Newport Beach officials investigating illegal 700-foot trail cut through Corona del Mar nature reserve
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NEWPORT BEACH — City officials are investigating how a 700-foot trail was cut, illegally, from coastal sage scrub in the Buck Gully Reserve, a 254-acre wilderness area that is home to federally and state-protected animals and plants.
The trail — which goes from the bottom of the Bridge Trail to the top of the south canyon and ends near homes on Isabella Terrace — was discovered by park patrol March 31, just two days after the last patrol had come through.
Patrol units routinely go through the reserve to enforce laws such as making sure dogs are being kept on leash.
Buck Gully Reserve is part of the Natural Community Conservation Plan, which provides for the protection of plants, animals and their habitats. The reserve is managed by Newport Beach for the county of Orange. About 37,000 acres are under NCCP designation in the county.
In 2009, the city cut two legal trail loops into the reserve to be used by nature enthusiasts. The illegal trail branches off one of the loops and ascends to the canyon through steep natural coastal vegetation.
“We’ve never had this happen before,” said Sean Levin, recreation superintendent and senior deputy director. “It happened very quickly. It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction of the habitat that’s been there for 50 years.”
A landscape contractor hired by the city started removing the dead coastal scrub on Wednesday, April 17. Next steps include drawing up a restoration plan, which will be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission. Levin said it could be years before the area in Corona del Mar is restored.
An investigation, headed by Levin’s department, is underway, with drones being used to study the damage and to give crews a bird’s-eye view of the area.
City officials have determined that the destruction was not done by anyone in the mountain biking community, Levin said. He would not elaborate further on the investigation.
While the illegal trail is a first for Newport Beach, other South County communities have had problems with trail cutting. Open space surrounding Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel have been affected.
In San Clemente, a large bunker was carved into wildland area within the Marblehead Community, said John Kopp, a San Clemente resident who watches over the area and other open space for illegal trail and encampment activities. The bunker, filled with debris and belongings linked to homeless people in the area, was discovered by a contractor working in the gated community in 2017.
OC Parks rangers have found illegal trails in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Rangers at both parks are vigilant in their enforcement and can issue citations, said Marisa O’Neil, spokeswoman for OC Parks.
Some cases identified by park rangers have been referred to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Those convicted of building the illegal trails can be held liable for the cost of restoring the habitat based on Natural Community Conservation Plan estimates, she said.
For instance, in 2011, the county reached a settlement with four people who built an unauthorized trail in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, damaging habitat in a protected area. The damage went through coastal sage scrub and affected numerous native plant species.
The illegal trail cut through land that was part of the Natural Community Conservation Plan and was within the Nature Reserve of Orange County.
After the four people were cited by park rangers, the case was referred to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The four agreed to pay the county $7,000 to rehabilitate the land where they built the 280-foot, unauthorized trail.
Similarly, those found liable in the Buck Gulley Reserve could face fines to cover restoration work.
“I can’t venture a number (cost),” Levin said. “As we go along we’ll know more. It will be very expensive re-landscaping 700 linear feet of trail.”
Other agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Coastal Commission, might also be involved and could levy additional fees, he said.