At the foot of the Santiago Hills, volunteers gather on the weekend each month to weed and water plants.
The program in Peters Canyon Regional Park focuses on restoration activities, such as planting and watering native shrubs and removing invasive weeds.
Residents have the opportunity to continue volunteering to weed and water the land, with the first restoration event falling on Valentine’s Day this year.
“The nature in America is very different from Japan, it’s very interesting,” said Hideki Omori, 47, who brought his son to the restoration day this past August.
Omori shared that he and his 13-year-old son, Sou, enjoy spotting animals and other wildlife while volunteering.
The canyon wildlife population includes mule deer, coyotes, gnatcatchers, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, red-tail hawks and sometimes a mountain lion. The park’s reservoir and creek attract smaller amphibians, mammals and reptiles.
Recent restoration efforts have focused on watering native plants like buckwheat, prickly pear cactus and toyon.
“Habitat restoration improves ecological health and function. Some sites are chosen to reconnect fragmented habitats, making it easier for wildlife to move safely, find food and adapt to changing conditions,” said Shelly Marshall, OC Parks resource specialist.
Marshall says restoration projects can help establish resources for specific animals or plants, especially those that are endangered.
Known as Cañón de las Ranas or “Canyon of the Frogs” in the 1800s, Peters Canyon was part of Rancho Lomas de Santiago.
The rancho – one of several Spanish land grants in the area – was purchased by James Irvine in 1897, who leased the area to farmers. The canyon’s namesake, James Peters, dry-farmed barley and beans in the upper part of the region beginning in 1891.
In 1899, a part of the region was leased to the Santiago Golf Club for a 9-hole golf course.
Years later, part of Peters Canyon would become a training area for the U.S. Army during World War II known as “Camp Commander.”
Mock battles were staged between Camp Commander and “Camp Rathkey,” another Army post in the nearby Irvine Park.
The Irvine Company donated 340 acres of Peters Canyon to the County of Orange for preservation as open space in 1992.
OC Parks has also expanded restoration efforts in Santiago Oaks Regional Park and Irvine Regional Park, also offering the public a chance to participate in land restoration efforts through scheduled events.
People interested in volunteering at Peters Canyon Regional Park or other locations can check letsgooutside.org for an updated calendar of events.
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. Contact her at etaylor@voiceofoc.org or @camerakeepsrolling.
