Wildlife Reserve Plan Faces the Test of Public Opinion

A Balancing Act

A sweeping plan to create a land reserve system in central/coastal Orange County is under review by county officials and residents. It is among the first efforts designed under the Natural Community Conservation Planning program, a new state effort to preserve rare plants and animals while allowing development and economic growth.

PURPOSE: Voluntary program brings together landowners, environmentalists and state, federal and local officials to help design a reserve system. Participating landowners would be freed from stringent endangered-species permit guidelines on other land.

HISTORY: Orange County’s efforts began in the early 1990s amid concerns about the California gnatcatcher, a threatened songbird that lives on some of the county’s most expensive real estate.

DESIGN: Actually, two major reserves are planned for Orange County, incorporating about 80,000 acres, with the focus on conserving habitat and natural communities rather than individual species:

* The central/coastal area would create a 38,738-acre reserve, including about 15,700 acres that are now public parkland. Most of the remaining land is privately owned, primarily by the Irvine Co. Permits creating the reserves would run for 75 years, with extension provisions. * The South County reserve tentatively would total to 42,000 acres. It is scheduled for public consideration later this year.

HABITAT: The central/coastal reserve would encompass about 19,000 acres of coastal sage scrub. Chaparral, grassland and other habitats are also included.

OWNERSHIP: Central/coastal reserve area would be owned by numerous public agencies. Assembling reserve could take 10-15 years or longer. Officials say that in the interim land planned for reserve would be protected from development and managed as if it were already in the reserve.

COST: Central/coastal reserve management would be funded by an endowment of more than $10 million contributed by participating landowners. Most private land would be contributed by the Irvine Co.

UPCOMING: The county Planning Commission is expected to vote March 5. The plan must also go to the Board of Supervisors, state and federal agencies and affected cities and landowners for approval.

Source: Orange County planners; Researched by DEBORAH SCHOCH / Los Angeles Times