Bonita Creek and Reservoir Mitigation Site
Once a narrow concrete channel, Bonita Creek in Newport Beach has been restored by the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency to a thriving wetland and coastal sage scrub community.
Quick Facts
Background
Once a narrow concrete channel, Bonita Creek in Newport Beach has been restored by the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA) to a thriving wetland and coastal sage scrub community that serves as a major wildlife corridor from the San Joaquin Hills to Upper Newport Bay. TCA began work on the site in 1995, re-establishing its natural habitat so successfully that seven pairs of California gnatcatchers gave birth to 32 chicks in the area by the end of the monitoring period in 2001.
Current Activities
TCA concluded the annual monitoring of the Bonita Creek area in 2002 and the site is currently open to the public. To view the Bonita Creek trail map on the city of Newport Beach’s website, click here. The Agencies offer docent-led tours of the site to the public each spring.
Species
Bonita Creek is home to a variety of wildlife species, including:
- California Gnatcatcher
- Least Bell’s Vireo
- American Goldfinch
- Red-Winged Blackbirds
- Coyotes
- Bobcats
