This project enhanced and expanded wetland habitat throughout the 34.41 acres owned by the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve. Totaling 440-acres, the Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve includes a variety of habitat types addressed through this project including: estuarine, riverine, and palustrine wetlands; coastal bluff scrub; introduced grassland; coastal sage … Continued
This project evaluated alternatives for restoring tidal action to isolated basins in Goleta Slough adjacent to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, and investigated potential associated bird strike hazards. With the financial assistance of the California Coastal Conservancy, the Airport restored tidal circulation to a 2-acre portion of the Goleta Slough. This project will provide a scientific … Continued
This project obtained experimental data for the Goleta Slough Tidal Restoration Study to adequately address the FAA’s concerns and resolve the bird-strike issue associated with the demonstration project. The Goleta Slough is an area of estuary, tidal creeks, tidal marsh, and wetlands near Goleta, California. It primarily consists of the filled and unfilled remnants of … Continued
This project developed a plan to enhance approximately 2 acres of salt marsh and sand dune habitat adjacent to the UCSB Campus Lagoon and prepared restoration plans for three additional areas around the lagoon. The UCSB Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) manages the Campus Lagoon and this planning grant led to the … Continued
This project completed amendments to the Devereux Slough/Ellwood Mesa Regional Plan for the University of California, Santa Barbara, including both county and privately-owned land. Devereux Slough is a seasonally tidal estuary that is impounded most of the year by a sand barrier. Devereux Slough is a critical ecological feature of Coal Oil Point Reserve that … Continued
This project enhanced wildlife habitat along one and one-half miles of Lower Refugio Creek by removing invasive plant species, stabilizing 1,300 linear feet of eroding creek bed and revegetating 17,000 square feet of the riparian corridor. The project worked to remove over 87,000 square feet of Giant reed (Arundo donax) in Lower Refugio Creek with … Continued
This project acquired 778 acres of riparian and grassland habitat along Arroyo Hondo Creek on the Gaviota Coast. Extending from the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains in the Los Padres National Forest down to the ocean, Rancho Arroyo Hondo’s natural resources are extraordinary. Along with the biological resources, the cultural, historical, recreational, and scenic … Continued
The Buena Vista Audubon Society (BVAS) has secured a purchase agreement for $1.55 million on the 3.56-acre MacHutchin property directly adjacent to the Buena Vista Lagoon in the City of Oceanside. BVAS will secure fee title to these last remnants of the coastal lagoon, home to various marsh, open water and shoreline species including such … Continued
The Conservancy provided a grant of $650,000 to the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County to improve fish passage for steelhead in Arroyo Hondo Creek. The creek presents one of the best opportunities for enhancing steelhead habitat in southern Santa Barbara County. Most of the creek is in near pristine condition with good water quality … Continued
This project removed exotic vegetation and planted native vegetation in Solstice Canyon from the entrance at Corral Canyon Road to the Tropical Terrace ruin, approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the park entrance, which is the full extent of potential steelhead rearing habitat. The project area extended 300 feet on either side of the stream and … Continued
The South San Diego Bay Wetland Restoration Project restored approximately 257 acres of coastal wetlands in in the southwest corner of San Diego Bay. In September 2011 two former salt ponds were opened once again to the tides, after being converted from salt marsh approximately 50 years ago, and closed off from the Bay. Over … Continued
The Bolsa Chica wetlands are located in Orange County, surrounded by the City of Huntington Beach. This project is one of the largest wetland restoration projects to be constructed in southern California. Approximately 370 acres were re-introduced to full tidal influence. The project also improved muted tidal circulation to 200 acres, retained 120 acres of … Continued