Monday, July 26, 2010

Volunteers needed Saturday July 31st & August 7th

Please join South Coast Habitat Restoration, Channel Islands Restoration, California State Parks, and the Carpinteria Creek Watershed Coalition, in kicking off the start of our newest restoration project at the mouth of Carpinteria Creek. The creek mouth is critical to the restoration of the Carpinteria Creek Watershed. It provides important habitat for a variety of bird species as well as the federally endangered Southern Steelhead trout and Tidewater Goby.

We will be laying large sheets of black plastic over the non-native iceplant, a process known as “Solarization”. Using sandbags to hold the plastic in place until the iceplant has died. At that time we will remove the plastic and install a variety of native plants. This will greatly increase the habitat value of the entire watershed. We will be working from approximately 9am  to 2pm. Please wear appropriate attire and bring sunscreen, a lunch, and plenty of water.

All tools and supplies will be provided

Please contact us for directions and parking information or with other questions.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Carpinteria Creek Mouth Restoration Beginning Soon

Currently the mouth of Carpinteria Creek is lined with approximately 350 feet of rocks on both of its banks confining it from its natural meandering state. Few native plant species are present on the banks of the creek mouth, nor in the surrounding area. The majority of the vegetation on the banks is non-native, consisting of iceplant and myoporum. Here are a few pictures of the Carpinteria Creek Mouth prior to the project‘s start.






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 planting of native flora along the banks. The existing non-native plants will be removed via a combination of solarization, hand removal and treatment with herbicide. The iceplant will be removed by solarization with black plastic and hand removal. Native plants will be installed through the dead iceplant using volunteers during the rainy season to facilitate establishment.