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.
With the help of volunteers, Isaac and the IRC team will soon be walking and observing the miles of dozer lines that were put in place to control the recent Bond and Silverado Fires in Orange County. The team will be looking for any priority invasive plants that may have grown from the land disturbance and see how the lines are recovering post fire.
The work done by Isaac and the Invasive Control team can take years to see progress but is so important to the wellbeing of the ecosystems on the Landmarks. When he isn’t busy roaming the trails in Irvine Ranch’s open space or exploring the land off-trail, Isaac enjoys playing with his kids and composing songs for his soul band. To learn more about invasive control work and ways to get involved with Isaac and the team, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.