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Highlighting Great Coastal Treasures: The Gaviota Coast
The Gaviota Coast is one of the last remnants of unprotected and undeveloped coastline in Southern California. It composes only 15% of Southern California's coast, but is 50% of the remaining rural coastline. Gaviota Coast stretches westward from Coal Oil Point (just west of the UC Santa Barbara Campus) to the watersheds of Point Sal and lies within southwestern Santa Barbara County. The Gaviota Coast contains the coastal watersheds running from the Santa Ynez Mountains down to the Santa Barbara Channel. Private property comprises 78% of the coastline, which also includes Vandenberg Air Force Base and public recreation areas like El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, and Gaviota State Park. Outstanding Values A globally unique climate and habitat is produced at Gaviota, resulting from convergence of warm and cold water currents off the coast. In addition to being a key marine transition zone, the Gaviota Coast is one of the most important terrestrial transition zones between northern and southern California, resulting in rich biodiversity and a large amount of unique species found nowhere else. More than 40 sensitive species inhabit this coast, including the California red-legged frog, Western snowy plover, Southern California steelhead, Tidewater Goby, Peregrine Falcon, Southern Sea Otter, California Least Tern, and California Brown Pelican. The coast serves as vital migration corridor between inland, mountainous, and coastal habitat areas. Threats and Development Pressures The area is under intense development pressure due to high land values, which raise property taxes on undeveloped land and can make it financially infeasible to maintain land in agricultural use. Some intensive land uses have begun to degrade Gaviota's resources, as evidenced by decreased water quality, compromised viewshed integrity, and the continued loss of an agricultural way-of-life. Continued population growth in Santa Barbara County -projected to increase 50% by 2025- will add to the existing threat of increased urbanization of this coast. Agricultural zoning of Gaviota land parcels is the main impediment to development up the coast. Zoning, is a temporary and politically vulnerable land use designation which can be changed in the face of economic and political pressure. There have been many attempts to increase the development potential of land parcels through the lot line adjustment process, a tactic that is being misused to avoid the required subdivision process. Status Protection is necessary to actively protect the rare and unique natural and cultural resources of the area: the status quo of management currently being practiced is insufficient to maintain the existing rural qualities of the coast from encroaching urbanization. Alternative management strategies for the Gaviota Coast are being explored to prevent the degradation of the area's unique resources. The goals of such strategies are to maintain the relatively undeveloped, rural nature of the Gaviota Coast by preserving its productive agricultural and ranching traditions as well as the integrity of is natural resources. These strategies include (but are not limited to) strengthening local governance options, involving the National Park Service in some capacity, and purchasing conservation easements. Please visit www.gaviotacoast.org for more information and photos of the Gaviota Coast. Up to Top |
