Paved road winding through a hilly landscape with greenery and a wooden guardrail on the left, under a clear blue sky.

Watershed Restoration

Tajiguas Creek Watershed

Rancho Tajiguas Preserve comprises nearly the entire watershed of Tajiguas Creek—giving us a rare opportunity to manage for ecosystem health at a whole-watershed scale.

This unique geography positions the Preserve as a keystone site for restoring habitat for Southern California Steelhead Trout, a federally endangered species. Recent surveys confirmed that Tajiguas Creek still holds potential for Steelhead recovery, alongside sightings of other sensitive species such as the California Red-Legged Frog and Southwestern Pond Turtle.

Tajiguas Creek flowing over rocks, surrounded by green plants and bushes in a natural outdoor setting.

Tajiguas Creek

Restoration Priorities


Our restoration work is focused on improving stream health, water quality, and wildlife passage. Current efforts include:

  • Upgrading outdated septic systems to protect water quality

  • Installing sensors to monitor flow and temperature

  • Conducting field surveys and habitat mapping

  • Collaborating with experts to design long-term restoration strategies

  • Integrating watershed health into education programs

    As we build out our resource management plan, watershed restoration will remain central to our conservation strategy—and to our commitment to protecting what’s possible.