Connect with nature and give back to the land as we assist native plants and wildlife flourish in an extremely sensitive area of Limestone Canyon Preserve. You will ride through the canyon in a safari-type vehicle to the Dripping Springs Trail where you may water or add native plants. In addition we will give existing native plants room to thrive as we weed out invasive plants. As a bonus we will hike approximately 2 miles round-trip to Dripping Springs; a fern-covered rock face dripping with life-giving water creating an essential watering hole for wildlife in the canyon. Your work along this trail will not only benefit the plants and animals, but you will be supporting its continued beautification and protection.

Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 3 activity. The hike is a Level 2 Difficulty Rating.

Help improve native habitat at Peters Canyon Regional Park by removing non-native invasive plants, which steal light, water and nutrients from native species. Please bring sunscreen, drinking water, light snacks, and gloves, and wear a hat and closed-toe shoes.

Invasive Perennial Invasive-Tree Tobacco

Invasive Perennial Invasive-Tree Tobacco; Castor Bean; Artichoke Thistle

Connect with nature and give back to the land as we assist native plants and wildlife flourish in an extremely sensitive area of Limestone Canyon Preserve. You will ride through the canyon in a safari-type vehicle to the Dripping Springs Trail where you may water or add native plants. In addition we will give existing native plants room to thrive as we weed out invasive plants. As a bonus we will hike approximately 2 miles round-trip to Dripping Springs; a fern-covered rock face dripping with life-giving water creating an essential watering hole for wildlife in the canyon. Your work along this trail will not only benefit the plants and animals, but you will be supporting its continued beautification and protection.

Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 3 activity. The hike is a Level 2 Difficulty Rating.

Leave your park better than you found it! Join Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff during monthly habitat stewardship activities at Santiago Oaks Regional Park, aimed at keeping the park’s habitat healthy. Identified in collaboration with the Park Rangers that patrol the trails everyday, stewardship projects can include planting to combat the effects of hiking, biking and riding off-trail, removing invasive plant species that threaten to crowd out the diversity of native plants, and more!

No previous experience is needed, however please note that we may be hiking up steep trails.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

Come be a part of the effort to restore the oak woodlands in Weir Canyon that have been impacted by invasive wood-boring beetles and the recent Canyon 2 fire. This is a unique opportunity to see the impacts of the fire and beetle management and to plant acorns to ensure the long-term health of this special habitat.

Invasive Perennial Invasive-Tree Tobacco; Castor Bean; Artichoke Thistle

Slopes west of Bommer meadow

Invasive Removal:

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Invasive Removal:

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Invasive Removal:

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Join OC Parks staff and other volunteers in enhancing habitat at Peters Canyon Regional Park! Activities may include planting native plants, watering, removing invasive plants, mulching, or weeding.

• No experience is necessary.
• Water will be provided.
• Tools will be available.
• Minors aged 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times.
• Rain or heat advisories will cancel the event.

Please Wear: long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.
Please Bring: sunscreen, work gloves, reusable water container, and any tools you may have.

The saying goes “April showers bring May flowers” but in our case it really should be “January showers lead to flowers in February, March and April.” Come explore the bluffs above Upper Newport Bay and learn about all the different wildflowers which grow there. Participants will also learn how to identify some of the invasive weeds that can be found there. They may have pretty flowers, but the can cause major problems.

Participants can expect to walk 2-3 miles over uneven terrain.

Minors aged 16 and younger must have legal guardian present at all times. Rain will cancel the event.

Registration required. For more information call (949) 923-2250 or email unbic@ocparks.com

Join OC Parks staff and other volunteers in enhancing habitat at Peters Canyon Regional Park! Activities may include planting native plants, watering, removing invasive plants, mulching, or weeding.

• No experience is necessary.
• Water will be provided.
• Tools will be available.
• Minors aged 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times.
• Rain or heat advisories will cancel the event.

Please Wear: long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.
Please Bring: sunscreen, work gloves, reusable water container, and any tools you may have.

Invading weeds degrade habitat for birds and other wildlife. Help us keep wildlife healthy by weeding artichoke thistle from the Quail Hill loop in Irvine. This activity takes place on uneven terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools, and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear will be provided.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

Invasive Removal:

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Invasive Survey:

Jeff Black and Mary Nolan did a Sahara Mustard patrol and a small bit of removal in Santiago Oaks Regional park from 8-12 with Ranger Nick.

This was planned and Nathan and Erin knew we were going to do it and gave their approval, but they didn’t know exactly when, which ended up being on May 8th.

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Invasive Removal:

Below Irvine Lake, Santiago Creek is joined by Fremont Creek before flowing, often unseen, down a broad wash into Irvine Regional Park and beyond. Much work has been done over several years to eliminate the many invasive plants in this unique area. Join a motivated group that will sweep through the diverse landscape targeting a few clusters of fountain grass and castor bean that have re-sprouted while keeping an eye out for isolated plants that have been missed. The recent rains will make the work easier and we will enjoy walking through a great diversity of native plants greening up and flowering after the rain and fire as well as spotting the occasional fossil. We will try to move at a quick pace, but the route will cover irregular terrain with lots of river rock, sand and occasional muddy spots requiring careful walking. Tools, gloves, snake chaps and water are provided. Good, closed toe shoes or boots are required. We will begin and end at Lot 15 of Irvine Regional Park.

Join OC Parks staff and other volunteers in enhancing habitat at Peters Canyon Regional Park! Activities may include planting native plants, watering, removing invasive plants, mulching, or weeding.

• No experience is necessary.
• Water will be provided.
• Tools will be available.
• Minors aged 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times.
• Rain or heat advisories will cancel the event.

Please Wear: long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.
Please Bring: sunscreen, work gloves, reusable water container, and any tools you may have.

Invasive Perennial Invasive-Artichoke Thistle, Tree Tobacco and Castor Bean (Manual Removal)