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Table of Contents

Tours

  1. Campus Lagoon

    The UCSB Campus Lagoon features 94 acres of protected habitat and is managed by UCSB's Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration.

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    1. Shorebird Habitat

      These small islands and shallow-water zones were created along the northern edge of Campus Lagoon to provide fishing, foraging and refuge areas for shore and wading birds. They were part of a mitigation measure associated with the nearby UCen expansion project’s infringement on the lagoon’s 100-foot buffer, and are now a successful example of how valuable shorebird habitat can be created adjacent to high-use areas of campus. This restored habitat not only benefits the birds, but also provides great viewing opportunities for people! 

      Sit quietly on one of the benches and observe the foraging behavior of diverse avian visitors. Egrets, great blue herons, and black-crowned night herons stand in wait for fish and other vertebrate prey. Long-billed dowitchers and black-necked stilts probe the mud for invertebrates. Coots and dabbling ducks swim along the edge as they forage for invertebrates and plant material on the surface of the water. Bird abundance is highest in the fall and winter, but you'll likely see some of the most common birds at any time of year.  

    2. Lagoon Park and Enhanced Wetland

      Lagoon Park is located on the slope to your right when looking south from this point towards the ocean. This area was restored beginning in 1999 to coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, and vernal wetlands in conjunction with the Manzanita Village Restoration Project. It provides a diversity of floral, fruit, and seed resources for a variety of insects, birds, and other wildlife. The availability of nesting and perching areas looking over the lagoon is also important to raptors. It is one of the most productive sites for bird life and represents the successful conversion of a degraded area to a viable, self-sustaining habitat. 

      Look to the left of the steps and you will see a restored wetland environment dominated by water-loving species such as the low-growing marsh jaumea (Jaumea carnosa) and the reed-like California bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus).  Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) grows around the edge of the wetland.  As you walk up the steps, notice the wide variety of native plants. Blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) grows as a shrub or small tree, and its flowers and fruit are valuable for native insects and birds. Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) is also referred to as cowboy cologne for its aromatic nature. Crush some leaves in your hand to see for yourself. Brittlebush (Encelia californica) brings spring color to Lagoon Park and invites pollinators. Take a walk south toward the ocean, and you may be lucky enough to spot one of our resident ground-nesting, long horned bees (Melissodes tepidus) emerging from tiny holes near the shore of the Lagoon.    

    3. Manzanita Village Restoration Project

      Funded by UCSB Housing and Residential Services, restoration of this site began in August 2002 to mitigate the loss of wetland buffer zones caused by the building of the adjacent dorms.  Since then, it has become a thriving native ecosystem that also serves as an outdoor classroom and passive recreation area. The project comprises six acres of restored native grassland, vernal pools, and vernal marshes— all threatened habitat types— and 1,300 feet of created bioswales. More than 80,000 native plants grown from local genotypes at the Cheadle Center nursery and greenhouse were planted here, with the assistance of more than 50 student interns and volunteers. Monitoring and maintenance work is ongoing. 

      Common native plants in this area include lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), and mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia). The site also supports special status plant species such as Coulter's saltbush (Atriplex coulteri), Southern tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. australis), and slender plantain (Plantago elongata), and a wide variety of birds, pollinators, and other fauna.

    4. Vernal Marsh

      This is the largest vernal marsh in the Manzanita Village Restoration Site. Compared to vernal pools, vernal marshes are deeper (up to 2 feet) and have longer durations of flooding, but still are only flooded seasonally. They support large emergent vegetation (plants that are rooted underwater and grow above the surface) such as California bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) and common three-square (Schoenoplectus pungens).

      Vernal marshes provide nesting habitat for many species of birds, including red-winged blackbirds, common yellowthroats and song sparrows. The marsh itself is somewhat hidden behind a "green fence" of native bushes and small trees, which is intended to create a buffer and prevent disturbance to this sensitive habitat. However, you can still peek through from the trail and enjoy watching the birds that perch above the marsh and depend on it for resources.

    5. Bioswales

      Approximately 40% of the stormwater runoff from Manzanita Village flows through some section of bioswale. A bioswale is a type of constructed wetland environment designed to slow the flow of stormwater and irrigation runoff. This allows infiltration into the groundwater table, in place of conveying the runoff in a traditional underground pipe system or culverts. These bioswales serve to reduce nutrient loading to the lagoon by filtering contaminants out of the water, provide habitat for wetland plant and animal species, and aesthetically soften the boundary between urban and natural areas. They are constructed as shallow depressions, contain rock check dams, and are planted with native vegetation. Rushes and other wetland plants dominate the basins, while creeping wild rye (Elymus triticoides) and a mixture of native shrubs and forbs can be found along the margins. At a time in which California has lost 90% of its original wetlands, creating bioswales is an especially important way to restore habitat and take advantage of wetland ecosystem services.

    6. Vernal Pools

      Look west. These three vernal pools were seeded and planted with locally collected plant material. Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that occur in depressions where an underlying impermeable layer becomes saturated during winter rains. The pools pond through spring, supporting water-loving native flowers, and are desiccated through summer and early fall. A unique suite of plant and animal species adapted to this cyclical process of wetting and drying is found in these pools, stratified by the distance from the middle of the pool. Common spikerush (Eleocharis macrostachya), Dwarf woolyheads (Psilocarphus brevissimus), Popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys undulatus) and other saturation-tolerant species are found within the vernal pool, while purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) and gumplant (Grindelia camporum) grow around the margins, with a gradient of species in between.  While it may seem like nothing is growing during the most desiccated phase, the plants are simply dormant and will burst into life when the ground moistens. Water depth, vegetation cover, and invertebrate populations are monitored regularly.

    7. Terminal Bioswale

      This innovative biofiltration system combines cobble-lined drains, bioswales, and two shallow marshes strung together to drain and treat approximately 75% of the Manzanita Village project site. This system demonstrates how excess water and nutrients considered to be waste products of urbanization can be turned into a resource and used to enhance the environment. More than 27 species of native wetland plants are growing in the biofiltration system. This section of the bioswale is the endpoint of the chain of other bioswales in the Manzanita project. By the time the water gets here, it has already been decontaminated significantly by the other bioswales, so this wetland environment can support an even greater diversity of native plants, including sensitive ones.

    8. West Depression

      This coastal strand (beach dune) site was restored in 2005 after being overtaken by iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis), which had degraded the habitat by preventing natural sand movement and crowding out native plants. The iceplant was successfully solarized using black plastic and native plants were seeded and planted in the winter. The site received a large pulse of beach wrack during the December 21st, 2005 storm (“Big Wednesday”). Prior to this event, people had not seen waves wash into the lagoon in over 20 years. Storms continue to bring wrack into the area and move the sand around, as seen after the winter 2023 storms, and these seasonal changes allow the ecosystem to function as the native dune plants thrive on frequent disturbance. Big saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis), California saltbush (Extriplex californica), beach evening primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia), and silver beach bur (Ambrosia chamissonis) are among the flora you will find at the beach edge, with shrubs such as sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and brittlebush (Encelia californica) thriving slightly inland of the sand. Follow the road up to Lagoon Island and take the trail on your left to continue the tour.

    9. Lagoon Island

      This picturesque walk through a 20-acre coastal mesa features coastal sage scrub and annual wildflower habitat with oak woodland habitats bordering the lagoon side. The area was once overrun by weedy annual grasses like ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), but the Cheadle Center began using prescribed burns in 2006 to control these non-native species. After several years of experimentation, they settled on a strategy of burning with added fuel loads, which heats the soil to a temperature high enough to eliminate weeds from the soil’s seed bank. The burns also provide a weed-free window of opportunity for restoration efforts. The Cheadle Center now conducts controlled burns every other year to expand native wildflower habitat. During the rainy season, a mix of seeding and planting strategies are used to facilitate native species growth.

      The trail showcases the success of these restoration efforts, with visitors able to see seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium), bush sunflower (Encelia californica), and other native shrubs. In addition to the native shrubs, visitors can also enjoy a variety of wildflowers during Spring, including California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Red maids (Calandrinia menziesii), Miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Blue Toadflax (Nuttalanthus texanus), snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttallianum), Phacelia (Phacelia distans), and Popcorn flower (Cryptantha clevelandia). These flowers are a stunning display of the diverse flora that can thrive on these sandy loam soils when invasive annual grasses are reduced. The springtime blooms attract a wide variety of pollinators, including yellow-faced bumble bees (Bombus vosnesenskii) and bindweed turret bees (Diadasia bituberculata). Yellow-faced bumble bees collect pollen from a wide range of plants, while bindweed turret bees specialize in pollen from native (Calystegia sp.) and introduced (Convolvulus sp.) bindweeds.

    10. Oak Restoration

      The Lagoon Island trail features a successful oak restoration project that began in 2006. This effort involved planting almost 2,000 acorns collected from local Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) along the north-facing slopes of Lagoon Island and Campus Point. This restoration project was highly successful, with approximately 75% of the originally germinated acorns (aka seedlings) surviving. The oaks on Lagoon Island now range from 5 to 15 feet in height. It is worth noting that historically, there were many oaks on campus, and on other coastal bluffs and north-facing slopes such as More Mesa and the Douglas Family Preserve. However, many of these oaks were cut down in the late 1800s to render whale blubber; support nearby asphaltum mines; and to make way for grazing and dry farming. Native plants associated with oaks now being added to the establishing woodland include Fiesta flower (Pholistima auritum), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) and bee plant (Scrophularia californica).

    11. Labyrinth

      The labyrinth trail at UCSB was established in 2011 as a means for visitors to appreciate and experience the natural coastal resources in a mindful way. Developed by the retired Director of Counseling and Career Services, Carol Geer, it was envisioned to provide a quiet escape from the often-overstimulating aspects of campus life for students, faculty and community members. The combination of decomposed granite and smooth river rocks used to construct the labyrinth trail creates a soothing and calming atmosphere, as the soft curves and natural textures of the river stones provide a tactile and visually pleasing experience. As Geer puts it, “a labyrinth would provide a pattern and a process for respite and renewal that would be beneficial to its users. The labyrinth is a universal cultural symbol used since ancient times for contemplation and meditation. It is often viewed as a metaphor for life's journey.” As you walk along the path, take a few moments to relax, clear your mind, and embrace the beautiful ocean views and vibrant landscape surrounding you.

    12. East Depression

      This one-acre site connects UCSB's Campus Point and Lagoon Island, featuring several distinct habitats such as salt marsh, coastal scrub, coastal foredune, dune swale, coastal strand, and sandy intertidal. For over forty years invasive South African Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis) dominated the dune areas of the site, effectively inhibiting natural sand transport, dune formation, and native species establishment. During 2000-2001, students in a restoration ecology class, under the direction of UCSB’s Museum of Systematics and Ecology (now the Cheadle Center), wrote a restoration plan for the site. They manually removed the iceplant after it was solarized and planted native plants grown at the Cheadle Center Native Plant Nursery with seeds collected from local reference sites. Visitors to East Depression will be able to see the spectacular springtime flush of dune flowers and pollinators.

      The small, sandy slopes you see along this coastline are sand dunes, one of the more unique habitats found at the Campus Lagoon. They were once scattered along the California coastline from the Oregon border south to San Diego are now very rare due to coastal development, and those that remain are highly degraded. They are constantly changing habitats shaped by wave action, tides, wind, and trampling. Their formation is aided by pioneer dune species such as beach saltbush (Atriplex leucophylla), which capture and stabilize sand. Plants found on coastal sand dunes are mostly prostrate herbs with creeping stems and long fleshy taproots. They often have hairy grayish leaves that are relatively small or succulent. These features help the plants tolerate drought, salt stress, sand abrasion, and intense sunlight. Native dune species found at this site include two Sand Verbenas (Abronia maritima and A. umbellata), Beach Evening Primrose (Camissonia cheiranthifolia), and Seaside Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spectabilis var. spectabilis).

    13. Campus Point

      Campus Point, located at the southern end of the UCSB Campus Lagoon, underwent a significant transformation in 2012 with the installation of a coastal access stairway and adjacent coastal bluff scrub restoration project. Prior to this, the area was dominated by iceplant and characterized by several informal trails leading up the bluff, which caused high rates of erosion. To further improve the ecological health of Campus Point, additional efforts are underway to expand the coastal sage scrub restoration on the bluffs and mesa top, where iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis), currently dominates. This exotic succulent plant forms thick mats and competes with native plants. The restoration plans involve removing the iceplant and restoring the area to coastal sage scrub, which will improve the habitat for wildlife and reduce erosion.

       

      Historical aerial images suggests that the existing trails and asphalt platforms here originated from a U.S. Army base from World War II. However, an adjacent road previously named “Skeet Range Road” suggests that Campus Point was also used as a skeet shooting range. Today, remnants of “clay pigeons” used for shooting can still be found near the bluffs.

    14. Lagoon Hydrology

      The Campus Lagoon is a unique hydrological system that is maintained by UCSB. Seawater is drawn passively from an offshore pipe into a created well at Campus Beach and then pumped through marine research laboratories and then the lagoon at a rate of approximately 800 gallons per minute. Additionally, eight storm drains contribute urban runoff water to the lagoon during rainy months, causing annual variations in salinity. The campus lagoon has two weirs, one at the eastern end and another at west depression to control the water level within the lagoon and prevent flooding,. These weirs play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent water level to support the lagoon's aquatic ecosystem. Before the military era, the lagoon was subject to tidal influence during winter storms, but frequent sand blockages prevented regular water exchange and led to periodic drying in the summer. The introduction of UCSB's seawater system in the 1960s alleviated stagnation, providing deeper water habitat for fish. However, nutrient levels have increased due to amplified stormwater runoff and the use of reclaimed water for irrigation on the paved campus. As a result, the lagoon's salinity and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels fluctuates between brackish in winter and saline with low DO in summer and fall.

    15. San Nicolas Wetland

      The San Nicholas Wetland, a restored freshwater marsh and surrounding riparian habitat, is a vital resource in an area dominated by saline-influenced hydrology. Prior to its restoration, the entire site was overrun by invasive plant species, including Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis), pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata), castor bean (Ricinus communis),  and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), offering poor habitat for wildlife. Student research on the site's hydrology revealed a near-surface water table, inspiring the vision for wetland restoration. Thanks to a campus-funded project in 2010, coupled with additional funding from organizations such as the Coastal Fund, and The Wetlands Recovery Project, the wetland was fully restored. This wetland, which holds water year-round, serves as a filtration system for low-flows from irrigation runoff and storm events. By slowing down the water and allowing microbial action and plant uptake, it effectively reduces harmful nutrient loads before the water flows under the path, through the willow woodland, and into the lagoon. The creation of this wetland provides vital resources for a range of birds and local wildlife that the saline lagoon cannot offer. After restoration, the wetland now boasts a diversity of native vegetation, including California bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus), Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica), and Spiny Rush (Juncus acutus).