On a recent Saturday, about 30 hikers navigated Trabuco Canyon terrain amid coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, grasslands and chaparral as part of OCTA’s series of interpretive excursions through its protected wilderness preserve. Another hike is scheduled for Aug. 9. The fourth and final event in the series is a guided equestrian tour on Aug. 16.
The guided two-mile hiking tour took place on Ferber Ranch Wilderness Preserve, nearly 400 acres of rolling terrain in an unincorporated area of Orange County. Bordered on the north by the Cleveland National Forest and on the south by Trabuco Creek, the property is located within the Trabuco Canyon area of the Foothill / Trabuco Specific Plan.
OCTA’s acquisition of this property protects several vital wildlife movement corridors, ensures the preservation of high quality habitat, and allows this core segment of Trabuco Canyon to be permanently protected. In 2011, OCTA purchased Ferber Ranch as part of the M2 Freeway Environmental Mitigation Program.
Funded by Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation, the program allocates funds to acquire open space and contribute to habitat restoration projects in exchange for streamlined project approvals for 13 M freeway improvement projects. Acquired properties are purchased and permanently preserved as open space. Funded restoration projects restore preserved open space lands to their native habitat and include the removal of invasive plant species.
To register for upcoming excursions, visit www.octa.net/tours.
