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Politics & Government

M2 Sends $4.7 Million To Restore Environment, 55 Acres in Laguna Niguel

Th OCTA program improves freeways while protecting county's natural habitat.

The Orange County Transportation Authority recently approved $4.7 million in funds for six restoration projects including Laguna Niguel to help preserve 215 acrs in open space lands throughout Orange County.

Project / City 

Amount Funded

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Acres

Aliso Creek / Laguna Niguel

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$1.1 million

55

Chino Hills State Park / Brea

$193,000

21

Harriett Weider Regional Park / Huntington Beach

$475,000

10

Lower Silverado Canyon / Irvine

$1.4 million

44

North Coal Canyon / Yorba Linda

$247,500

5.5

West Loma / Irvine

$1.3 million

80

Restoration work will include removal of invasive and non-native weeds and plants and the reestablishment of native vegetation that plays an important role in the ecosystem.

“OCTA is always looking for long-term, sustainable solutions to help the environment in Orange County,” said OCTA Chairman “Programs like this remind us that while we continually improve our transportation network, we must factor the environment into every step we take.” 

These efforts also encourage the return of native wildlife to reoccupy their previous habitats. The work may begin as soon as early 2013 once a restoration plan and grant agreement for each project is completed.

The restoration projects chosen are those determined to have the highest potential to successfully replace resources lost to freeway construction. A call for projects was issued in  June 2011 and OCTA received 40 proposals from throughout the county. 

The M2 Environmental Freeway Mitigation Program is a comprehensive plan to preserve and restore open space throughout the county. It will provide approximately $300 million over the next 30 years to preserve and restore land throughout Orange County.

For more information regarding OCTA’s environmental program, visit octa.net/environmental.

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