Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area

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Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that protects the waters along and off the coast of the University of California, Santa Barbara, the student community of Isla Vista, and the University's Coal Oil Point Reserve. The SMCA covers 10.51 square miles, including Goleta Point (also known as "Campus Point"). The marine protected areas protect natural habitats and marine life by prohibiting or limiting removal of wildlife from within their boundaries.

Contents

Establishment

Campus Point SMCA is one of 36 marine protected areas adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in December, 2010 during the third phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. The MLPAI is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of protected areas along California's coastline. The south coast's new marine protected areas were designed by local divers, fishermen, conservationists and scientists who comprised the South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. Their job was to design a network of protected areas that would preserve sensitive sea life and habitats while enhancing recreation, study and education opportunities. The south coast marine protected areas went into effect in 2012. [1]

Habitat and wildlife

Campus Point SMCA is designed to protect habitat and species diversity. This SMCA represents and protects a wide diversity of habitat types including eelgrass, surfgrass, kelp, rocky reefs, shallow subtidal, rocky intertidal, oil seeps, sand, and the estuarine inputs of Devereux Slough. It's also known as one of the best places for the Western snowy plover. [2] [3] [4]

Recreation and nearby attractions

Campus Point SMCA prohibits the take of all living marine resources. However, California's marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean. [5] [6] Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed. [1]

University of California, Santa Barbara is a coastal attraction of its own, featuring miles of sandy beaches, a semi-enclosed lagoon and the school's world-class Marine Science Institute. Access to the coast along this fully marine protected area is available from Goleta Beach County Park, various coastal access points on University property, staircases and trails in the community of Isla Vista, and from the Ellwood Beach area of Goleta. The dunes and blufftop here are part of an elaborate restoration effort, including a docent program to protect and interpret the nesting area of rare snowy plover shorebirds.

Scientific monitoring

As specified by the Marine Life Protection Act, select marine protected areas along California's south coast are being monitored by scientists to track their effectiveness and learn more about ocean health. Similar studies in marine protected areas located off of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isla Vista, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Isla Vista is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Barbara County, California in the United States. As of 2020 census, the community had a population of 15,500. The majority of residents are college students at the University of California, Santa Barbara or Santa Barbara City College. The beachside community of Isla Vista lies on a flat plateau about 30 feet (9 m) in elevation, separated from the beach by a bluff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goleta Slough</span> Wetland in Santa Barbara County, California

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goleta Beach</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewarts Point State Marine Reserve & Stewarts Point State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area</span> Protected area in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in California

Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area that lies onshore from Fisk Mill Cove and south along Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County on California’s north central coast. The marine protected area covers 3.12 square miles. Salt Point SMCA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational take of abalone and finfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodega Head State Marine Reserve & Bodega Head State Marine Conservation Area</span> Protected marine areas in California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montara State Marine Reserve and Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area</span> Two adjoining marine protected areas

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Reyes State Marine Reserve & Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area</span> Adjoining marine protected areas in California

Point Reyes State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore of Point Reyes Headlands and within Drakes Bay in Marin County on California’s north central coast. The combined area of these marine protected areas is 21.49 square miles, with 9.38 in the SMR, and 12.11 in the adjacent SMCA. Point Reyes SMR prohibits the take of all living marine resources. Point Reyes SMCA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational and commercial take of Dungeness crab by pot and salmon by trolling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goleta Point</span> Peninsula in California, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in Californias central coast

Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is one of two adjoining marine protected areas off the coast of San Mateo County and Santa Cruz County, on California's central coast. The area is approximately 55 miles (89 km) south of San Francisco. The SMCA is 11.81 square miles (30.6 km2). Within the SMCA fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of giant kelp, squid, salmon, and other finfish, subject to various conditions. Also permitted is the commercial take of giant kelp, salmon, and squid, subject to various conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in California

Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2). Within the SMCA fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited except the recreational take of finfish and the commercial take of giant and bull kelp by hand under certain conditions. According to the Frommer's guide, the Marine Gardens area is "renowned for ocean views, flowers, and tide-pool seaweed beds."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Sur State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area</span> Protected area

Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) are two adjoining marine protected areas that lie offshore of Point Sur, part of the Big Sur area on California's central coast. The combined area of these marine protected areas is 19.68 square miles (51.0 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and taking of all living marine resources is prohibited in the SMR. Within the SMCA, fishing and taking of all living marine resources is prohibited except the commercial and recreational take of salmon and albacore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moss Landing Wildlife Area</span> California State wildlife preserve

Moss Landing Wildlife Area is a California State wildlife preserve on the shore of Elkhorn Slough.

Famosa Slough State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in San Diego on California’s south coast. It consists of a 25-acre wetland and a 12-acre natural channel connecting to the San Diego River estuary. It is flushed by salt water from the estuary as well as rainwater from the surrounding neighborhood. It is owned and maintained by the City of San Diego as a natural park.

Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a marine protected area in Goleta in Santa Barbara County on California’s south coast. The SMCA covers .25 square miles. The SMCA protects marine life by limiting the removal of marine wildlife from within its borders. Goleta Slough SMCA prohibits take of all living marine resources except for take pursuant to routine maintenance, dredging, habitat restoration, research and education, maintenance of artificial structures, and operation and maintenance of existing facilities in the conservation area per any required federal, state and local permits, or activities pursuant to Section 630, or as otherwise authorized by the department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Campus Open Space</span>

North Campus Open Space (NCOS) is a 136-acre wetland and upland restoration project located on a former golf course in Goleta, California. NCOS is managed by the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER), a research center under the Office of Research at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The primary objectives of this project are: the restoration of the historic upper half of Devereux Slough and adjacent upland and wetland habitats that support important local native plant and animal species, reducing flood risk, providing a buffer against predicted sea level rise, and contributing to carbon sequestration while also supporting public access and outreach, and facilitating research and educational opportunities for all members of the community.

References

  1. 1 2 Neushul, Cat (2012-03-10). "The Coastline's New Rules". The Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Campus Point". California Marine Protected Areas. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Devereux Slough - Coal Oil Point Reserve". University of California Natural Reserve System . Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Habitat Restoration Projects". Coal Oil Point Reserve. University of California Natural Reserve System. 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  5. ↑ CA Codes (fgc:2850-2863) Archived 2013-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "California Department of Fish and Game". Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-02-01.

34°23′N119°52′W / 34.38°N 119.87°W / 34.38; -119.87

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