South Coast
Habitat Restoration
Our mission is to protect, conserve, and restore habitat and native biodiversity of the Santa Barbara and Ventura areas.
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Our Work
Our work is accomplished through the management and implementation of habitat restoration projects as well as public outreach events. We focus our efforts on watershed restoration with an emphasis on steelhead trout recovery through a variety of restoration projects in the Santa Barbara and Ventura region. We strive for positive partnerships with the private property owners, local governments, tribes, wildlife agencies, and other community groups to accomplish our goals.
Habitat Restoration
Habitat restoration is the process of reclaiming habitat and ecosystem functions by restoring the land and water on which plants and animals depend to a functional self-sustaining state.
Regionally, past activities have resulted in the degradation and loss of habitat, both on land and in our local waterways (estuaries, creeks and rivers). On land, examples of our work include the removal of non-native plants/trees and planting of local native plants/trees. In our waterways, examples of our work include: creek bank stabilization, removal of abandoned pipe & wire revetment, removal of concrete creek crossings and building of clear span bridges.
It was historically common to pour concrete on creek beds for people to cross more easily. This infrastructure acted as a barrier to upstream migration and prevented steelhead trout from swimming upstream to spawn. This has negatively impacted the population of steelhead which led to their listing as an endangered species. Where appropriate, we remove these barriers, replace them with clear span vehicular bridges and restore the creek to have a natural slope which allow steelhead trout the ability to migrate upstream and complete their lifecycle.
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Habitat restoration is the process of reclaiming habitat and ecosystem functions by restoring the land and water on which plants and animals depend to a functional self-sustaining state.
Regionally, past activities have resulted in the degradation and loss of habitat, both on land and in our local waterways (estuaries, creeks and rivers). On land, examples of our work include the removal of non-native plants/trees and planting of local native plants/trees. In our waterways, examples of our work include: creek bank stabilization, removal of abandoned pipe & wire revetment, removal of concrete creek crossings and building of clear span bridges.
It was historically common to pour concrete on creek beds for people to cross more easily. This infrastructure acted as a barrier to upstream migration and prevented steelhead trout from swimming upstream to spawn. This has negatively impacted the population of steelhead which led to their listing as an endangered species. Where appropriate, we remove these barriers, replace them with clear span vehicular bridges and restore the creek to have a natural slope which allow steelhead trout the ability to migrate upstream and complete their lifecycle.
Education
Habitat for Steelhead Trout, and other sensitive species, has been impacted by human alterations to watersheds. We work to inform the public of the importance of restoring and conserving these habitats because threatened native flora and fauna depend on it.
When more agencies and private property owners are aware of the need to clear the way for steelhead migration, the more opportunity we have to organize and implement projects that open up access for steelhead trout to access the upstream fresh water pools where they spawn.
Get Involved
Habitat for Steelhead Trout, and other sensitive species, has been impacted by human alterations to watersheds. We work to inform the public of the importance of restoring and conserving these habitats because threatened native flora and fauna depend on it.
When more agencies and private property owners are aware of the need to clear the way for steelhead migration, the more opportunity we have to organize and implement projects that open up access for steelhead trout to access the upstream fresh water pools where they spawn.
Partnerships
Our work is based on relationships and partnerships we create with private property owners, local governments, wildlife agencies, tribes and other partners. Through public outreach and education, we identify restoration projects, work with grant funders and partners to design projects that restore habitat from concept to completion.
Staff
Mauricio Gomez
Founder and Director
Jason White
Senior Project Manager
Erin Burns
Director of Operations
Earth Island Institute
South Coast Habitat Restoration has been a project of Earth Island Institute since 2007. Since 1982, Earth Island has been a hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving and restoring the ecosystems of which life depends. Earth Island provides comprehensive fiscal sponsorship and project support to a vibrant network of activists and social entrepreneurs promoting ecological sustainability and environmental justice.
Visit Earth Island Institute
South Coast Habitat Restoration has been a project of Earth Island Institute since 2007. Since 1982, Earth Island has been a hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving and restoring the ecosystems of which life depends. Earth Island provides comprehensive fiscal sponsorship and project support to a vibrant network of activists and social entrepreneurs promoting ecological sustainability and environmental justice.
