Bioregionalism - Calleguas Creek

Goleta Slough Watershed

(Atascadero, San Jose, Las Vegas, San Pedro, Carneros, Tecolotito Creeks)

Existing conditions:

The Goleta watershed encompasses 45 square miles. The tributaries of the watershed include Tecolotito Creek, Carneros Creek and Atascadero Creek. The upper reaches of these creeks include foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. The slopes of the foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains are covered by chaparral vegetation that grades into avocado orchards, open agricultural fields, and urban development in the foothills and coastal plain. There are many types of impairments to the southern end of these creeks, which exist in an urban setting of the watershed and are located on private property. These impairments include channelization, concrete lining, poor and ineffective bank protection, excessive sedimentation, poor water quality, lack of in-channel vegetation, invasive non-native species, reduced canopy cover and excessive use by humans.

Description of Watershed Resources:

A report (1996) synthesized a variety of biological surveys (dates not specified). In this report, 279 species were identified at Goleta Slough of which 121 species were water associated, including 20 species of special status. In a 1994, 117 pairs of Belding's Savannah sparrows were observed nesting in the slough. In a 1995 survey, a California horned lark was observed. A 1996 report identified 20 special status species, including California brown pelican, southern bald eagle, peregrine falcon, snowy plover, sandhill crane, common loon, American white pelican, double-crested cormorant, white-faced ibis, fulvous duck, harlequin duck, northern harrier, golden eagle, osprey, long-billed curlew, California gull, elegant tern, and black skimmer.

Anadromous Fish:

Within the Goleta Slough watershed, several drainages with potential for southern steelhead restoration include:

Tecolote Canyon Creek (however, flood control dams, diversion dams, and culverts prevent passage);
Glen Annie Creek (upper portion includes suitable habitat, but culverts act as major barriers) and Tecolotito Creek (lower portion of same system that includes good habitat but also major barriers to passage);
Carneros Creek (good habitat in the Santa Ynez mountains but barriers prevent passage);
San Pedro Creek (includes well-developed riparian canopy with intermittent flow);
San Jose Creek (however, the lower portion of the creek is channelized with no pools for fish);
Atascadero Creek;
Maria Ygnacio Creek (with debris basins that prevent passage), and
San Antonio Creek (with debris basins that prevent passage).
There remain several barriers caused by roads and other small dams and culverts (primarily under Highway 101) that prevent passage of steelhead within these streams. In addition, water diversions, small berms at the mouth of most creeks, and excess sediment have been noted in several creeks that could support a steelhead run. A summary of these barriers is found at http://swr.ucsd.edu/hcd/SoCalDistrib.htm.

Status of Watershed Planning Efforts:

Several enhancement and maintenance plans have been put forth for the slough since the late 1980's, although none have been fully implemented. Many of the enhancement plans were driven by the proposed expansion of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and by flood control activities. The mitigation plan (1996) for the 'safety area grading project' at the airport proposes to: create transitional middle and high marsh habitats along the northern margin of the slough, remove selected berms, and establish native plants in the project area.

The Goleta Slough Management Committee (GSMC) has been meeting since 1991 with the overall goal of resource protection and enhancement of Goleta Slough (http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ca/santabarbara/agency.htm). In 1996, the Committee prepared a draft Goleta Slough Ecosystem a Management Plan.

Restoration Goals and Objectives Related to Wetlands:

Goleta Slough Restoration Project: Members of the GSMC have been strong proponents of a major restoration project that would reestablish tidal circulation to parts of the historic Goleta Slough, where berms or tide gates have inhibited tidal action. The Coastal Conservancy has been awarded $940,000 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, from the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, for restoration of the upper Slough, on California Department of Fish and Game property, and the Storke Campus Wetlands of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Matching funds from a state program have been secured. Before implementation of the project, a study to address the wetland/bird strike safety issues with the Federal Aviation Administration is required.

Pampas grass removal on the California Department of Fish and Game parcel was initiated in fall 1998 by Santa Barbara Audubon (SBAS).

In September 2000, the EIR for the Goleta Slough Dredging Project was approved by the Board of Supervisors, which will provide beach nourishment and shore protection.

The City of Santa Barbara’s Creek Inventory and Assessment Study (URS Corporation 2000) describes the physical characteristics of the creeks within the watershed, and recommends several restoration activities to improve the general health and integrity of the Goleta Sough watershed.

List of Major Restoration Activities:

Goleta Slough Estuarine Restoration. The Conservancy has funded a restoration project to restore tidal circulation and estuarine wetland functions to 38 acres of the Goleta Slough. This restoration will benefit the Federally endangered light- footed clapper rail, as well as steelhead trout.


			Goleta Slough Watershed (Atascadero, San Jose, Las Vegas, San Pedro, Carneros, Tecolotito Creeks) Existing conditions: The Goleta watershed encompasses 45 square miles. The tributaries of the watershed include Tecolotito Creek, Carneros Creek and Atascadero Creek. The upper reaches of these creeks include foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. The slopes of the foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains are covered by chaparral vegetation that grades into avocado orchards, open agricultural fields, and urban development in the foothills and coastal plain. There are many types of impairments to the southern end of these creeks, which exist in an urban setting of the watershed and are located on private property. These impairments include channelization, concrete lining, poor and ineffective bank protection, excessive sedimentation, poor water quality, lack of in-channel vegetation, invasive non-native species, reduced canopy cover and excessive use by humans. Description of Watershed Resources: A report (1996) synthesized a variety of biological surveys (dates not specified). In this report, 279 species were identified at Goleta Slough of which 121 species were water associated, including 20 species of special status. In a 1994, 117 pairs of Belding's Savannah sparrows were observed nesting in the slough. In a 1995 survey, a California horned lark was observed. A 1996 report identified 20 special status species, including California brown pelican, southern bald eagle, peregrine falcon, snowy plover, sandhill crane, common loon, American white pelican, double-crested cormorant, white-faced ibis, fulvous duck, harlequin duck, northern harrier, golden eagle, osprey, long-billed curlew, California gull, elegant tern, and black skimmer. Anadromous Fish: Within the Goleta Slough watershed, several drainages with potential for southern steelhead restoration include: Tecolote Canyon Creek (however, flood control dams, diversion dams, and culverts prevent passage); Glen Annie Creek (upper portion includes suitable habitat, but culverts act as major barriers) and Tecolotito Creek (lower portion of same system that includes good habitat but also major barriers to passage); Carneros Creek (good habitat in the Santa Ynez mountains but barriers prevent passage); San Pedro Creek (includes well-developed riparian canopy with intermittent flow); San Jose Creek (however, the lower portion of the creek is channelized with no pools for fish); Atascadero Creek; Maria Ygnacio Creek (with debris basins that prevent passage), and San Antonio Creek (with debris basins that prevent passage). There remain several barriers caused by roads and other small dams and culverts (primarily under Highway 101) that prevent passage of steelhead within these streams. In addition, water diversions, small berms at the mouth of most creeks, and excess sediment have been noted in several creeks that could support a steelhead run. A summary of these barriers is found at http://swr.ucsd.edu/hcd/SoCalDistrib.htm. Status of Watershed Planning Efforts: Several enhancement and maintenance plans have been put forth for the slough since the late 1980's, although none have been fully implemented. Many of the enhancement plans were driven by the proposed expansion of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and by flood control activities. The mitigation plan (1996) for the 'safety area grading project' at the airport proposes to: create transitional middle and high marsh habitats along the northern margin of the slough, remove selected berms, and establish native plants in the project area. The Goleta Slough Management Committee (GSMC) has been meeting since 1991 with the overall goal of resource protection and enhancement of Goleta Slough (http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ca/santabarbara/agency.htm). In 1996, the Committee prepared a draft Goleta Slough Ecosystem a Management Plan. Restoration Goals and Objectives Related to Wetlands: Goleta Slough Restoration Project: Members of the GSMC have been strong proponents of a major restoration project that would reestablish tidal circulation to parts of the historic Goleta Slough, where berms or tide gates have inhibited tidal action. The Coastal Conservancy has been awarded $940,000 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, from the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, for restoration of the upper Slough, on California Department of Fish and Game property, and the Storke Campus Wetlands of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Matching funds from a state program have been secured. Before implementation of the project, a study to address the wetland/bird strike safety issues with the Federal Aviation Administration is required. Pampas grass removal on the California Department of Fish and Game parcel was initiated in fall 1998 by Santa Barbara Audubon (SBAS). In September 2000, the EIR for the Goleta Slough Dredging Project was approved by the Board of Supervisors, which will provide beach nourishment and shore protection. The City of Santa Barbara’s Creek Inventory and Assessment Study (URS Corporation 2000) describes the physical characteristics of the creeks within the watershed, and recommends several restoration activities to improve the general health and integrity of the Goleta Sough watershed. List of Major Restoration Activities: Goleta Slough Estuarine Restoration. The Conservancy has funded a restoration project to restore tidal circulation and estuarine wetland functions to 38 acres of the Goleta Slough. This restoration will benefit the Federally endangered light- footed clapper rail, as well as steelhead trout.