An initial list of land acquisition and restoration projects has been chosen to kick off the expenditure of the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Habitat Conservation Fund in Orange County.
In 2016, the Save San Onofre Coalition (SSOC) reached a landmark settlement which routed any extension of the Foothill toll road away from San Onofre State Beach and other vital wildlife habitat. The agreement included a $28 million fund to protect manage wildlife habitat in Orange County. EHL is part of the Coalition and serves as its liaison to TCA.
Expenditure of the fund was delayed to see if key parcels might come on the market. But with that not as yet occurring, in 2024, TCA and SSOC announced first call for projects with a goal of expending about $8 million. Several fine properties and many worthy restoration projects submitted applications. After rigorous review and ranking, delegates of SSOC and TCA staff made recommendations to the TCA Board of Directors, which were accepted.
As a result, we will pursue two large properties totaling over 900 acres in the Santa Ana Mountain foothills bordering the Cleveland National Forest. In these acquisitions, we hope to partner with state agencies. Three restorations of coastal sage scrub and cactus scrub will get underway with immediate funding. These efforts will:
- Provide “stepping stones” of habitat for California gnatcatcher and cactus wrens along Salt Creek in Laguna Niguel connecting southern Orange County with lands further up the coast;
- Restore cactus patches destroyed by fire in Crystal Cove State Park to aid cactus wren recovery; and
- Remove invasive plants and plant natives on beautiful Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary.
We are pleased the fund is now providing on-the-ground benefit to wildlife. EHL sincerely thanks TCA management, staff, and board members for their collaborative support and hard work.
