Surrounded by two regional parks, Barham Ranch has been a favorite destination for hikers and bird-watchers for over 100 years. This 509-acre parcel has spectacular views and is covered with majestic oaks, sage and wildflowers; it includes the most extensive willow woodlands in all of Orange County. In 1999, when the property owners, the Serrano Water District and Orange Unified School District, supported selling Barham Ranch to a developer with plans to build 600 homes, conservationists turned to CEQA to challenge their actions. As a result of the issues raised by CEQA, Orange County officials recognized the need to preserve this special place in perpetuity. Barham Ranch, purchased by the public in 2003, is now the crown jewel of Orange County’s regional park system.
CEQA Successes
- Protecting the San Francisco Bay from Sewage Overflows
- Hospital Required to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Streamlining a Major Solar Electric Project While Protecting Workers and Habitat
- Expanding Multi-Modal Transportation While Minimizing Impacts to Public Health
- Protecting Public Health in Riverside County
- Prioritizing Farmland and Public Health Over Oil Companies
- Pairing Growth with Local Benefits at a Major Transportation Hub
- Reducing Air and Noise Pollution, Creating Community Green Space While Supporting Economic Growth
- Safeguarding School Children and Public Health Using CEQA
- Thanks to CEQA, Campus and Innovation Center Provides Local Jobs, Affordable Housing