Category: Irvine Open Space Preserve

Spreading Weeding Success

1/15/2016

An Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer weeds artichoke thistle.

Volunteers help native plants and wildlife return to Quail Hill Loop.

Though artichoke thistle may look attractive with its bright purple flower, there is no questioning this weed’s destructive nature to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Its aggressive root system and rapid leaf growth steals light, water and nutrients from native plants. Each plant can also produce tens of thousands of seeds per year that are blown by wind or hitchhike on animals. If left unchecked, artichoke thistle can quickly spread across a landscape, displacing native plant diversity in its path. The artichoke thistle is one of the worst threats to natural habitat within the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve’s Quail Hill.

Partnership Saves Decades-Old Cactus Plants

1/1/2016

Organizations work together to relocate mature plants to habitat restoration sites.

Did you know that our local coast prickly pear cactus is both a slow grower and a critical component of wildlife habitat? These iconic plants with their large, flat pads and colorful blooms can take a decade to grow just a couple of feet high. Yet mature-growth cactus is the primary nesting site for the coastal cactus wren, a species of special conservation concern in Southern California.

So when residential development was set to begin in the hills near Irvine, a unique partnership among the developer, land manager and conservation groups resulted in more than 100 mature plants being saved and relocated to nature preserve areas within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Not only did this project save plants that were estimated to be 30 years old, the relocated cactus enhanced habitat for the coastal cactus wren in habitat restoration areas.

Conservancy Celebrates 10 Years of Stewardship

11/13/2015

Irvine Ranch Conservancy invites visitors to a special Wilderness Access Day on Nov. 21 in Bommer Canyon to recognize its partners.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy, a pioneering non-profit managing more than 30,000 acres of open space parks in Orange County, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over the last decade, the organization has partnered with public agencies such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach to connect people to globally-significant local wildlands.

“We started out with one trail and eight volunteers, and today we manage more than 150 miles of trails and support more than 800 volunteers who help provide nearly 2,000 public activities each year,” said Michael O’Connell, the Conservancy’s founding and current Executive Director. “With that capacity, our ability to offer opportunities for the community to connect to and help take care of these public natural resources has grown exponentially.”

New Nature Garden in Bommer Canyon

10/1/2015

Garden offers opportunity for up-close learning about native plants.

Bommer Canyon is one of the most popular sites in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Visitors wander along the trails on foot and bicycle, enjoying the natural habitat. Many people want to know more about the plants and animals that live in this canyon, and the new Bommer Nature Garden will help visitors get up-close to the flora, fauna and history of this natural area.

In 1867, Bommer Canyon served as the hub of James Irvine’s cattle operations. More than a century later the cattle operations ceased, and then in the early 1980s the City of Irvine purchased the property to create an open space preserve. Today, remnants of the cattle operations infrastructure dot the hills, embedded in the natural space to remind visitors of the site’s history.

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.

Orchard Hills Trails Reopening for Naturalist-Led Activities

7/3/2015

Guided hikes along the two loop trails in Irvine’s Orchard Hills area begin in July.

The top of the Orchard Hills upper loop offers one of the most spectacular views available in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Soon visitors to this part of the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve will once again be able to enjoy the view – and the challenging climb to get there. The trails have been closed due to nearby construction, but are open for guided hikes beginning this summer.

Construction of a new trailhead facility is scheduled to be in early fall, but the over 3-mile trail system will open with a temporary staging area for interpretive and fitness programs guided on behalf of the City by Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and volunteer naturalists.

Understanding Radical Reptiles and Awesome Amphibians

6/19/2015

Upcoming activity teaches pre-teens all about herpetology critters and careers.

Your kids’ interest in lizards, frogs and snakes today may turn into a career in the future. Encourage their outdoor inclinations with an activity that helps pre-teens answer the question “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

“J.O.Y. for Nature: Radical Reptiles” is an interactive outdoor class designed to help young participants consider a career as a herpetologist. From the Greek word “herpien,” meaning “to creep,” herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians. This activity is part of an ongoing series targeted toward pre-teens, and those who participate will learn about what it takes to turn herpetology into a career.

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.

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:

Exploring Historic Bommer Canyon

11/7/2014

Some trails in this former ranch area were once walked by cattle and cowboys.

Bommer Canyon in the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve is rich in both history and natural beauty. Up until 1998, this permanently-preserved open space had cattle grazing in Bommer Meadow and round-ups taking place just beyond Cattle Camp. Now hikers and bikers have replaced cattle and cowboys, but historic structures and equipment can still be seen from the trails.

The name Bommer Canyon first appeared on Orange County maps in the 1940s, according to Phil Brigandi’s definitive name guide, Orange County Place Names A to Z. Brigandi says that the name origin of this former cattle ranch is not quite clear, but may have come from “a corruption of ‘bummer’ – cowboy slang for a calf that lost its mother.” Whatever the origin, the name Bommer Canyon is now synonymous with the shady Cattle Camp events area, winding trails through rocky outcrops, and family-friendly meadow trails.

How to Prepare for Hitting the Trails

9/12/2014

Free workshop will cover equipment, maps, safety and basic guidelines for walking and hiking in the local wilderness.

Any experienced hiker will tell you that preparedness is key to a safe and successful hike. Even in the urban-adjacent trails of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, basic outdoor preparedness can make your outdoor experience enjoyable. If you are ready to do some outdoor exploring and want to be prepared, the City of Irvine and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy will offer an “Introduction to Walking and Hiking in the Outdoors” workshop in Bommer Canyon on Saturday, September 20. This activity is free and aimed to provide a good foundation of knowledge for people new to hiking.

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.

Thwarting Thistle in Quail Hill

1/3/2014

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You can help bring back native plants – and wildlife – to this nature preserve.

The rolling pastures peppered with shrubs and rock outcroppings along the 405 between Sand Canyon and University are a stark contrast to the usual freeway scenery. This not-so-hidden spot is Quail Hill, a 733-acre area of permanently protected open space that is part of the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve.

Like much of the historic Irvine Ranch, cattle grazed Quail Hill for decades in the twentieth century. Grazing likely transformed the original plant community from one composed of native perennial flowers, grasses, and shrubs to one dominated by annual grasses and other invasive plants. After the cattle left the hills, the invasive artichoke thistle(Cynara cardunculus) has thrived, blanketing the hills around the Quail Hill Loop trail. Originally from Spain, this plant is a wild ancestor of the globe artichoke found in the supermarket.

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Volunteers Needed for Trail Work in Irvine

11/14/2013

Trail work activities benefit land and visitors across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Volunteers are needed to work with Irvine Ranch Conservancy Field Operations staff to reroute trails in the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. The trail work will close unsustainable sections of trails and replace them with more sustainable paths that will better withstand weather and recreational use.

On November 17 and December 7, Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and trail volunteers will work on sections of Shady Canyon trails in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve, improving user experience and drainage. About 400 feet of both the Cattle Crest and Rabbit Run trails will be re-routed during these two activities. Members of the public will be trained in the use of hand tools to help shape the trail and complete path-clearing already done by heavy machinery.

Portion of Quail Trail Closed for Improvements

7/12/2013

Irvine Ranch Conservancy will improve drainage of Irvine trail.

The single-track portion of the Quail Trail in the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve will be closed temporarily for drainage improvements. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy project will create a drainage ditch to funnel water off the trail to a catch basin at the bottom of the hill, which will make the trail more sustainable.

Many of the trails within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks were once dirt roads used by ranchers traversing the open space. As those roads were converted into trails, Irvine Ranch Conservancy found that some may have been good roads, but did not make for such good trails. In those situations, the Conservancy Field Operations team will recommend that the City either reroute or redesign portions of the trail to better resist erosion caused by regular use and heavy rain. This particular trail portion could not be rerouted, so the Conservancy will redesign it.

City of Irvine Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Open Space Initiative

6/7/2013

Overwhelmingly approved by 85 percent of Irvine voters 25 years ago, the Open Space Initiative ensured the permanent preservation of large areas of land throughout Irvine for wildlife habitat and recreation. Approximately 9,000 acres of natural wilderness within the City and its sphere of influence will be forever protected. The City invites the public to celebrate the 25th Open Space Initiative Anniversary during the June 15 Wilderness Access Day in Bommer Canyon. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., trails through this natural canyon will be open for hiking and biking. Information on the history of open space in Irvine will be available, along with free reusable water bottles provided by the Irvine Company.

Habitat Restoration in Irvine Supports Threatened Species

1/25/2013

The coastal cactus wren builds its nests in patches of old-growth prickly pear cactus, providing itself protection from predators. However, recent fires and past land uses have eliminated most of the mature cactus, which in turn threatens local cactus wren populations.

Organizations such as the non-profit Nature Reserve of Orange County, the City of Irvine and Irvine Ranch Conservancy are working together to expand the wren’s habitat, by connecting isolated patches of prickly pear cactus with each other to over time create a larger, contiguous habitat for the coastal cactus wren.

Celebrating Spirits During Dia de los Muertos

10/19/2012

Learn how Mexican and Latin cultures honor loved ones during this annual holiday.

Halloween wouldn't be the same without images of spooky ghosts, but in Mexico and many Latin American countries, this is a time to celebrate the spirits of the dearly departed. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy invites you to learn more about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations through two outdoor activities this month.

While Halloween traditions teach us to fear spirits, you can learn how other cultures honor and remember their departed loved ones during the annual holiday of Dia de los Muertos. Participants will explore the cultural significance of this festive holiday, and even decorate skull figurines to decorate their homes. Docents from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy will explain the origin of this holiday, as well as the current ways in which it is celebrated around the world.

Bommer Canyon: The Perfect Summer Playground

6/29/2012

For inland Orange County residents, a trip to the beach usually means battling summer freeway traffic. However, for those who have discovered the Bommer Canyon trailhead, a six-mile bike ride or hike through beautiful open space is all that stands between urban Irvine and feeling the sand between your toes in Crystal Cove.

Connectivity to Crystal Cove State Park is just one of the reasons Bommer Canyon is a hub of summer activity. Open daily, the Bommer Canyon trailhead is the gateway to a unique open space landscape, summer camps, and an expansive trail system that helps connect the mountains to the sea.

Turtle Ridge Trail Connects Neighborhoods to Nature

4/6/2012

While taking in the natural beauty of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you usually don’t stop to think too much about the path you’re on – and that’s the mark of a well-built trail. When a trail integrates seamlessly into the landscape, as if it had always been there, the experience is better for the visitor and better for the surrounding habitat.

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy kept this goal in mind when designing the new Turtle Ridge in the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. The trail opened in November 2011, but it began back in 2005 as a plan to connect the Bommer Vista Point neighborhood park to the West Fork Trail in Bommer Canyon.

Vandalism Necessitates Closure of Turtle Ridge Trail

2/17/2012

Recently-restored native habitat along trail was damaged.

Turtle Ridge Trail was closed Monday after habitat restoration areas near the trail were vandalized, including destruction of several recently-planted Laurel Sumac hedges. An Irvine Police Department sergeant discovered native plant seedlings had been trampled, restoration notification signs pulled out of the ground, and trail markers destroyed along the trail in Bommer Canyon.

The public trail was completed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy in November 2011, and was the subject of a grant from REI and hundreds of hours of community volunteer work. Native plant restoration is key to trail building, helping to preserve the surrounding delicate habitat. The Turtle Ridge Trail in Irvine’s Open Space Preserve was open daily from dawn until dusk for hiking and biking. The Irvine Police Department regularly patrols Irvine’s Open Space Preserve.