Atascadero and Maria Ygnacio Steelhead Restoration Implementation

The Goleta Slough Complex is in coastal Santa Barbara County, about six miles northwest of the City of Santa Barbara. The eastern subwatershed of the complex is made up of the Atascadero watershed with Maria Ygnacio as the major tributary. Atascadero and Maria Ygnacio Creeks have consistent records of resident trout observed throughout the watershed and a few adult steelhead have been documented in the lower/mid sections of the watersheds. The Goleta Slough Complex is rated as a Core 2 watershed in the Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan (NOAA, 2012).

There are multiple barriers to steelhead migration in this watershed, and this project aims to remediate five major barriers within the Goleta Slough Complex beginning along Maria Ygnacio Creek. The five sites include barriers on property owned by the County of Santa Barbara and City of Goleta. The barriers consist of concrete grade control structures and concrete armoring under bridges. The goal of this project is to implement the 100% Administrative Design Plans on the five major creek barriers with the focus of restoring steelhead passage and enhancing riparian habitat. Two projects were recently funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.