South Coast Habitat Restoration (Projects)

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Projects

South Coast Habitat Restoration is involved in a variety of voluntary habitat restoration projects throughout the Santa Barbara and Ventura region. Our mission is to protect, and restore native habitat and biodiversity. SCHR accomplishes this through the management and implementation of restoration projects as well as public outreach events. Our restoration work has primarily focused on holistic watershed restoration, with an emphasis on steelhead trout recovery, non-native invasive plant eradication and improving water quality.

Current Projects:

Rancho Tajiguas Restoration Project

The Rancho Tajiguas barrier removal project involves the removal of five low flow Arizona crossings and installation of one new clear span bridge in the Tajiguas drainage on the Gaviota Coast. The crossings slated for removal were constructed decades ago as part of the ranch agricultural operations and overtime have become barriers to steelhead migration. Removal of the barriers and replacement with a clear span bridge will significantly improve conditions for steelhead trout on the ranch.

Gobernador Creek Restoration

The Gobernador project involves the removal of the last major barrier to steelhead trout along Gobernador Creek, in the Carpinteria Creek Watershed. The project will remove a low flow arizona crossing and replace it with a clear span bridge opening up 1.5 miles of upstream habitat. The project is upstream of the Raya property where two barriers were removed in 2008 and is downstream of the recently modified county debris basin. It is an essential component of the efforts to restore steelhead runs to the Carpinteria Creek Watershed and has been a goal of the Carpinteria Creek Watershed Coalition for many years.

For more information about these projects please contact us.

Completed Projects:
Lion Creek

The Lion Creek Steelhead Restoration Project involved the removal of a concrete stream crossing which impaired steelhead migration and the replacement of the crossing with an 85 foot bridge. The project aims to improve steelhead access to approximately 9.5 miles of upstream habitat. For more information and photos of the projects progress click here.

http://lioncreek.blogspot.com/

Carpinteria Creek Mouth

The Carpinteria Creek Mouth habitat restoration project is located at the mouth of the creek at Carpinteria State Beach, on State Parks property. The goal of the project is to increase the habitat and ecological value of the mouth of Carpinteria Creek by removing non-native flora and the planting of native flora along the banks. The project will also allow for volunteers and visitors of the Carpinteria State Beach to learn about habitat restoration and the importance of the Carpinteria Creek Watershed. For updated information and photos of the project click here.

http://carpinteriacreekmouth.blogspot.com/

Carpinteria Creek Bank Stabilization:

The goal of the project is to improve steelhead habitat, water quality, and streambank condition in the Carpinteria Creek watershed at private property owned by the Cate School Corporation in Santa Barbara County. This will be accomplished by stabilizing the section of creek through the implementation of biotechnical bank stabilization measures. For more information and updated photos of the projects progress click here:

http://carpinteriacreekbankstabilization.blogspot.com/

We have finished restoring three sites in the Carpinteria Creek watershed. A total of four barriers to steelhead trout migration (concrete stream crossing) were removed which opened up approximately 2.5 miles of habitat in the watershed. The barriers blocked the migration of steelhead trout, an endangered species that spawns and rears in coastal streams. As part of the projects we installed three clear span vehicular bridges which provided for safe passage to the property owners. Further details about the projects are featured here

www.carpinteriacreek.org.

Many of our projects have been developed though research studies and community groups such as:

Carpinteria Creek Watershed Plan

Conception Coast Steelhead Assessment

Stoecker Ecological

Our projects have been generously supported by contributions from:

California Department of Fish and Game

National Marine Fisheries Service

US Fish and Wildlife Service

California Coastal Conservancy
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Los Padres National Forest
Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
Earth Island Institute
Patagonia
Coastal Ranchers Conservancy
Sempra Energy Foundation
CDFG Office of Spill Prevention and Response
Wendy P. McCaw Foundation
Cate School
As well as Private Donors

Two baby western pond turtles at Lion Creek

Tajiguas Creek Restoration

Gobernador Creek Restoration

Removal of fish barrier on Lion Creek in 2010

Black plastic used to solarize iceplant at Carpinteria Creek

Location of Carpinteria Creek bank stabilization project

Demolition of a fish barrier along Carpinteria Creek in 2008

Re-construction of the stream channel along Carpinteria Creek

Restored Channel and New bridge along Carpinteria Creek

South Coast Habitat Restoration is a local non-profit organization based in Carpinteria that is dedicated to environmental stewardship and habitat enhancement. We emphasize steelhead trout recovery through a variety of watershed restoration projects throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Our mission is to protect, and restore habitat as well as native biodiversity throughout the Santa Barbara and Ventura area. This is accomplished through the management and implementation of restoration projects as well as public outreach events. We strive for positive partnerships with the private property owners, local governments, wildlife agencies, and other community groups to accomplish our goals.

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Your contribution is tax-deductible. Click here to donate online or contact us directly at:

South Coast Habitat Restoration
PO Box 335
Carpinteria, CA 93014
805-729-8787
email