Upper Chiquita Canyon Conservation Area
Located in Rancho Santa Margarita, the land at Upper Chiquita Canyon was previously used for agriculture and cattle grazing and was zoned for residential and golf course development.
Quick Facts
Background
Located in Rancho Santa Margarita, the land at Upper Chiquita Canyon was previously used for agriculture and cattle grazing and was zoned for residential and golf course development. A conservation easement and conservation bank were established in 1996 when the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) acquired the easement as part of the mitigation for the construction of the 241 Toll Road. The property comprises two areas, a larger canyon to the east of the 241 and a smaller canyon to the west of the 241, totaling 1,158 acres.
Current Activities
The F/ETCA is required to manage the Conservation Easement in perpetuity pursuant to the property's Resource Management Plan. This management includes, but is not limited to, fire management, invasive species control and conducting wildlife, habitat and rare plant surveys. We offer docent-led tours of the site to the public each spring.
Species
Upper Chiquita Canyon supports a diverse fauna. A total of 174 wildlife species have been observed since surveys started in 1998. Approximately 136 bird and 38 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians have been recorded on the site, including:
- Coastal California Gnatcatcher
- Cactus Wren
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- California Thrasher
- Lazuli Bunting
- Red-Tailed Hawk
- Greater Roadrunner
- Mountain Lions
- Mule Deer
- Bobcats
