Big Canyon Creek Restoration and Estuary Adaptation Project: Phase 2 Planning

Big Canyon Creek is one of the few perennial streams that discharge to Upper Newport Bay in Orange County. Big Canyon Creek has experienced substantial watershed impacts such as channel incision, loss of floodplain areas, unstable riverbanks, poor water quality, infestation of riparian vegetation by the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB), and aggressive encroachment of … Continued

Upper Newport Bay and Alamitos Bay Living Shoreline Project

Newport Bay and Alamitos Bay are both highly impacted and urbanized estuaries located in Orange County in Southern California. Historical documents indicate the presence of native Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) beds and extensive eelgrass beds in the two estuaries, but a history of urbanization, harvest, and dredging has several impacted the two species. Additionally, increased … Continued

Fairview Park Vernal Pool Restoration

This project restored a portion of the 2.1 acre vernal pool in Fairview Park. The project prepared a restoration plan, collected and dispersed inoculums to restore an un-vegetated path that bisected the vernal pool, installed educational signage, and organized tours to local schools and the public.

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Riparian Restoration Education Project

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary used volunteers to remove non-native plants and to restore willow, mulefat, sycamore habitat that was denuded after the Oct. 2007 fire and May 2008 flash flood. The Sanctuary also expanded its K-12 education program to include the topic of watershed health.

Coyote Creek Restoration Phase 1: Upland Habitat Project

This project restored 3,000 square feet of upland riparian habitat (removal of non-native vegetation and planting of native upland species) along Coyote Creek as it runs through the City of La Habra’s Vista Grande Park. The restoration of streambed in the park was meant to educate and motivate the community about Coyote Creek and potential … Continued

Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewardship Program

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewardship Program implemented and expanded the existing Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority Interim Stewardship and Management Program by initiating a community-oriented program focused on wetlands education, community outreach, stewardship and conservation for the continued and long-term preservation and enhancement of the Los Cerritos Wetlands. The project aimed to remove non-native plant species, … Continued

Starr Ranch Sanctuary

Volunteers and staff from Starr Ranch, plus the Orange County Conservation Corps, removed invasive non-native plants, mainly Vinca major, from the riparian corridor along Bell Creek to improve habitat for native fauna.

Oak Restoration Service Learning Project

Back to Natives Restoration, students from Earthroots Field School, and volunteers from the Center for Spiritual Living partnered to perform a service learning project to restore Oak Woodland to Caspers Wilderness Park. The plantings were completed in the first year and monitoring continued for 5 years.

Big Canyon Bluffs Restoration

The Big Canyon Bluffs restoration project removed non- native, invasive species from the bluffs area immediately upslope from the Big Canyon Creek Restoration Project. Removal of the non-native species and replacement with natives appropriate to the coastal sage scrub community as well as other native, non-invasive species enhanced the flora in Big Canyon Creek, provided … Continued