Habitat restoration projects in Agua Chinon and Silverado Canyons have been officially signed off as complete by federal and state agencies.
Before/After Aerial Photos from OCTA Silverado Restoration Project Site. Photos courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
Spring Wildflowers at OCTA Agua Chinon Project Site. Photo courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Agua Chinon and Silverado habitat restoration projects. These projects enhance riparian or streamside habitats for the benefit a variety of common and rare wildlife species. Both projects are sponsored by Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) with funding from the Renewed Measure M Freeway Environmental Mitigation Program. This program provides approximately $10 million to fund 12 habitat restoration projects to nine different entities in Orange County covering almost 400 acres.
The Agua Chinon and Silverado projects cover 6.1 and 28.5 acres of riparian habitats, respectively. The nearly 10-year process of restoration involved replacing non-native, invasive weeds with a diverse mix of native wildflower, shrub, and tree species carefully selected to thrive in these locales. Agua Chinon Wash is part of the San Diego Creek Watershed and the site is 1.5 miles downstream of the famous “Sinks” geologic landmark. Silverado Creek is part of the Santa Ana River Watershed and the site is 2.5 miles upstream from Irvine Lake.
“Riparian habitats are perhaps the most sensitive and ecologically important parts of the landscape. It was a privilege to work on these OCTA funded projects, which reconnect fragmented landscapes, restore wildlife corridors, and enhance ecological functions. These projects, along with the OCTA-funded Bee Flat project, have enabled IRC to conduct large-scale, seed-based restoration that we had previously tried only at small sites. We also credit the Wildlife Agencies for their willingness to support some innovative approaches to restoration,” says Robert Freese, IRC Restoration and Enhancement Program Manager.
Both projects experienced significant challenges over the years. The dry sandy soils of Agua Chinon meant that shrubs and trees grew slowly. However, wildflowers proliferated, and the site soon became a destination for viewing early spring wildflowers. Then Agua Chinon burned in the 2020 Silverado wildfire and suffered sediment and debris flows for the next two years, which smothered vegetation. This was the ultimate test of ecosystem resilience but with the wet winter of 2022-2023, the native vegetation rebounded strongly. The Silverado site presented other challenges including installation of over 11,000 container plants into the stoney soil of the floodplain. Wildlife frequently damaged the drip tubing used to irrigate these plants. Flooding brought new influxes of weeds to the site each year. IRC staff cultivated a dense shrub canopy to suppress such weeds in the future and will continue to patrol the site to remove high priority weed species.
Staff from the Wildlife Agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife) inspected these sites and evaluated monitoring data before certifying that the projects met all standards for ecological performance. Additionally, the US Army Corps of Engineers certified that the Agua Chinon project met their criteria for landscape, geomorphic, and biological functions. The result of this review process was that both projects were deemed fully successful and complete.
For more information on restoration projects taking place at Irvine Ranch Conservancy, please visit irconservancy.org.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization created in 2005 to help
preserve and support the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, enhancing the public’s connection to the land while helping partners and landowners with all aspects of stewardship. The Conservancy offers a variety of free, guided outdoor activities for all nature enthusiasts including hiking, mountain biking, horse-back riding and much more. For more information, visit www.letsgooutside.org.
Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is dedicated to preserving the rich history, natural beauty, and cultural resources of the region. Through their innovative public/private partnerships with local agencies, they ensure that funds generated, including those from transportation services, are reinvested into programs that utilize the vast transportation network for educational initiatives. By inspiring and nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards, they guarantee that Orange County and similar areas continue to thrive for years to come. For more details, please visit www.octa.net.
