The Irvine Wildlife Corridor: A Lifeline for Wildlife

Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. recently embarked on an initiative to complete and implement our 20-year long vision for the Irvine Regional Wildlife Corridor. The wildlife corridor when completed will link the Cleveland National Forest and the Laguna Greenbelt/South Coast Wilderness area together. This critical missing “link” will provide habitat for wildlife to migrate between the open spaces reserve areas.

cactus, hikers and a red-tailhawk Historically a wildlife corridor has existed between the northern reserve (Cleveland National Forest) and the southern reserve (Laguna Greenbelt). A wildlife corridor creates areas of natural open space for wildlife migration between natural habitats thereby promoting proliferation of indigenous wildlife species and re-colonization of habitats. Corridors may also help facilitate the re-establishment of populations that have been reduced or eliminated due to random events i.e. fires or disease. This will moderate some of the worst effects of habitat fragmentation. Essentially a wildlife corridor is way of assuring the long-term health and vitality of our open spaces systems. Without it the long-term survival of animal species is in question.

Surrounding the community of Laguna Beach is the 20,000-acre Laguna Greenbelt, which is home to hundreds of plant and animals species, some of whom are endangered and threatened species as defined by the federal and state governments.

The Corridor will assist wildlife and help mitigate the rapid urbanization of Irvine. In the last 20 years The Laguna Greenbelt /South Coast Wilderness Area has been entirely surrounded by urbanized development, thus isolating this dynamic and living ecosystem.

This large coastal wilderness area contains five public open space areas, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park, Aliso-Wood Canyon Wilderness Park, City of Irvine Open Space and City of Laguna Beach Open Space area.

Our goal is simple: develop a long-term strategy for the implementation of the Wildlife Corridor, preserve a 1,000 acre open space site adjacent to the 241Tollroad, study the wildlife corridor’s route, look for ways to strengthen the wildlife connection along the corridor's path, and search for methods of ensuring the safety and survival of wildlife as they make their way from one reserve to the other.

Photo Location:
Crystal Cove State Park

The Laguna Greenbelt Fact:
Barbara’s Lake is Orange County’s only natural lake. The 6-acre lake is located in the Jim Dilley Preserve and the lake is fed by a series of natural springs and is named for long-time Laguna Greenbelt board member and open space advocate, Barbara Stuart.