Volunteer Planting Events at Refugio State Beach!

Planting at Refugio State Beach continues! Please join us this Saturday February 15th from 9:00 am -12:30 pm at the mouth of Refugio Creek. RSVPs to the event are not required but appreciated. Please contact Erin Brown at erinbrown@schabitatrestoration.org if you would like to attend or have any questions.

An additional event has been scheduled for March 8th, from 9:00am - 12:30pm at which time we hope to complete the planting portion of the project. Thank you to all the volunteers that have helped with the project to date. We hope to see more of you this weekend.

King Tides at Refugio

Photos taken on January 30th out at the Refugio project site show King Tides flowing over the sand berm and inundating the creek mouth and a few of our Marsh Baccharis. A few minutes later the sand berm breached and water levels rapidly receded. 

Volunteer planting events continue!

Thank you to all the volunteers that came out this last Saturday! We planted close to 600 plants along the east bank of Refugio Creek. We had a great turn out with over 40 volunteers and beautiful weather. Only two scheduled planting days left. We hope you will join us on Saturday February 15th and Saturday March 8th from 9:00 am -12:30 pm. Email us at info@schabitatrestoration.org to RSVP.  

Volunteer Planting Events at Refugio State Beach!

Thank you to all of the volunteers that came out to Refugio State Beach this last weekend to help plant 465 native plants along the banks of Refugio Creek. It was a beautiful day and successful event.

We have more volunteer opportunities planned for this coming Saturday the 18th and Monday the 20th. We hope that you will join us for the MLK National Day of Service. The volunteer events will run from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. If you are interested in volunteering please wear appropriate attire. Tools, gloves, water and snacks will be provided. RSVPs to the event is not required but appreciated. Please contact Erin Brown at erinbrown@schabitatrestoration.org if you would like to attend or have any questions.

Upcoming Volunteer Planting Events at Refugio State Beach!

Upcoming volunteer events have been  scheduled at the mouth of Refugio Creek. South Coast Habitat Restoration, Channel Islands Restoration and the Watershed Stewards Project will host native planting events on Saturday January 11th, Saturday January 18th, Monday January 20th and Saturday January 25th from 9:00am-12:30pm at the mouth of Refugio Creek. Volunteers are need to help plant native riparian and coastal sage scrub species along the banks of Refugio Creek. If you are interested in volunteering please wear appropriate attire. Tools, gloves, water and snacks will be provided. RSVPs to the event is not required but appreciated. Please contact Erin Brown at erinbrown@schabitatrestoration.org if you would like to attend or have any questions. If you are under 18 years of age and plan to attend the event without your parent or guardian please contact us.

Refugio Projects Begins!

The Refugio Creek Mouth Restoration project is now under way. The removal of the non-native trees and shrubs from the site was completed this week. The project area on either side of Refugio Creek will be planted with over 3,000 native container plants following our first winter rains. Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer events.

Above a before (top) and after photo of the site. Non-native species that were removed from the creek banks include, palms, eucalyptus, myoporum and pepper trees. The non-native vegetation was mulched on site and will be used around the newly installed native plants at the time of planting to help shade out weeds and maintain soil moisture.

From the bridge looking downstream shows a number of native riparian trees, willows and cottonwoods that were existing and maintained on site. 

Another vantage of the Refugio Creek Mouth site.

Refugio Creek Mouth Restoration

The goal of the project is to increase the  habitat and ecological value of the mouth of Refugio Creek through the removal of non-native flora and planting of native flora along the banks. The project area is roughly 30,000 square feet on either side of Refugio Creek. Non natives at the site include Fan Palms, Guadalupe Palms, Myoporum, Arundo, Black Acacia, Pampas Grass, Fennel, Castro Bean, Brazilian Pepper trees, California  Pepper trees, Eucalyptus, as well as annual grasses. Natives to be planted at the site include native riparian trees and coastal scrub species. The native vegetation will   provide shade for the creek and over hanging cover habitat for aquatic species.