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Improvements and Repairs Made to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

3/11/2021

 
PictureIRC Planning & Infrastructure team make improvements to the Red Rock Staging Area
​State and local COVID-19 guidelines forced many guided activities on the land to be postponed this past year.  However, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its land-owning partners, OC Parks, the City of Irvine, and the City of Newport Beach, decided to take advantage of the closures to make land improvements and conduct wildfire recovery efforts in preparation for the resumption of public activities and access as guidelines are eased.
 
Increased wildfire danger has become more of a threat to the Landmarks in recent years, with fires occurring 90% more frequently than natural return intervals of 70 to 150 years. In October 2020, the Silverado Fire burned about 12,466 acres of land in Orange County, damaging infrastructure and natural habitats on the Landmarks. With public activities halted due to the COVID-19 shutdown, IRC staff have been able to restore the damaged infrastructure at a quicker pace, while also improving areas of the Landmarks for future public enjoyment.
 
During the Silverado Fire, 80% of the Portola Staging Area was damaged, as well as the loss of the Sinks viewing decks and two 40-foot trail bridges in Limestone Canyon. IRC’s Infrastructure and Planning crew have since rebuilt the Portola Staging Area with enhancements, improving the size of the staging area, rehabilitating vegetation, and upgrading public amenities. In Limestone Canyon, the IRC team is planning a complete rebuild of the bridges and viewing decks in 2021, reconstructing the structures with fireproof materials and a one-way trail system leading to the viewing decks for easier visitor traffic flow.

​“The new bridges will have a concrete foundation with steel stringers and wood decking, while the new viewing decks will increase in size to allow for easier distancing and be made with a steel foundation and wood decking,” said Adam Maywhort, Director of Planning & Infrastructure at Irvine Ranch Conservancy. “If fire comes through this area again, the steel and concrete structuring should remain intact and the wood decking on top will be the only part that would need to be replaced.”
 
Unique to the Portola Staging Area is the Portola Bike Skills Course, which introduces visitors to mountain biking before riding on trails. For the past year, IRC has been building a new course with pre-engineered ramps, training features, and natural surface features. With the new course 90% complete, IRC staff looks forward to welcoming the public to the new bike skills course once it is safe to do so.
 
The Red Rock Staging Area has also undergone improvements that brings the area up to date with newer staging areas on the Landmarks. Improvements included a modified footprint for the staging area, ADA parking, an ADA path leading to the staging area and trailhead, and restroom enhancements.
 
Coming up in 2021, the IRC team will construct a completely new viewing deck along the Overlook Trail in Weir Canyon. The new 24-foot diameter deck will have a 110-foot-long trail leading to an outlook where visitors will experience a 360-degree view of Weir Canyon, Gypsum Canyon and the Cleveland National Forest.
 
“The Overlook Trail deck will be an architecturally beautiful wood deck with interpretive signage that will give visitors more information about the surrounding areas,” said Maywhort. “This deck will provide a truly unique experience and on a clear day, you might even be able to see the Hollywood Sign.”
 
Continuing work in Newport Beach’s Buck Gully Reserve, the IRC Infrastructure and Planning team completed a sediment removal project to restrict sediment flow out into the ocean. The process involved clearing a 50-foot-wide spectrum of sediment, redistributing the sediment, and clearing off four gabions so that they can contain sediment for a substantial number of years before the process will need to be repeated.
 
Irvine Ranch Conservancy and its partners will continue to improve and restore Orange County’s native wildlands for future public enjoyment and protection of the important habitats found within the Landmarks. We can’t wait to welcome you back for public activities when it is safe to do so! For more information about the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit LetsGoOutside.org. 
Trude Hurd link
3/12/2021 01:20:24 pm

Are any of these improvements available as Eagle Scout projects? We frequently get inquiries from scouts who are looking for local projects to help the environment. Please let me know. Thanks!

IRC
3/15/2021 10:05:33 am

Hello Trude, any scouts who are interested in pursuing an eagle project on the land are encouraged to email info@irconservancy.org with their ideas. The team will then route their project ideas to the appropriate team to see if there is an opportunity.

Mike Gaskins
3/12/2021 01:26:13 pm

Like the Phoenix arising from the ashes! You guys do such a great job and i look forward to the future. And to visiting these treasures when they are reopened.

Bren
3/12/2021 01:55:57 pm

Any chance of a guided tour for newbies who’d like to discover these areas.....and if you’re on your own (I’m a woman and would feel safer being shown....with no one to guide, first time round). Thanks.

IRC
3/15/2021 10:07:37 am

Hello Bren, limited guided activities within the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve have been posted to letsgooutside.org with registration windows and information. All other scheduled group activities are postponed until further notice. We will continue to evaluate the situation with the landowners with the goal of resuming more activities as capacity and COVID-19 guidelines allow.

Cynthia Nelson
3/15/2021 10:03:49 am

All these amendments sound wonderful. I hope the mounting structures are included in that rebuilding. We never got to experience the additions them before the fire. We waited for a long time to get them.


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    Welcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

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Irvine Ranch Conservancy  •  4727 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620  •  714-508-4757  •  info@irconservancy.org

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  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate