On October 24, 2006, the County of Orange approved the long anticipated Southern Subregion Natural Community Conservation Plan, with open space on the Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV) as its centerpiece.



Planning began in 1993, and almost collapsed more than once. The final plan mirrors the settlement agreement reached by EHL and other conservation groups with the Rancho Mission Viejo in 2005 over their development proposal.  That settlement established large, contiguous blocks of interconnected habitat in excess of 16,500 acres. 

Added to these lands will be about 12,000 acres of Orange County parklands, such as Caspers Wilderness Park, and 4,200 acres of lands previously dedicated by RMV. EHL will continue to monitor the northerly Trabuco Canyon area, for which general principles rather than reserve boundaries were established. The County of Orange will also obtain permits for road infrastructure and landfill operations, with commensurate mitigation.

As phased dedications kick in over time, the NCCP will add adaptive management, restoration, and monitoring to the existing ranch operation, which is compatible with gnatcatchers, arroyo toads, and other endangered species. The use of private stewardship rather than public ownership of RMV lands charts new ground for the NCCP program. Given the need to stabilize working landscapes across California, EHL supports trying this approach.

For detailed information, see:
http://www.ocplanning.net/ssnccp/default.aspx

Click here for a summary presentation.
Click here for a presentation on Orange County contributions to the plan.