In Orange County, EHL served on the advisory committee for the NCCP program, which initially built upon tracts of land previously set aside through the land use process.

The Central-Coastal NCCP added connectivity and an important gnatcatcher location to large tracts of lands previously either purchased or dedicated in exchange for development. The Nature Reserve of Orange County now comprehensively manages over 37,000 acres. However, the federal government did not honor its commitment to bring lands on the former El Toro Air Station into the reserve. Later, Irvine Company donations (through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy) added 20,000 acres to the Central portion.

In southern Orange County, EHL led an effort to improve the planning outcome on the 21,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo. As a result of an agreement with a legacy-oriented landowner, an impressive 75% of the remaining Ranch will be preserved. We also participated in the Save San Onofre Coalition, which has succeeded in blocking the Foothill South toll road and averting its egregious environmental impacts.

In Dana Point, after years of first contention then negotiation, the City created a gem of a reserve sheltering endangered species including the Pacific pocket mouse. EHL engaged intensively for many years.

EHL was part of a coalition that succeeded in incorporating up to $240 million for habitat mitigation into Measure M, a dedicated transportation sales tax allocation. Properties that will help complete the reserve system are now being acquired.

Development still threatens habitat in several areas, however, including coastal sage scrub enclaves in the northern County. Also, the court case Endangered Habitats League vs County of Orange, pursued with several other groups, established important precedents in environmental law.