The Laguna Canyon Foundation recently announced the successful completion of the Aliso Creek Habitat Restoration Project, a transformative, decade-long effort to revive and protect one of Orange County’s critical natural corridors. This 55-acre restoration within Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park was made possible through funding from OCTA’s Measure M Environmental Mitigation Program, a key part of OCTA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
What began in 2012 as an ambitious vision to rehabilitate a degraded stretch of Aliso Creek has now come to life as a thriving ecosystem. The project was delivered through a partnership between the Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF), OC Parks, and OCTA—and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed that all site conditions were successful.
The project is a cornerstone of OCTA’s Measure M Environmental Mitigation Program, which helps offset the environmental impacts of freeway projects by protecting and restoring natural lands.
OCTA has played a vital coordinating role throughout the process, ensuring that all necessary long-term agreements, financial commitments, and regulatory approvals were in place. While awaiting final concurrence from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies, OCTA continues to work closely with LCF and OC Parks to support ongoing stewardship through the project’s long-term management plan.
The success of this restoration is more than just ecological—it represents a collaborative investment in Orange County’s future. By improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and providing lasting open-space benefits, the project underscores OCTA’s broader mission: delivering transportation solutions that also enhance the communities and natural environments OCTA serves.