pounds of farmed seed each year.

Tiny Pest Means Big Trouble for Oak Trees

2/20/2015

An invasive beetle found in local oak trees was likely brought to Orange County in firewood.

The tiny Goldspotted Oak Borer has killed tens of thousands of mature oak trees in San Diego County since it was first identified there in 2004. Recently, this destructive pest was found in the Weir Canyon area of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and local agencies are working quickly to isolate the infestation and prevent a similar tragedy here in Orange County.

The beetle infestation was found in 56 mature oak trees in a remote area of Weir Canyon. Of those infested, 20 were cut down and removed due to heavy infestation. OC Parks is working with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to treat and preserve the health of the rest of the affected coast live oak trees. Both groups are also working with OCFA, University of California Cooperative Extension, and state and federal fire agencies to develop a response plan in case the Goldspotted Oak Borer is found again in Orange County.

Big Changes in Big Canyon

2/6/2015

Ongoing habitat restoration efforts in the Big Canyon area near Upper Newport Bay have brought many improvements, and there are big plans there for the future.

Since August of 2013, big things have been going on in Big Canyon, one of several large tributaries of the Upper Newport Bay. The City of Newport Beach initiated a habitat restoration project led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which has so far resulted in enhanced aesthetics of the canyon, a healthier balance of native flora and fauna, and an improved experience for those who visit.

The project has been a true community effort, with about 15 volunteer programs held in the past two years. The nature reserve area also benefits from nearby restoration projects led by the Newport Bay Conservancy and the Coastal Commission’s ROOTS program, supporting the overall health of greater Newport Bay.

Update: Agua Chinon Habitat Restoration

1/2/2015

The project is entering its second year, with many signs of progress.

One of the biggest challenges for any habitat restoration project in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is access to water. While some projects benefit from leftover cattle trough water lines from the area’s ranching days, other projects need to rely on more creative methods. In the Agua Chinon area of OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, a nearby municipal water source has made access to water possible, improving the success rate of a 30-acre habitat restoration project.

However, as visitors to Agua Chinon have noticed, bringing that water from the tank to the plants involves a thick main irrigation line running along the trail, with several smaller lines going off into the planting areas. Not the most natural sight to see, but a true sign of the rehabilitation that continues in this wildlife habitat. Currently the majority of the work is being done in a 17-acre mitigation area funded by OC Waste & Recycling and managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy. As the project enters its second year, the regular irrigation has meant steady progress in returning this watershed back to a more native environment.

Fall Harvest: Gathering Knowledge (and Acorns) from Coast Live Oaks

10/3/2014

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It’s acorn harvest season, and also time to check in on an innovative oak woodland restoration project.

In some cultures, the oak tree is sacred – a symbol of strength and longevity – and a coast live oak restoration project is underway in Limestone canyon to bring more of these sprawling and majestic trees to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. After the first three years of growing seedlings through different methods, the Irvine Ranch Conservancy science team has found that the strength and longevity of a young oak is no match for a hungry mule deer.

The coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is one of just a few large trees native to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. They provide shelter and food to wildlife, and while people may see the spiky leaves as threatening, mule deer eat them right up. And now that the seedlings at the oak restoration trial area are about 3 to 4 feet high, the dark green leaves are at the perfect height for deer to wander by and take a nibble. With 160 trees initially planted at the site, the grouping of oaks has become a bit of a snack bar for mule deer. It’s one of the more surprising lessons from the project, which started in 2011.

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Head Outdoors for National Public Lands Day

9/19/2014

Participate in the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort to work and preserve local lands for generations to come.

The largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands is coming to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. National Public Lands Day will be celebrated on Saturday, September 27, when more than 175,000 volunteers are expected to visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves and forests to help improve these natural areas. Locally, volunteers can get involved in habitat restoration projects from the mountains to the sea.

Restoration and Recreation in Buck Gully

7/25/2014

This coastal canyon is the perfect spot for summer volunteering or hiking.

On a hot summer day, heading to the coast is a popular way to cool down. However, you don't have to fight beach crowds to benefit from the cooler temperatures if you head over to Buck Gully Reserve in Newport Beach. There you'll find shady trails along the bottom of a small canyon that many don't even know exists in the beach city.

Buck Gully Reserve is owned by the City of Newport Beach, with nearly 5 miles of winding trails through the 1,200 acre canyon. The trails wind through lush native vegetation, and even pass an active Water Wise Native Plant Demonstration project, managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy in partnership with City staff. The project area has many varieties of native plants along a slope, to give neighbors and visitors the chance to see how these types of drought-resistant and drought-tolerant plants look and grow.

Spend Mother's Day with Mother Nature

5/2/2014

Treat your mom to time outdoors with these fun, free activities.

Spending Mother’s Day exploring the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks will not only shake up the brunch-and-flowers routine, but will create family memories that Mom will never forget. There are many different opportunities abound for spending time with your Mom – and Mother Nature – on Sunday, May 11.

Two programs are available for the active mom looking for a great workout on Mother’s Day. For a rewarding and relaxing activity, try Yiking. This popular program starts off with a strenuous hike and ends with a relaxing yoga session in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Another activity to get the heart pumping and the feet moving is Zumba. This aerobic workout is also offered on Sunday in Limestone Canyon, and is open to participants 12 and older.

Dripping Springs Trail Update

4/25/2014

Progress is being made despite a dry planting season.

When the Dripping Springs trail was closed for restoration last year, no one could have predicted the profound lack of rainfall for the area in 2013. Despite historic drought levels, many members of the community have rallied to make progress in transforming this former ranch road in Limestone Canyon into a single-track trail.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OC Parks staff had expected the trail to be restored and re-opened in mid-2014, but the lack of rain may affect that projection. The Conservancy field operations team will evaluate the progress this month, but staff are still working to keep the project moving forward.

Taking to the Air to Take Out Weeds

4/18/2014

Scientists use a helicopter to reach remote patches of invasive plants.

Volunteers often help remove invasive plants along trails and in easily-accessible areas of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. However, in remote wildland areas where trekking in on foot is just not feasible, scientists still have to keep invasive plants at bay. To seek out and eradicate these far-flung patches of weeds, Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff gear up and take to the air.

Last weekend, two Conservancy staff members flew by helicopter to areas where invasive plants were taking hold. Together with contractors from Wildlands Conservation Science and transported by an expert wildland helicopter pilot, the team treated over 200 remote patches of artichoke thistle, pampas grass, tamarisk, and fountain grass. They received special training to safely and efficiently enter and exit the helicopter with their equipment. Using the helicopter meant that the crew could “hopscotch” from site to site and consequently finished work in three days that normally would have taken months to complete on foot.

Trail Re-Opened in Bommer Canyon

4/11/2014

Trail-side habitat has been restored and paths upgraded along Bommer Pass Trail.

The Bommer Pass Trail in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve re-opened March 28. The trail was closed in January so that the Irvine Ranch Conservancy could perform trail maintenance and habitat restoration. The Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve, worked with volunteers to restore habitat and improve trail drainage during the 3-month project.

The Bommer Pass Trail was opened for daily public access in 2011. Visitors use the trail to bypass the Cattle Camp events area, and to connect to the rest of the Bommer Canyon trail system. From Bommer Canyon, trails connect all the way to Crystal Cove State Park beach. During the closure, a path near Cattle Camp led visitors to the connecting trails. Informative signs along this path informed visitors of the work being done to the trail.

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

3/14/2014

Volunteers needed to help restore trailside habitat in Bommer Canyon.

Volunteers are needed to help restore trailside habitat in the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon. On Tuesday, March 18, the Bommer Pass Stewardship activity will focus on the popular Bommer Pass Trail that has been closed since January. Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve, has been monitoring regrowth in the area and wants to take advantage of recent rains.

<<Previous

Forward>>

Reviving a Rare Tree Species in Fremont Canyon

Volunteers Can 'Adopt a Grassland' This Spring

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

Learn Something New in Nature This Weekend

How to Volunteer on the Landmarks

Challenging Yet Rewarding Activities in Quail Hill

Volunteers Needed to ‘Adopt’ Local Canyons

Grasslands Make a Comeback in Limestone Canyon

AmeriCorps Working in the Landmarks

Be a Friend to a Cactus Wren

Getting Students in Touch with Nature

Why Excess Water in Buck Gully is Bad News for Conservation

Restoring Habitat Across the Landmarks

Life as a Seed: Harvest, Plant, Grow, Repeat

Tiny Pest Means Big Trouble for Oak Trees

Big Changes in Big Canyon

Update: Agua Chinon Habitat Restoration

Fall Harvest: Gathering Knowledge (and Acorns) from Coast Live Oaks

Head Outdoors for National Public Lands Day

Restoration and Recreation in Buck Gully

Spend Mother's Day with Mother Nature

Dripping Springs Trail Update

Taking to the Air to Take Out Weeds

Trail Re-Opened in Bommer Canyon

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

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