Santiago Creek Watershed Preservation & Restoration Project

On the edge of the mountain, where manzanita crowds big cone Douglas fir, a trickle begins an endless journey... meeting silt and cobble, salamander and rush, willow and heron... winding and rushing through chasm and canyon, under bridge and over concrete... ever reaching, ever teaching, ever coursing and shaping, until its frolicking fingers find you and me. --Joel Robinson

Upcoming Events:
March 3 - Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show. INSIDE THE OUTDOORS
May 12-18 - Santiago Creek Week. CREEK WEEK

Sulley Miller Property Conceptual Phase

• Significant expanse of undeveloped open space in east Orange, along Santiago Creek.
• Serves as a vital biological corridor between Santiago Oaks Regional Park, the El Modena Peak Volcanics, and the riparian forest between Cannon St. and the OCWD recharge basins.
• Because of the recent wildfires, it serves as a crucial wildlife sanctuary for burn refugees.
• Submit your ideas for preserving this valuable link.

The Irvine Company wants to destroy Santiago & Limestone Canyon!

• The Orange City Council unanimously approved the Irvine Company's plan to destroy Santiago & Limestone Canyon with more tract homes! What is the next step in fighting the project? The public's voice needs to be heard. If you appreciate the rural and biologically diverse appeal of Santiago Canyon, make sure your public representatives know about it. The City of Laguna Beach bought their open space from The Irvine Company, why can't we?
• To view the Environmental Impact Report, Response to Comments, Runoff Management Plan (ROMP) or other technical reports on the Santiago Hills II and East Orange Planned Communities, click here.
• Visit the Sierra Club Orange Hills Task Force to take action!
• "REPAIR OUR CITY...DON'T RUIN OUR CANYONS!!!"

• Riverside County officials want to waste billions of dollars to build a highway or highway/tunnel through the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest (Santa Ana Mountains).
• Any such project will severely threaten the ecological and recreational value of the Santiago Creek Watershed and the Corona-side of the Santa Ana Mountains. In July they identified four alternative routes, one of which could run through pristine Ladd Canyon which is a proposed wilderness area.
• We support the Orange County Transportation Authority's recent decision to concentrate on maximizing use of the 91 Freeway and the concept of light rail between Orange County and Riverside County.
• We will work for widespread citizen and political support to oppose the Riverside plan. 

Santiago Creek Watershed Vision Plan

Our watershed is 100.6 square miles or 64,414 acres! Such an extensive area requires a long-range vision plan to be adopted by the many communities who live within. Exciting plans are being developed, but we need your help and the encouragement of our elected officials to make the watershed vision a reality.

• Identify key acquisition areas
• Identify existing infrastructure to be removed or modified
• Identify improvements to existing open space, including habitat restoration, trails, etc.
• View text version of vision plan

• Cleveland National Forest Resource Management Plan
• Fieldstone Development
• Irvine Ranch Development at Jamboree and Irvine Lake
• Rifle Range Pasture Youth Camp, Irvine Park
• Chapman Medical Center Property
• Yorba Park
• Get Involved!

Santiago Creek Week 2008, May 12-18

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Watershed Wonderfest

The fourth Watershed Wonderfest at Jack Fisher Park on Friday, July 27 was a blast! The stone fire ring next to the log cabin created the perfect ambience. The fire-roasted gourmet vegan sausages were so tasty. Thanks to the virtual watershed presentation, many guests were delighted to see photos of new cool places they had never been to before. SEE CALENDAR FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS.

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The third Watershed Wonderfest at the Cambridge Restoration Area on Saturday, March 17 from 12PM-2PM was a sensation!

Participants enjoyed a pleasant afternoon with a potluck picnic and a nature walk.
The fragrance of Mugwort filled our nostrils. Sticky monkeyflower, marsh primrose, chia sage, encelia, white-flowering currant, and fuchsia-flowered gooseberry were blooming.
Western fence lizards, ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, a sharp-shinned hawk, and a song sparrow appeared along the trail.

Participants enjoyed a bonfire, fire-cooked food, live music from the band Between Ravens & Crows, and a moonlight walk through the nature reserve.

The first Santiago Creek Watershed Wonderfest on Saturday, November 18, 2006, was a huge success!

The band Son Del Centro gave an exciting musical performance. (714) 478-6201

Byblos Cafe catered a delicious Lebanese vegetarian cuisine. 129 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 92866. (714) 538-7180.

The Road Less Traveled Environmental Store provided biocompostable partyware. (714) 836-8727.

Everyone enjoyed a beautiful virtual tour along Santiago Creek from the Santa Ana River to Saddleback Mountain.

Lower Santiago Creek Habitat Restoration

• West of Cambridge
• Santiago Park Nature Reserve (Formerly known as Day Camp)

Public Parks and Natural Areas Within Santiago Creek Watershed

• Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest, Santa Ana Mountains
• Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
• Arden Helena Modjeska House
• Limestone Canyon, Irvine Mesa, Baker Canyon, Black Star Canyon, & Fremont Canyon, Irvine Ranch Land Reserve
• Hidden Ranch, The Wildlands Conservancy
• Irvine Lake
• Irvine Regional Park
• Barham Ranch
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• El Modena Open Space
• El Modena High School Nature Center, Southern California Heritage Garden
• Grijalva Park
• Yorba Park
• Cambridge Restoration Area
• Hart Park
• Santiago Park Nature Reserve
• Riverview Golf Course
• Santa Ana River Bike Trail

Click here to find your portion of the creek.