Nearly 300 acres restored to natural habitat by the OCTA, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OC Parks

A decade in the making, the Bee Flat Canyon Restoration Project sees major improvements, replacing weeds with native vegetation in Orange County foothills

ORANGE –The Orange County Transportation Authority, working in partnership with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and OC Parks, has helped complete the restoration of nearly 300 acres of natural habitat in the foothills of Orange County.

OCTA funded 84 acres of the 293-acre restoration through Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

The project is the latest of 12 OCTA restoration projects to obtain final approvals from state and federal wildlife agencies.

The restored land, in the Bee Flat Canyon area of OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, is east of Orange near Modjeska Canyon. For years, the land was choked with invasive weeds that threatened the natural habitat of the area.

The restoration project, led by IRC, took place over nearly a 10-year period, as evasive weeds such as black mustard and milk thistle were gradually removed and replaced with native plant life such as coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, chaparral and native grasslands.

“This is another fantastic example of how OCTA has brought a balanced approach to improving transportation in Orange County while also protecting the valuable natural resources that make it such a special place to live,” said OCTA Chairman Steve Jones, also the Mayor of Garden Grove.

When voters overwhelmingly renewed Measure M in 2006, the measure included an Environmental Freeway Mitigation Program that helps offset the potential adverse effects of expanding Orange County’s freeways.

The program helps expedite freeway projects through Measure M, also known as OC Go, while protecting the environment. OCTA has purchased more than 1,300 acres of open space – land that otherwise could have been developed – to protect it in its natural state forever.

Those properties, purchased from willing sellers, are in Trabuco Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Brea and Laguna Beach.

The environmental program also includes approximately $10 million for 12 habitat restoration projects, such as the one at Bee Flat Canyon, totaling more than 350 acres.

“OCTA and OC Parks have been great supporters throughout this process and their partnership is invaluable,” said Robert Freese, IRC’s project manager. “We will continue to monitor and manage Bee Flat Canyon and hope to see an increase in wildlife over the coming years.”

To date, the wildlife agencies have signed off on several of the restoration projects, signifying the continued success of the program as well as the partnership that has been forged with the environmental community.

About OCTA: The Orange County Transportation Authority is the county transportation planning commission, responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for a balanced and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. With the mission of keeping Orange County moving, this includes freeways and express lanes, bus and rail transit, rideshare, commuter rail and active transportation.