It takes a village.

The creation of the Reserve was a collaboration of landmark proportions that brought forward-thinking landowners, government agencies, and environmental organizations together for the greater good of Orange County.

Stewarding these wildlands is an ongoing effort, and everyone here contributes to its success.

NROC Wildlife Agencies

The Nature Reserve of Orange County wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the threatened wildlife we’re actively working to save on this open space. These wildlife agencies help ensure the unique plants and animals at home here are thriving.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

This federal government agency works to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats—including those in NROC—for the continuing benefit of the American people.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

This state government agency helps manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plants, as well as their habitats, protecting threatened species like those found in the NROC.

NROC Landowners

The open space of the Nature Reserve of Orange County is owned by 11 different public and private entities. We work together to make sure these habitats thrive for the plants and animals that live here, and the humans who love to visit.

County of Orange

County of Orange is the local government entity of Orange County, and OC Parks is its official parks agency that oversees regional wilderness and historical facilities, as well as coastal areas throughout the County. Some of its 60,000 acres of parkland and open space are an integral part of NROC.

City of Irvine

The City of Irvine is dedicated to creating and promoting awareness of the city’s natural resources while engaging the community in outdoor recreational and educational experiences that will ensure the preservation of Irvine’s open space wilderness—some of which is part of NROC—for generations to come.

City of Newport Beach

The City of Newport Beach has a history of protecting, conserving, and maintaining valuable open space, including Buck Gully Reserve, one of NROC’s beloved parks.

University of California, Irvine

UCI Nature is a program within the University of California Irvine—the local campus of the UC system—that works to advance understanding and stewardship of the natural environment by promoting the University’s natural areas and field-based assets for research, education, and public engagement.

Transportation Corridor Agencies

The Transporation Corridor Agencies, the public agencies that run Orange County’s toll road network, are dedicated to both efficient transportation and local land conservation.

California State Parks

California State Parks is the state government agency that manages the Golden State’s vast and varied park and reserve system, including Crystal Cove State Park, most of which is part of NROC.

Southern California Edison

Southern California Edison, the largest electric utility company in the region, is deeply committed to protecting biodiversity and natural habitats as it updates and modernizes its local grid infrastructure.

Metropolitan Water District

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California aims to provide high-quality water to the local community in an environmentally and economically responsible way.

Irvine Company

Irvine Company is a private real estate developer that has permanently preserved 57,500 acres of open space and parklands—many of which are part of NROC—that are now held in perpetuity by municipalities for conservation, recreation, and enjoyment.

Irvine Ranch Water District

The Irvine Ranch Water District serves central Orange County, providing high-quality water in environmentally sound ways.

Southwest Resource Management Association

The Southwest Resource Management Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes, manages, and preserves natural resources—including land that makes up part of NROC—through collaborative partnerships, working to benefit communities by fostering ecological well-being.

NROC Land Managers

Maintaining and restoring the NROC’s habitats requires an immense amount of effort and expertise. These organizations excel at both and are crucial to the Reserve’s conservation.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a local nonprofit that works with landowners and partners to connect the Orange County community with the land while protecting and restoring natural resources.

Laguna Canyon Foundation

Laguna Canyon Foundation is a local nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and ongoing protection of an area known as South Coast Wilderness, parts of which are in the NROC.

Newport Bay Conservancy

Newport Bay Conservancy is a local nonprofit that protects and preserves Upper Newport Bay—a precious resource that is part of NROC.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit helping to maintain and support areas of NROC, working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Natural Communities Coalition

Stewarding 38,000 acres of wildlands across Orange County is no easy feat. When the NROC was established in 1996, a nonprofit known as the Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) was formed to implement the Plan, which regulates this precious habitat’s conservation and the 39 protected species that live here. Representatives from all of the Reserve’s landowners, as well as the wildlife agencies that support these natural spaces, make up the board of directors—a total group effort. The Reserve is proof that good things happen when groups come together for a greater purpose.

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