Crystal Cove Conservancy Awarded $320,600 Habitat Conservation Fund Grant to Advance Cactus Wren Connectivity Project
Newport Coast, Calif. — December 9, 2025 — Crystal Cove Conservancy is proud to announce that in partnership with Crystal Cove State Park, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) has approved $320,600 in Habitat Conservation Funds to support the Conservancy’s Cactus Wren Connectivity Project, a vital restoration initiative within Crystal Cove State Park. The award, confirmed in TCA’s recent board meeting press release, represents one of only three restoration projects selected out of 18 proposals submitted across Orange County.
The Habitat Conservation Fund Expenditure Plan—totaling approximately $8 million in near-term investments—advances TCA’s conservation commitments under a $28 million agreement with the Save San Onofre Coalition, developed in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. After a rigorous competitive review, the Cactus Wren Connectivity Project was identified as a top priority due to its ecological value, regional importance, and strong alignment with long-term habitat goals.
Through this project, approximately 3.86 acres of degraded, non-native grassland will be restored to high-quality cactus scrub and coastal sage scrub (CSS) habitat. This revitalized landscape will provide essential foraging, breeding, and nesting areas for the state-sensitive coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and the federally threatened California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica). Both species are focal targets of Orange County’s Central and Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) and have experienced substantial population declines due to habitat fragmentation, invasive species, wildfires, and reduced connectivity.
The project builds upon previous restoration efforts in the park, including the 9.7-acre cactus scrub restoration and the 14-acre coastal sage scrub project known as The Bowl. Together, these initiatives strengthen regional habitat corridors, support wildlife movement, and improve ecological resilience across Crystal Cove’s backcountry. The newly funded restoration area will further connect patches of high-quality habitat, contributing to long-term species recovery and landscape health.
Activities supported by the Habitat Conservation Fund will include cactus pad collection, site preparation, planting and seeding of native vegetation, ongoing weed control, and long-term monitoring. Funding will also allow Crystal Cove Conservancy to contract restoration specialists, source native plant materials, and track habitat response in alignment with the Natural Resource Management Plan for Crystal Cove State Park.
Crystal Cove Conservancy expresses its gratitude to the Transportation Corridor Agencies and its conservation partners for their commitment to preserving Orange County’s natural resources. This investment strengthens the future of Crystal Cove’s wildlands and enhances the park’s role as a refuge for sensitive species and a model for ecological restoration.
###
About Crystal Cove Conservancy
Crystal Cove Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of Crystal Cove State Park, dedicated to protecting the park’s natural, cultural, and historic resources while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. The Conservancy achieves its mission through STEM education programs, habitat restoration, community engagement, and preservation of the park’s iconic beach cottages.
Media Contact
Jessica Arnaldo
Marketing & Communications Manager
Crystal Cove Conservancy
jessica@crystalcove.org