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TCA's Involvement in Orange County's
Natural Communities Conservation Program (NCCP)
TCA is a major contributor to the Central/Coastal
Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP). This plan set
aside 38,783 acres of prime habitat in Orange County for 42
individual species. It's the result of three years of planning
by a group that included TCA, the Irvine Company, County of
Orange, several cities and utility companies
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The goal of the Natural Community Conservation Planning
program is to conserve certain California native animal and plant
species and their habitats, and at the same time, allow for reasonable
economic activity and development on affected land. The NCCP program
was established in 1991.
TCA has been involved with the NCCP program since
its inception. During the three years it took to develop the Central/Coastal
reserve, TCA committed considerable financial resources toward creation
of the plan. TCA also contributed its mitigation sites to the reserve
and provided $6 million of a $10 million endowment, which will fund
ongoing management of the reserve.
This reserve protects 38,738 acres of natural habitats,
including 18,831 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat, 7,290 acres
of chaparral, 6,104 acres of grasslands, 1,818 acres of riparian
and significant portions of eight other habitat types. About 318
acres of mitigation lands owned by the TCA are included within the
reserve.
Approximately 381 California gnatcatchers and 674
cactus wren sightings are within the reserve system.
The reserve is managed using an "adaptive" method
designed to respond to new scientific information, changing conditions
and habitat needs.
A non-profit corporation, known as The Nature Reserve
of Orange County, administers the endowment fund and oversees management
of the reserve. TCA plans to continue its participation through
ongoing financial support of the endowment and membership on the
Board of Directors.
TCA is currently working with the Rancho Mission Viejo
Company, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of
Fish and Game, County of Orange, various property owners, utility
providers and the cities of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente
to prepare a draft reserve design for areas in Southern Orange County.
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