Our Mission | The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo

Community Outreach

We seek to inform the general public about The Nature Reserve through participation in community events such as local fairs and fiestas, county parks, green days and similar conservation themed events. The Nature Reserve’s Community Outreach can range from Bugs and Butterflies at Riley Park to Earth Day at Panhe in San Clemente, Ocean Festivals to city celebrations – just to name a few.

We also conduct programs for groups such as Boy and Girl Scouts, conservation and civic organizations. We have taken our show on the road and given talks with hands-on activities to local libraries and school science nights.

Community outreach is an important component in The Nature Reserve’s Mission. It is a way to get the word out and raise environmental awareness and understanding by informing and educating community members. The public also enjoys meeting our animal ambassador Rosy, the Rosy Boa Snake.

Stewardship

Within The Nature Reserve the following habitats are termed “Conserved Vegetation Communities”and are actively managed and monitored according to the Habitat Reserve Management and Monitoring Program:

Coastal Sage Scrub
Riparian
Open Water

Chaparral
Freshwater Marsh
Streamcourses

Grassland
Alkali Meadow
Woodland & Forest

In order to protect these vegetation communities we carry out certain management actions such as invasive species control to ensure that non-native invasive species do not degrade the value of these communities. Currently our focus is removal of artichoke in The Nature Reserve and removal of giant reed in San Juan Creek, a Reserve riparian resource.

In addition to conducting stewardship which maintain or enhance habitat value, we also conduct stewardship activities to ensure the safety of our visiting patrons. These activities include making sure that trails are clear of vegetation, constructing bridges over ravines and waterways, installing signs and erecting fencing.

Monitoring

Within The Nature Reserve the following species are termed “Covered Species” and are actively managed and monitored according to the Habitat Reserve Management and Monitoring Program. Of these species several are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as either threatened (FT) or endangered (FE) or listed under the California Endangered Species Act as endangered (SE). Monitoring priorities and protocols are established in consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Birds

Burrowing Owl
Coastal Cactus Wren
Coastal California Gnatcatcher (FT)
Cooper’s Hawk

Grasshopper Sparrow
Least Bell’s Vireo (FE/SE)
Long-eared Owl
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (FE/SE)

Tricolored Blackbird
White-tailed Kite
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow Warbler

Amphibians

Arroyo Toad (FE)
Western Spadefoot Toad

Fish

Arroyo Chub
Threespine Stickleback

Invertebrates

Riverside Fairy Shrimp (FE)
San Diego Fairy Shrimp (FE)

Reptiles

California Glossy Snake
Coach Patch-nosed Snake
Northern Red-diamond Rattlesnake

Red Coachwhip
Orange-throated Whiptail
"San Diego" Horned Lizard
Southwestern Pond Turtle

Plants

California Scrub Oak
Chaparral Beargrass
Coast Live Oak
Coulter’s Saltbush

Many-stemmed Dudleya
Southern Tarplant
Thread-leaved Brodiaea (FT/SE)

Research

We participate in programs that study region-wide environmental questions. Some of the research projects that The Nature Reserve has been involved with to date include the study of disease in mountain lions, the migratory patterns of red-tailed hawks, the reproductive output of barn owls, and the genetics of fairy shrimp. We also participate in the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count and regular NABA butterfly counts.