
Winter is officially here in Orange County, and the past few weeks have brought some much-needed rain to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Wet weather is a welcome change that helps flora and fauna on the Landmarks thrive, but it can also pose a challenge for trails. Landowners including OC Parks, the City of Irvine, and the City of Newport Beach work hard to evaluate potential storm damage to trails and keep trails fun and sustainable, but understanding how to minimize trail damage from a visitor’s perspective is vital to keeping the open space enjoyable and accessible when the sun is back out.