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Santa Barbara Audubon Society
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The Goleta Slough Management Committee (GSMC) has been meeting since 1991 with the overall goal of resource protection and enhancement of Goleta Slough, while recognizing the urban setting in which the Slough exists. The Committee has prepared a draft Goleta Slough Ecosystem Management Plan (December, 1997) and coordinates the review of activities that may affect the Goleta Slough Ecosystem. Representatives on the GSMC include major landowners in the Slough-City of Santa Barbara (Airport), University of California at Santa Barbara, Southern California Gas Company, as well as private landowners, regulatory agencies--Santa Barbara County Planning and Development and Flood Control, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Game, and California Coastal Commission. Local public interest groups are also represented, including Santa Barbara Audubon, Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council, Sierra Club, and the Environmental Defense Center. The Committee meets monthly, generally the second Thursday of the month, 9am-noon. For more information on the Goleta Slough Management Committee, contact Pat Saley, psaley@silcom.com, staff to the Committee, or SBAS representative Darlene Chirman.
Applicants for development projects within the Goleta Slough Management Area, or which may impact the Slough, such as projects on creeks in the watershed, are encouraged to present their projects to the GSMC. The Committee does not oppose or support projects, but comments on potential impacts to the Slough, and recommends possible modifications or mitigation which can minimize the impacts, or provide benefits to the Slough. As part of this function, SBAS has assisted in drafting comments for the Committee, and commented on development projects with potential impacts to the Slough--on water quality, sedimentation, bird and wildlife habitat, and other biological impacts.
Members of the GSMC have been strong proponents of a major restoration project that would re-establish tidal circulation to parts of the historic Goleta Slough, where berms or tide gates have inhibited tidal action. In 1999 the Coastal Conservancy was awarded $940,000 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, from the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, for restoration of the upper Goleta Slough, on Department of Fish and Game property and the Storke Campus Wetlands of the University of California at Santa Barbara. However, the issue of wetland restoration and bird strike safety issues with the Federal Aviation Administration need to be resolved.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has agreed to permit a pilot project which would include collection of baseline data of bird use by species, number and season. Re-establishment of tidal circulation of one basin (which currently is seasonally ponded with rainwater) would then be allowed, with continued data collection of that basin and another unaltered basin. From the preliminary data collected for the airport by former SBAS Board member David Kisner, the seasonally ponded wetlands currently present attract high-flying waterfowl which pose a potential bird strike hazard. The tidally inundated mudflats attract low-flying shorebirds which tend to be less of a bird strike hazard. Audubon expects that the data collected will demonstrate that no increase in bird strike hazard would result from re-established tidal circulation. . FAA has authorized experimental tidal ciruculation studies, with ongoing data of bird use. Final design and permitting has been initiated by the airport, with State Coastal Conservancy funding; on-the ground work may begin summer of 2003, but more likely summer of 2004 when permits have been issued. Santa Barbara Audubon supports this as a requisite to re-establishment of tidal circulation, which we believe is the most significant restoration effort for ecological functioning of Goleta Slough.
| Santa Barbara Audubon has been instrumental in the formation of a Weed Management Area (WMA) for Santa Barbara County. Members of the Conservation Committee have been concerned about the impact of invasive weeds on the native habitat areas and the reduction on wildlife habitat value. This was the impetus for the Pampas Grass Control Project, recently completed in the Goleta Slough. Santa Barbara Audubon has partnered with the WMA in 2001-2002 to continue Pampas grass control in the Goleta Slough Management Area. There are now 32 Weed Management Areas active or forming in California, generally encompassing a county-wide area. |
Arundo donax, "Giant Reed" in Hidden Valley Park, photo courtesy David Chang |
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On October 27, 2000 Audubon invited interested individuals and representatives of agencies and organizations to attend an informational meeting at the University of California. Seventeen interested people attended. Steve Schoenig of the California Department of Agriculture was present to give us some guidance in the formation of a WMA. Part of Steve's job is to provide support for forming and established Weed Management Areas. |
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Yellow Star Thistle, |
In February 2001 organizational meetings were held regarding formation of a WMA for Santa Barbara County. David Chang of the Agricultural Commissioner's office has devoted some of his time as Coordinator of the Weed Management Area. The guidelines for the initial $15,000 State grant suggested 60% of the funds be used for control of invasive weeds, 15% for mapping, 15% for education, and 10% for administrative costs. The Santa Barbara County WMA now has a Memorandum of Understanding for partner agency and groups and a Strategic Plan which includes our "target weeds" and implementation plans for eradication/control and education. The first projects were a cost-share program for Yellow Star Thistle control and the Pampas Grass Control in the Patterson Ag block. We are now initiating an Arundo Control Project on the Arroyo Burro Creek Watershed; eradication should begin in spring 2003. |
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The Weed Management Area has recently partnered with Elings Park and CalTrans to begin eradication of Pampas Grass in the vicinity of the Arroyo Burro estuary. The County has awarded a Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF) grant of $21,888 to initiate this project. Planning should begin early 2003. Please see the website on the Weed Management Area of Santa Barbara County for up-to-date information on our goals, projects, and next meetings or events. |
Weed Management Area and Santa Barbara Audubon partnership. Pampas grass removal by backhoe from Ward Drive to protect Goleta Slough from re-infestation by wind-dispersed seed. July 2002. Photo by Darlene Chirman. |
Watershed Resource Center is operated by the Community Environmental Council to educate students and
and the general public about water quality issues and what individuals can do to improve the water quality
of our beaches and creeks. Partial funding is provided by Project Clean Water.
The South Coast Watershed Alliance (SCWA) is a gathering of organizations and individuals in Santa Barbara County, east and south of Point Conception. The group was organized in 1998 to provide greater communication among those interested in the biotic health of watersheds. Santa Barbara Audubon is a member of the coalition. The mission of the SCWA is to actively promote the restoration and enhancement of coastal creeks and beaches through the elimination of pollution into coastal watersheds and ocean waters for the inherent health of these ecosystems and for safe public health, recreation and aesthetic enjoyment of South Coast citizens and visitors.
SCWA provides public input to Project Clean Water, which is the County and City of Santa Barbara's governmental program created to solve the creek and beach contamination problems. Rob Almy is the Director of Project Clean Water for the county.
Project Clean Water is a coalition of government agencies, community groups, and individuals that have come together to investigate and implement solutions to the contamination in local creeks that is contributing to the water quality problems and closures at local beaches. At the direction of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, Project Clean Water was established in 1998 to identify and implement solutions to creek and ocean water pollution on the South Coast. The County is joined in this effort by the cities of Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, and members of groups such as the Urban Creeks Council, the Audubon Society, the Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Ocean, CURE, Coalition of Labor, Agriculture & Business, and the Community Environmental Council, as well as many community members.
Project Clean Water staff walk local creeks to perform a visual survey and note problems areas, and take corrective action as necessary. Staff also collect water samples, which are analyzed at a laboratory to determine the concentration of various types of pollution in the water. The pollutants tested include bacteria, pesticides, and oil. Data from this water testing is used to target appropriate solutions.
Project Clean Water staff meet regularly with interested members of the public to share ideas, information, and project status. The Stakeholders Committee, comprising County and City staff, members of the groups mentioned above, and community members, generally meets on the second Thursday of every month at 4:00 pm. These meetings, which take place at the Watershed Resource Center at Arroyo Beach County Park, provide an update on Project Clean Water efforts. Public participation is welcomed. For more information on the Stakeholders Committee and the working groups, visit the website. If you are interested in joining the Stakeholders Committee or any of the working groups, contact Darcy Aston at the Santa Barbara County Water Agency (phone: 568-3546, email: DASTON@co.santa-barbara.ca.us).
Santa Barbara County Environmental Heath Services conducts the beach water quality testing, and the results are posted on their website - both the status of all beaches tested and the raw data.
The County of Santa Barbara is in the process of developing a Storm Water Management Plan as part of National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit (NPDES), which is mandated by the federal Clean Water Act. This permit will be approved by the State Water Quality Control Board in March 2003. The South Coast Watershed Alliance, of which Audubon is a member, has reviewed the draft plan developed by Santa Barbara County Project Clean Water. Our comment letter requests for several changes in the Plan, including: 1) a local ordinance to prohibit illicit discharges to the storm drain system, so enforcement has some "teeth", 2) completion of a storm drain map, 3) control of construction run-off by local ordinance, 4) description of storm water management techniques for "good housekeeping" of municipal operations, 5) ongoing monitoring of specific pollutants from representative storm drains in the county. We request that the County go beyond minimal requirements of the Permit process to clean up our storm water system that pollutes our beaches with every heavy rainstorm.
The Watershed Resource Center, housed in the renovated former ranger's house at Arroyo Burro Beach, has been open since August 2001. This center focuses educational efforts for school children and the general public to help achieve clean, safe beaches and healthy creeks.
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project is an effective partnership of public agencies working cooperatively to acquire, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands and watersheds between Point Conception and the International border with Mexico. Using a non-regulatory approach and an ecosystem perspective, the Wetlands Project will work together to identify wetland acquisition and restoration priorities, prepare plans for these priority sites, pool funds to undertake these projects, implement priority plans, and oversee post-project maintenance and monitoring. The goal of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project is to accelerate the pace, the extent, and the effectiveness of coastal wetland restoration in Southern California through developing and implementing a regional prioritization plan for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of Southern California's coastal wetlands and watersheds. Ultimately, the Wetlands Project's efforts will result in a long-term increase in the quantity and quality of the region's wetlands. See the website for more information about the SCWRP.
Santa Barbara County is one of the five Southern California counties in the Wetland Recovery Project project area. We have a local Santa Barbara County Task Force that meets monthly to propose projects, prioritize projects recommended for funding, and discuss local wetland and watershed issues; the meeting is usually held the first Friday of each month. Bob Thiel is the Watershed Restoration Coordinator, working at the Community Environmental Council, funded by the first grant received through the Wetland Recovery Project. Bob can be reached by email or by phone at 963-0583, ext. 111. The Task Force coordinators are Bob Thiel and Rachel Couch, of Supervisor Susan Rose's office. Santa Barbara Audubon is represented on the Task Force by President Darlene Chirman.
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The first project since formation of the local WRP Task force is habitat restoration on San Jose Creek. This site is implemented by Growing Solutions, Restoration Education Institute, and the winter of 2002-03 marks the second year of installing plants. The sites are several areas designated in a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding among the Urban Creeks Council, Santa Barbara County Flood Control, Parks, and Fire Department. These are located on San Jose Creek between Calle Real and Cathedral Oaks Road. The most accessible to the public is University Open Space, near the ball field and tot lot. Santa Barbara Audubon managed restoration of these areas previously. |
Tour of San Jose Creek Restoration Project. Santa Barbara County Park Director Terry Maus and Supervisor Susan Rose observe Waldorf School students spreading mulch to conserve moisture and control weeds around new riparian plants. |
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Funding has been obtained for projects on Carpinteria Creek, focused on steelhead recovery by removal of obstructions to fish passage. The Carpinteria Creek Watershed Coalition has been formed and Bob Thiel provides staff support for the Coalition. A Mission Creek Restoration Partnership has also been formed, with a first project of habitat restoration and storm water management at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Santa Barbara Audubon received funding in September 2002 from the Wetland Recovery Project Small Grants Program for a habitat restoration project at the Coal Oil Point Reserve. See details in Restoration Activities. |
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The San Marcos Foothills Coalition (website) is dedicated to preservation of the biological integrity of the 377-acre parcel called the San Marcos Foothills. This site was proposed as the 75-unit Bridle Ridge development of luxury homes and rejected by the Planning Commission in April 1999.
Santa Barbara Audubon joined the Coalition after the development project was turned down. We share the vision of a preserve, keeping the headwaters of three creeks in the Goleta Slough watershed intact as wildlife corridors from the national forest. The year-round water is a vital resource for wildlife. The closeness to the urban center makes this an accessible open space as an outdoor classroom and quiet walks.
On July 1, 2001, the San Marcos Foothills Coalition held a "rally & release" event on the western edge of the 377-acre property the Coalition is working to preserve. The Coalition officially released the Plan at the rally; the group had worked on the plan for over a year. The Plan highlights the nature resource values of the property and presents principles for management if the property can be preserved as a public open space. SBAS's Birds of prey with Gabriele Drozdowski and Kendy Radasky were there to demonstrate the educational value of the site as an outdoor classroom.
The rich habitat of oaks, native grasslands, riparian and wetlands support a diverse array of birds and other wildlife. Breeding Grasshopper Sparrows, White-tailed Kites, and over-wintering Burrowing Owls are only a few of the 130 bird species which have been observed on the property.
There is a current proposal for a smaller development proposal. The Coalition is commenting on the proposal to minimize the impacts of the project and allow for a conservation purchase of all or part of the property to save as much as we can of the rich biodiversity of this unique site. The major building site is the west mesa, where the burrowing owl over-winters; residential development of this portion of the site would fragment the remaining habitat. Any development should be contiguous with existing development to the south of the property. The Scoping Hearing for issues to be evaluated by the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is scheduled February 4, 2003.
If you would like to help preserve the San Marcos Foothills, you can do so by providing public input, volunteering, or making a donation. Call 964-4444 or visit the Coalition website, where you can read the Stewardship Plan.
| Santa Barbara Audubon is committed to protection of the Gaviota Coast and is working on several fronts: |
Arroyo Hondo Preserve on the Gaviota Coast, purchased for conservation and managed by the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County. Photo Credit Randy Leffingwell. |
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Website
information contacts:
Chapter office address:
5679 Hollister Ave., Suite 5b
Goleta, CA 93117
805-964-1468
Chapter email: audubon@rain.org
Website by:
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Updated: July, 2008
