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Endemic Supporting the Institute for Conservation Research and Education (ICRE) with the first Community-Based Restoration Fall Native Planting
The Endemic Team and ICRE worked together with the City of Costa Mesa to successfully plant native habitat with the local community
Native habitat is gaining ground at Fairview Park! Endemic Environmental Services, Inc. supported the non-profit, Institute for Conservation Research and Education (ICRE) with efforts to plant native habitat and continue the ongoing enhancement of wildlife. The Endemic team prepared the site by pre-drilling (auguring) 75 holes in the ground at the edge of the expanding coastal sage scrub habitat in the lower 40 acre wetlands restoration project.
“The City values partnerships with organizations like Endemic and ICRE, and all the volunteer hours they contribute. Their efforts are an essential part of successful management of our parks. Not only are they contributing to restoring nature, they also build a great element of community spirit.” said Cynthia D’Agosta, Fairview Park Administrator, City of Costa Mesa.
Fairview Park is a 208 acre Nature Park that is part of the City of Costa Mesa. This park contains very rare habitat, such as coastal sage scrub, riparian, freshwater marsh, grassland, and vernal pools, including the largest remaining vernal pool in coastal Southern California. The park has over 28 sensitive plant and wildlife species that call Fairview Park home.
“Both groups really know what they are doing. EES has provided the best biological services the park has ever seen. ICRE just so happens to be the most knowledgeable biologist lead non-profit to do restoration work in the park. The habitat they have created on such a shoestring budget is really remarkable. Plus they are friendly and kind and make volunteer work fun,” said Sage B., a regular ICRE volunteer.
Volunteers, ICRE, and Endemic planted 75 native plants in about 2 hours on a sunny Saturday morning. “These events always provide me with a renewed inspiration and optimism for the proliferation of our native plants and wildlife at Fairview Park. It’s always uplifting to see how many people care for and appreciate this precious native ecosystem.” Said Lyell Buttermore, Biologist, Endemic.
The plants will be managed by the onsite Endemic maintenance team. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, volunteers needed special permission and waivers. This could be logistically challenging for managing the plants. “The City and ICRE have been working to build an environmental stewardship program at Fairview Park for a number of years,” said Barry Nerhus, President, Endemic. “Over the past 11 years, we have restored over 25% of the park, attracting endangered bird species like the California gnatcatcher and least Bell’s vireo. Thanks to the City, the Community, Endemic, and ICRE, Fairview Park is increasingly flourishing with wildlife every year. We will continue to do our part in managing and enhancing the natural ecosystem.”
Endemic Environmental Services, Inc. is an environmental services company that is comprised of Environmental Professionals. They are a renowned multidisciplinary environmental consulting firm that serves public and private sector clients. Our team members apply their scientific expertise, experience, initiative, and innovation to natural resource management. Special thanks to our Endemic Team Members Lyell Buttermore, Jason Blevins, Chris Fabela, Anita Arenas, Hannah Lee, Luma Fowler, and Erika Cleugh for the planning, coordination, and hard work to make this all happen.
ICRE is dedicated to environmental research and conservation, both locally and globally. The organization aims to conserve and restore habitat to be used by native wildlife through community involvement, outreach, and education.