About the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Laguna Coast Wilderness Park lies within some of the last remaining coastal canyons in Southern California. The park ecosystem is primarily Coastal Sage Scrub, with Maritime Chaparral, Oak Woodlands, Riparian habitats, and the ONLY natural lakes in Orange County. The park is also enrolled in the Natural Community Conservation Planning program designed to protect various endangered species (California Gnatcatcher, Cactus Wren, Orange-Throated Whiptail) by preserving large tracts of the rapidly diminishing coastal sage ecosystem. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park's 6,500 acres (property is owned by The City of Laguna Beach, The County of Orange, and the California Department of Fish & Game) are part of the South Coast Wilderness area, comprised of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park, The City of Irvine Open Space and Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, and Laguna Coast (about 18,000 acres), with approximately 44 miles of trails. A Brief History of LCWP: In 1978, the city of Laguna Beach purchased the land that is now the Dilley Preserve section of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Much of the land within Laguna Canyon was originally intended for Laguna Laurel, a planned community of 3,200 homes and numerous businesses to serve residents. Fortunately, in 1991 Laguna Beach voters approved a $20-million tax bond to purchase the first four parcels of the Laguna Laurel development area. The city purchased the first parcel in 1991, and subsequent purchases were completed in 1992 and 1993. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park was dedicated as a county park in 1993. The Irvine Company donated the fifth and final Laguna Laurel parcel in 1991. The park also includes land received as part of a development agreement with The Irvine Company for Newport Coast. It continues to grow with new land acquisitions made possible with state park bond funds approved by voters in 2000. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is managed by the County of Orange, Harbors, Beaches and Parks Department, and supported by four nonprofit organizations: Laguna Canyon Foundation, Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., The Nature Conservancy and the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust. Sources of this information include: OC Parks Website at www.ocparks.com The Laguna Canyon Foundation's Website at www.lagunacanyon.org |