Our Programs

Randall Preserve Planning

The Coastal Corridor Alliance has a leadership role in the planning for the land formerly called Banning Ranch, now the Randall Preserve/Genga (Randall Preserve). Because the land was under private ownership for more than a century, the critical next step is an evaluation of the site through a comprehensive planning effort. The land acquisition agreement placed the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) as titleholder with the requirement to develop a Property Management Plan, that encompasses a Resource Management Plan and Tribal Access and Engagement Plan that both collectively inform a Public Access Plan. Beyond those acquisition requirements, CCA received funding for a separate, but related Coastal Resilience Strategy. MRCA has until December 2026 to develop these plans.

Learn more at the Randall Preserve website.

Resource Management Plan (RMP)

A critical next step for the Randall Preserve is an evaluation of the site through a RMP, which includes baseline and integrated biological surveys. The RMP also includes a site description, property management details, allowable public uses, biological monitoring and management, funding, and identification of restoration opportunities. This work is above ground only and in no instance involves any below ground disturbance.

Elevational gradients, habitat transition zones, and marine influence will be captured sitewide along with a baseline biological survey that integrates historical survey data to provide the most accurate picture of challenges and opportunities on this property. These topics intertwine with the permanent preservation of the flora and fauna. This project is funded through a federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a state grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, and a grant from the Warne Family Fund via the Orange County Community Foundation to CCA.

CCA will engage the community, emphasizing the nearby disadvantaged communities in Costa Mesa to promote these public engagement opportunities when they arise. This project is funded through a grant from The Trust for Public Land to CCA.

Coastal Resilience Strategy (CRS)

The CRS will likely include four critical analyses: assessing hazard risk and community vulnerability, identifying nature-based solutions appropriate for this site, quantifying conservation and restoration action(s), and measuring the potential effectiveness of these actions to reduce risk. Future phases of this work would include actual on-the-ground restoration and plan implementation. In 2023, CCA added the Randall Preserve Wetland Feasibility Study to the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Work Plan.

The RMP and CRS are two separate, but intertwined documents. Activities for both include identification of land uses and policy constraints, pre-colonization and settlement history, determining appropriate conservation and access goals as well as management objectives, physical and environmental setting, fire history or fire management concerns, historic weather trends, existing and future funding needs, a biological monitoring schedule, hazard risk assessment, recommendations for risk reduction, and more.

This project is funded through a federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a state grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, and a grant from the Warne Family Fund via the Orange County Community Foundation to CCA.

The public will also have opportunities to weigh in on the CRS by providing comments on the draft document and participating in public engagement meetings before finalization and adoption. Again, CCA will promote these public engagement opportunities when they arise. This project is funded through a grant from The Trust for Public Land to CCA.

Public Access Plan (PAP)

The PAP is last because all of the other plans inform this one. It will outline who, what, when, where, and why specific uses on the land are or are not allowed. It is likely that this component will be housed within the RMP described above. This project is funded through a federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a state grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, and a grant from the Warne Family Fund via the Orange County Community Foundation to CCA.

The public will also have opportunities to weigh in on the PAP by providing comments on the draft document and participating in public engagement meetings before finalization and adoption. Again, CCA will promote these public engagement opportunities when they arise. This project is funded through a grant from The Trust for Public Land to CCA.

PEER

There’s plenty of work to do in the Coastal Corridor! The Coastal Corridor Alliance is adding a workforce and partnering with stakeholders for more cooperative, inclusive, and effective restoration efforts through its PEER Program.

Volunteer & Learn with CCA
At all of our events, we learn and discuss the ecological realities of the interconnected Coastal Corridor.

PEER guides our work in four focus areas:

Partnerships
Engagement
Equity/Inclusion
Restoration

Habitat Restoration Days

CCA adopted a .3 acre area of Fairview Park for native habitat restoration in 2022. Our community based restoration has been wonderfully successful, and has since expanded with new sites and partnerships.

Individuals and families are invited to join us at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa:

Thursdays 7 – 9 AM
Fridays 8 – 10 AM
3rd Saturdays 9 – 11:30 AM

Hay servicio de interpretación al español disponible.

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Fourth Saturday Beach & River Mouth Cleanups

Volunteer to stop pollution from three counties and six million people form entering the ocean.

It’s not just about picking up trash – we’re on a mission to protect our underwater pals, keep the wildlife safe, and stop trash in its tracks before it hits the waves. By teaming up to tackle pollution, especially the endless pieces of styrofoam, microplastics, and more, we’re helping to restore this crucial ecosystem for everyone. CCA is all in for keeping the ocean fabulous for years to come!

Hay servicio de interpretación al español disponible.

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