State-protected bird delays completion of Santa Ana River Trail

Last week construction on Phase III of the Santa Ana River Trail in San Bernardino and Redlands ground to a halt after the County discovery a state-protected bird.

On April 21 the County found the Least Bell’s Vireo nesting within the project’s boundaries and had to stop all construction.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the bird was placed on the State of California’s list of endangered species in 1980. The birds breed in areas of Southern California from mid-March to early April and usually remain in their breeding grounds until late September. Sometimes they leave as early as the end of July.

The County has said it will survey the area in July or August and reassess the project timeline at that time. This delay means the Santa Ana River Trail’s Phase III segment will not be completed until at least February 2024.

The project is a collaboration between the San Bernardino County Department of Regional Parks and the Department of Public Works. The 3.8-mile segment broke ground in January 31.

For more information on the Santa Ana River Trail, visit https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/santa-ana-river-trail-pkwy.

For more information on the Least Bell’s Vireo, visit https://www.fws.gov/story/least-bells-vireo.