Arroyo Burro Estuary and Mesa Creek Restoration Project

The Creeks Division began construction of the Arroyo Burro Estuary and Mesa Creek Restoration Project in June 2006, and the project was completed in January 2007.

Located at the end of the Arroyo Burro County Beach Park parking area and within the Douglas Family Preserve, the project was designed to restore coastal estuarine, riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats, and improve water quality in Mesa Creek, the estuary, and at Arroyo Burro Beach.

The project involved daylighting a section of Mesa Creek which previously flowed underground through a culvert. The project also included fish passage enhancements to benefit the endangered Southern Steelhead Trout, and the expansion of the estuary to benefit the endangered tidewater goby. New trails and a pedestrian bridge were installed to allow access to the Douglas Family Preserve, along with interpretive signage to educate visitors on the purpose of the project.

In early 2006, members of the California Conservation Corps removed vegetation and cleared the site as part of the first phase of the project. The groundbreaking ceremony took place June 8, 2006. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on January 17, 2007 to celebrate completion of the project.  In September 2008, Santa Barbara Beautiful recognized the project with their annual Santa Barbara Beautiful Award for Open Public Space. Community members participated in native planting days at the site during and after completion of the project.

Restoration funds were focused on the Arroyo Burro Estuary because it was highly degraded in terms of water quality and wildlife habitat. The estuary had been greatly reduced in size (in the early 1900’s the estuary was over 500 feet wide, and prior to construction was approximately 50 feet wide), and a large portion of Mesa Creek had been diverted into a cement culvert. In addition, a number of invasive plants had colonized disturbed areas within the estuary. Water pollution was also an issue at the estuary, with a number of samples every year exceeding the State contact standards for bacteria.

The Arroyo Burro Estuary and Mesa Creek Restoration Project was funded in part by the State Coastal Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Wildlife Conservation Board and Federal Funds from U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps. This project was also partially financed by the County of Santa Barbara’s Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund, a partial mitigation of impacts from the following offshore oil and gas projects:  Point Arguello, Point Pedernales, Santa Ynez Unit, and the Gaviota Terminal.

For more information on the project, please contact George Johnson.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Send messages and inquiries to Liz Smith.