The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo is a growing habitat reserve located in South Orange County. Over time The Nature Reserve will grow to include over 20,000 acres of Rancho Mission Viejo lands, inclusive of The Richard & Donna O’Neill Conservancy. This protected open space is managed by the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to "preserve and enhance Reserve lands for ecological, educational, charitable, conservation, open space, scientific, and recreational uses."

Species Spotlight

Coast Live Oak
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is the most common oak in coastal California and a Covered Species in our Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). These large drought-resistant evergreen trees typically occur throughout the lower elevations (<5,000 feet above sea level) and occupy deep sandy or loamy soils on slopes, alluvial terraces, flats, and canyon bottoms. Coast live oaks can reach 30 to 80 feet in height and commonly form a densely branched trunk with branches extending to almost ground level and broad and dense crown that can extend up to 130 feet across. Young trees have smooth gray-brown bark and as the trees mature, ridges develop in the bark giving the tree a darker black and brown striped appearance. The species blooms from February to April and develops acorns in the first year. Most acorns drop in the fall, but some remain attached to trees until spring to avoid consumption by wildlife (e.g., California ground squirrels [Otospermophilus beecheyi]), and usually germinate 15-50 days after falling.
Coast live oaks may occur in four types of vegetation communities in the Habitat Reserve: Oak Savanna, Oak Woodland, Oak Forest, and Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest. Generally, the upland oak communities (savanna, woodland and forest) are open on south-facing slopes where moisture is limited, and densest in north-facing slopes and moist areas. These vegetation communities provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife known to occur in the Habitat Reserve such as red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus), acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and various bats.
As part of the HCP monitoring program, the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust (RMVLT) has been conducting annual monitoring surveys to track the extent and general health of existing coast live oak populations, identify potential stressors (e.g., invasive species, disease), and implement appropriate management actions to enhance, restore, and maintain oak woodland and forest vegetation communities within the HCP Planning Area. Ultimately, a total of 2,572 acres of coast live oak woodland and forest and coast live oak riparian forest within the Habitat Reserve would be conserved and managed in perpetuity by the RMVLT.

Upcoming Events
FOR PUBLIC

Certified Volunteer Training: Public Interaction and Elements of Interpretation

Free | 18 & up
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

NAN
99

volunteer
Dec|6|2023-12-06
FOR PUBLIC

Trail Clearing & Weeding

FREE | 10 and up | Moderate-Strenuous
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

NAN
99

public
Dec|9|2023-12-09
FOR PUBLIC

Cancelled - Astronomy Night

$5-$10, Free/Supporter | 8 & up | Easy
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

NAN
99

public
Dec|9|2023-12-09
FOR PUBLIC

Holiday Nature Crafting

$5-$10 | All Ages | Easy
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

NAN
99

public
Dec|10|2023-12-10
FOR PUBLIC

Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge

FREE | 10 and up | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

NAN
99

residents
Dec|12|2023-12-12
FOR PUBLIC

Volunteer Orientation and Training

Free | 18 and Up
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

NAN
99

volunteer
Dec|13|2023-12-13
FOR PUBLIC

Tuesday Evening Open Access Chiquita Ridge

FREE | 10 and up | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

NAN
99

residents
Jan|9|2024-01-09
FOR PUBLIC

Volunteer Orientation and Training

Free | 18 and Up
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

NAN
99

volunteer
Jan|13|2024-01-13
Follow Us