Restoration of Natural Ecosystems  |||  Chino Hills State Park Restoration

RESTORATION OF NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
Parts of the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor still have the kind of natural plants, trees, and shrubs that have been growing here for thousands of years. 

Other parts of the hills have been overwhelmed by non-native plant species that were introduced and spread primarily by sheep and cattle ranching over the past several hundred years. These non-native plants include the grasses and mustard that are so common today.

Restoration of native plants in local areas is a long-term goal in the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. Native plants resist fire better than non-native ones and provide better habitat for the array of wildlife that are supposed to be here. The non-native plants are like weeds in your vegetable garden. 

CHINO HILLS STATE PARK RESTORATION
Restoration of the State Park has been underway for 15 years. The focus has been on removal of exotics and cultivation of native plants.

Resource Ecologist Geary Hund has successfully brought ailanthus under control in Aliso Canyon. Workers have also “built” two bridges over the creek and restored the banks with willows. These bridges (old flat bed railroad cars) allow bikers and hikers to pass over the stream instead of through it.

Geary has also helped bring thistle under control in the State Park. Aided by the disturbance that cattle grazing caused, thistle often grew to seven feet tall. In the spring, the thistle’s strategy was to send its broad leaves out quickly and choke out access to the sun and rain for native plants. It ran rampant through the Park especially along streams, often blocking access to them. Recent wet winters have, however, caused a resurgence of this annoying and prickly plant.

Arundo donax (giant reed) remains a challenge in Carbon Canyon Creek but a recent grant will bring much needed funding to that task. Arundo grows so fast and uses so much water that it prevents other native plants from getting their ”fair share” of the water.

The biggest restoration project is underway in the Carbon Canyon region of the State Park in Brea. It is under the direction of Resource Ecologist Alissa Ing. Restoration of the lemon groves began five years ago with the removal of one of the dying lemon groves.

In a carefully devised protocol, the state removes non-native plants.  The ecologists then plant a succession of vegetation to keep the soil alive and healthy.  In the spring of 2002, the native vegetation included lupines and California poppies in a dazzling display of color. The project site is no longer irrigated now that the native coastal sage is firmly restored.

This restoration project is funded by Shell Oil as a required mitigation for its destruction of other coastal sage scrub habitat on their Vista del Verde Project in Yorba Linda. A bridge (flatbed railroad car) was also being to the Park in this locale.

Volunteers with the Natural History Unit also plant and help care for the native plant nursery at the State Park. Volunteers meet every third Saturday at the Ranger Station from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  For more information on the Park visit its website.