Page 8 – Let's Go Outside

Weir/Irvine Regional Park/Santiago Oaks Loop Hike

Friday, August 16, 2013
Joan Steiner

This rigorous nine-mile hike involves multiple steep climbs that will take you to see the beautiful oak woodlands and views of the Orange County.

Native Farm Harvest and Maintenance

Friday, August 16, 2013
Aki Tanaka

Please join us in harvesting and maintaining our native plant seed farm and nursery at Orchard Hills. The seeds and plants you will be working with were grown on the farm last year, and these new plants will be used…

Canyon Explorers: Keepin’ Cool

Friday, August 16, 2013
Kelley Brugmann

Summer time is a scorching time of year! With the heat upon us, how do the plants and animals stay cool? Light colors, waxy leaves, big ears and hiding underground can keep wildlife staying “cool” during these scorching summer months…

Trail Run

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Tony Sanmartini

This is an intermediate RUN for participants in great running shape. This run is over difficult terrain and is very strenuous. Please be aware that this is a medium paced run, but hard. Please make sure you are in excellent…

Intro Cardio Fitness: Weir Canyon Rifle Range Loop

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Lynne Hall

Are the regular cardio hikes a little too fast for you? If so, join us on this slower cardio hike that incorporates a little more interpretation. Explore beautiful Weir Canyon on this cardio hike. Along the trail, you'll pass through…

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Brian Hughes

Join us for a docent-led mountain bike ride through the Irvine Open Space Preserve. This is a moderate-paced mountain bike tour through the picturesque hills of Bommer and Shady Canyons with a combination of ranch roads and multiple intermediate and…

Wilderness Access Day- Bommer Canyon

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Brian Hughes

Enjoy self-guided access in the southern portion of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. Designated trails will be open for self-guided hiking and biking from 8 am to 2 pm. Registration is not required for this event. The Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp will be available for parking, but please take note that your vehicle must be removed from the Cattle Camp area by 2 pm or it will be locked in and you will be subject to citation.

Birds and Butterflies in Orchard Hills

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Mike Clayton

Join us for a morning of bird and butterfly watching in Orchard Hills, with long-time bird enthusiast and IRC Docent Mike Clayton. This fun morning walk will concentrate on birds in the early hours of the program, and then switch…

Slow Paced Limestone Canyon MTB Ride

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Kathy Herbert

This is a slower paced ride designed for the intermediate rider who has experience and skills, but sometimes needs to walk more technical areas and steep descents/ascents. It is very strenuous with difficult terrain and intended as a "hike-a-bike" ride…

The Flora and Fauna of Weir Canyon

Saturday, August 17, 2013
Ronn Knox

Come join us on this easy hike through the beautiful oak and sycamore woodlands of Weir Canyon, home to mule deer, bobcats, red-tailed hawks, and turkey vultures. We will hike to the historical marker and discuss the varied flora and…

The Orange County Fire Watch program is facilitated in partnership with OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). The volunteer program is managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff, and its mission is to reduce catastrophic wildfires through education, early reporting and deterrence.

The program supports the larger Orange County FIre Watch Network, a collaboration of fire watch programs such as the Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons, the cities of Anaheim and Laguna Beach among others. Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OCFA train volunteers and staff to deploy to specific locations determined by fire spread research, historical ignition data, and participant safety requirements. Deployment occurs on Red Flag Warning days, Santa Ana Wind events, and/or in other special circumstances.

If you are interested in volunteering, please call 714-508-4700 or email firewatch@irconservancy.org.

Established in 2005, Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization created to help care for the permanently protected wildlands and parks on the historic Irvine Ranch. The Conservancy actively manages nearly 30,000 acres of land in partnership with landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach.

The organization works with its partners to enhance the public’s appreciation, understanding and connection to the land, while helping other land owners and managers with all aspects of stewardship. The Conservancy contributes its resources, expertise and energy to achieve the best possible balance of preservation and public participation.

There are many species of animals that live in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. While you might see a few when you visit, most wildlife avoid human contact. They may see you as a threat, or they might be "nocturnal." and most active at night. SInce scientists need to monitor wildlife health and habits, they use remote monitoring cameras to "see" the animals. These cameras are positioned along trails, and capture images of the animals as they walk by. Biologists use these photos to check if wildlife are healthy, where they are living, and to see if human activity is affecting them. Irvine Ranch Conservancy scientists want you to see the animals, too! These slideshows feature images captured by their Wildlife Monitoring Project. For more information about the project, click here. For more slideshows, visit the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks Wildlife Slideshows page on YouTube.

Year of Deer A year of photos taken by a remote wildlife monitoring camera in Limestone Canyon. The photos are in order from January through December, so you can watch the seasons change in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Spring Babies In spring, baby critters are out exploring the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

For the Birds A variety of native birds captured throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, including owls, hawks, eagles, hummingbirds and more.

Say Cheese! Sometimes the animals get a little curious about the cameras used in the Wildlife Monitoring Project. Here are some critters who are ready for their close up.

2007 Santiago Fire These captivating pictures follow the 2007 Santiago Fire as it traveled through Limestone Canyon.

For more slideshows, click here.

There have been many scientific studies of the geological and ecological resources on The Irvine Ranch over the last few decades. But the comprehensive review and evaluation leading to the Natural Landmark designation is the most rigorous, objective and independent scientific study ever conducted on the land. Findings of the seven accomplished scientists who participated in this review both confirm and reinforce previous evaluations recognizing the importance of this open space.

The process for Landmark evaluation included a detailed application prepared by LSA Associates, Inc. in Irvine, California. The exhaustive review included onsite evaluations conducted by independent biologists and geologists selected by the National Park Service. These experts produced an extensive report that was then peer-reviewed by seven other independent scientists.

Based on these evaluations and the recommendations of the Science Advisory Committee of the National Park Service, the National Park Service Advisory Board, and the National Park Service director, the Secretary of the Interior designated the Irvine Ranch National Natural Landmark in 2006. A similar objective review led to the designation as a California Natural Landmark on Earth Day 2008 by the California State Parks director.

Rare and biologically rich coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats are the primary features that make the land worthy of Natural Landmark designation. Embedded within the expanses of scrub are imperiled natural communities such as native grasslands, stream corridors and live oak woodlands, as well as important populations of rare and endangered plants and animals.

Much of the coastal sage scrub habitats are healthy and relatively undisturbed, and the Landmarks are one of the largest areas of this highly threatened Mediterranean-type shrub land remaining in California.

Geologists who studied the Irvine Ranch for the Natural Landmark designation identified many unique and rare features - including fossils of hadrosaurian, or "duckbilled," dinosaurs. The land is an outstanding illustration of the complicated and unique geologic history of the southwestern continental margin of North America.

The exceptionally wide variety of rock types and diversity of fossils exposed on the land captures changing landscapes and evolutionary events with remarkable completeness for a span of nearly 80 million years. The terrain ranges from picturesque coastlines subject to modern erosion and other natural processes, to rugged, uplifted mountains where the geologic history of Southern California is exposed from the late Cretaceous period (65 million to 80 million years ago) to the late Pleistocene period (less than 1 million years ago) and largely intact.

OC Parks encompasses regional, wilderness and historical facilities, as well as coastal areas throughout the County of Orange in California. Featuring 60,000 acres of parkland, open space and shoreline, Orange County’s award-winning parks and programs are enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors each year, in ways as diverse as the parks themselves.

OC Parks’ facilities offer something for just about everyone, whether for recreation, enjoying nature or learning about the history of Orange County. OC Parks is committed to managing land and facilities in a way that maximizes their enjoyment by the public, while properly maintaining and overseeing them so they are available for generations to come.

Common Animals	Animal Tracks
Common Plants	Arthropods
Birds	Invasive Weeds
Wildflowers	Butterflies

Community Science

Engagement

Equestrian

Fire Watch

Hiking & Fitness

Interpretive

Mountain Biking

Multi-Use Recreation

Stewardship

Trail Work

Training

Weir/Irvine Regional Park/Santiago Oaks Loop Hike

Weir/Irvine Regional Park/Santiago Oaks Loop Hike

Native Farm Harvest and Maintenance

Canyon Explorers: Keepin’ Cool

Trail Run

Intro Cardio Fitness: Weir Canyon Rifle Range Loop

Mountain Bike Ride in Bommer

Wilderness Access Day- Bommer Canyon

Birds and Butterflies in Orchard Hills

Slow Paced Limestone Canyon MTB Ride

The Flora and Fauna of Weir Canyon

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