Michael O’Connell oversees all aspects of stewardship, public programs and business operations for the Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC). The Yale-educated CEO brings decades of experience to ensuring Irvine’s open spaces are well-maintained and available for public use.
If you could select just one hike to take visitors on, which would it be?
I would suggest Bommer Canyon. This area has healthy and globally endangered coastal sage scrub habitat and wildlife, and the trails are in excellent condition. On the trail in Bommer, it’s easy to forget that the city is only minutes away.
What are you most proud of about IRC?
Our partnerships with so many organizations for two decades. We help manage over 30,000 acres of land in partnership with cities and the County of Orange, and we work closely with dozens of organizations on fire prevention, habitat restoration, environmental education and community involvement.
Can residents get involved?
It’s easy to participate in an activity on the land, including hikes, rides and restoration days. For those who want to give more, IRC has a large volunteer community of folks who regularly contribute their time and share their passion with visitors. The easiest way to find something fun is to visit letsgooutside.org.
What are you looking forward to this year?
2025 is IRC’s 20th year as an organization. We are looking forward to everything!
What is something about IRC that would surprise people?
Just how many people are involved in our shared work and mission. There are more than 50,000 registered participants on letsgooutside.org, representing nearly 15% of the households in Orange County. More than 525 volunteers donate thousands of hours of service each year.
The most surprising thing about the land is how special it is. We like to call it “the National Park in your backyard” because at 50,000 acres, it is the size of many national parks and offers the same kinds of experiences, but it’s not in a faraway place. When you add up all the people visiting this open space, from Crystal Cove to the Santa Ana Mountains, it’s more than 5 million a year. That’s more than most national parks! We live near this amazing resource, and it makes life better, even if you only visit occasionally.
