CA: 37,000 Acres of Irvine Ranch Receives Prestigious ‘National Natural Landmark’ Designation

Business Wire ^ | October 10, 2006 | Press Release

[calcowgirl]

Irvine Ranch gets special status

Donald Bren points out features of the newly named Irvine Ranch National Natural Landmark to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fran P. Mainella, director of the National Park Service.

[calcowgirl]

Irvine Ranch gets special status

Donald Bren, left, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveil a brass plaque this morning that proclaims 37,000 acres of Irvine Ranch land a National Natural Landmark.

[Jaysun]

Dumbasses. Do you wonder why your housing prices continue to be absurd? Do you prefer owl houses to human houses? Dummbasses.

[calcowgirl]

Another win for Agenda 21 and the U.N. :-(

[Sir_Ed]

I have many wonderful memories of hiking on the Irvine Ranch as a kid, and hiking Back Bay around the salt ponds of lower Newport Harbor.

Of course, in those days, ('60's and '70's) Orange County was still mostly orange groves and orchards!

I remember when officials from the OC Airport came to our neighborhood (Santa Ana Heights, around the Back Bay) and promised all of us that the OC Airport would NEVER allow any jets to land there!!

I haven't been back home in many, many years, but I understand my old elementary school, Back Bay Elementary, was long-since bulldozed...and I have no idea how Kaiser Junior High or Newport Harbor High are faring.

My Mom and her sisters are all alumni of Newport Harbor, classes of 1927-1932.

Man...it's been years since I thought of Back Bay and the Irvine Ranch!

Ed

[cmsgop]

BBQ's at Irvine Ranch with Glen Cambell,those were the days........

[calcowgirl]

Ranch a national treasure

LANDMARK: Jeremy and Kathleen Taylor, part of an Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust group, hike out of Bommer Canyon.

OC Register story: Ranch a national treasure

Part of the 50,000-acre Irvine Ranch will receive a rare boost in prestige today: designation as a National Natural Landmark, the first for California since 1987.

In a ceremony at Crystal Cove State Park, National Parks Service officials will confer the honor on 37,000 acres of ranch property and parks that once were part of the ranch.

The land will include two large parcels, according to the Irvine Co.: Crystal Cove and Irvine Co. land near Laguna Beach, and natural canyons northeast of Orange.

Fewer than 600 places nationwide have gained National Landmark status. They include Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Torrey Pines State Park and Mount Shasta in California, Diamond Head in Hawaii, and the Willamette River in Oregon.

The natural habitats on Irvine Ranch represent prime examples of vanishing Southern California ecosystems, and were reviewed by biological and geological experts before the designation could be granted, the Irvine Co. said. Landowners must apply to receive the landmark status.

(snip)

[calcowgirl]

I remember horseback riding in some of those orange groves as a kid.
I don't think you would recognize the area today. Much has changed.

[Arizona Carolyn]

We lived and worked in Irvine for many years. I'm not totally unhappy to see part of that beautiful community preserved.

[christynsoldier]

Another win for Agenda 21 and the U.N. :-(


DING DING DING ...we have a winner!!! Back to the ReWilding of America so only Bren, Ahnold, the Kennedys and the Rockefellers and their Billionaire buddies will be able to set foot on designated areas. All hail the Elites ... oyvey

[Czar]

This is my backyard we're talking about, and my congressman--John Campbell--who from his remarks apparently thinks this is a wonderful idea (or at least a great photo op). I will be contacting him shortly about this latest federal intrusion into local affairs.

Arnold just spreads good news wherever he goes, doesn't he?

Did I mention I will not be voting for him? I thought so...

[Jaysun]

Well, those memories are worth turning $70K houses into $500K houses. Right? Or isn't there a "wilderness" beyond the land that you describe? I'm not saying that you're to blame for absurdly high housing prices, or that you advocate stopping development for the benefit of "future generation" (whoever that might be), but stories just like your's are used to halt home building production. And for what?

Doesn't everyone have some quaint childhood memory to recite? And is progress bad because of it? I can remember the days when everyone (regardless of age) could buy cigarettes and everyone could drive with a beer in hand. Is that somehow better than the present just because it's the past?

[BenLurkin]

"Prestigious"?

That's not what I'd call it.

[Carry_Okie]

The Hearst family just pulled the same stunt with their ranch.

[calcowgirl]

John Campbell... don't get me started.

[calcowgirl]

I'm not totally unhappy to see part of that beautiful community preserved.

See post #13.

[Ben Ficklin]

Irvine Company

[Czar]

"John Campbell... don't get me started."

After that Gilchrist scare, he suddenly became Mr. Anti-Illegal Alien. To be fair, he's been very good and active on the issue. He'd better be if he wants another term. On other issues, though, there has been an occasional lapse, caused no doubt by now latent RINO tendencies. He definitely requires watching.

[Sam Clements]

I am a conservative Reagan Republican along with the best of them. There really should be nothing to complain about regarding this Irvine Ranch Reserve. It is large, it is beautiful, and it preserves a part of California for all people and for all time. On top of that, it was donated by Mr. Bren, who himself is a loyal and solid Republican. If anyone needs more, consider also that Mr. Bren is a former Marine. This is a Win Win for everybody.