One of the best remaining examples of a coastal-strand environment in Southern California, the Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve protects a wide variety of shoreline and estuarine habitats. Largely undisturbed coastal dunes support a rich assemblage of dune vegetation, while older and more stable backdunes are covered with southern coastal scrub habitat. In the heart of the reserve, Devereux Slough is a seasonally flooded tidal lagoon that dries out in the summer to form salt flats and hypersaline ponds and channels. A variety of intertidal habitats occur along the sandy beach and the large rocky reef at the point. Thousands of migratory birds visit throughout the year. Located adjacent to the Santa Barbara campus, the reserve provides a unique and accessible research and teaching resource. Many university courses, including botany, ecology, biodiversity field methods, natural history, marine biology, invertebrate zoology, and environmental studies.
Habitat Restoration
Several ongoing restoration projects aim to improve the biological functioning of the reserve. Over the past seven years, Coal Oil Point Reserve has restored more than 30 acres of wetland margins, vernal pools, coastal sage scrub, dunes, and beach habitat. These areas are now self-sustaining and rich in native wildlife. Native plants are propagated on site in the reserve’s native plant nursery. Plants are grown primarily from seeds collected on the reserve to ensure the preservation of the genetic stock adapted to the area. Restoration projects offer opportunities for undergraduate internships every quarter. Regular wetland workdays are open to the public.
Special-status Species
UCSB and USGS scientists monitor listed and rare species such as the snowy plover, the globose dune beetle, and the wandering skipper.
Self-guided Walking Tour
Visitors can tour reserve trails while listening to interpretive podcasts.
Selected Research
- USGS earthquake monitoring: COPR has one of 200 antennae used by USGS geologists to study earth movement
- Reserve-managed monitoring of water quality, aquatic invertebrates, birds, western snowy plover population status and breeding success, and subtidal organisms
- Tick distribution and Lyme disease
- Sequestration of carbon in salt marshes
Special Research of National Significance
- PISCO (Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans): Large-scale marine science research program that focuses on understanding the nearshore ecosystems of the U.S. West Coast and involves collaborating scientists from four universities. At Coal Oil Point, PISCO researchers use a remote sensing antenna to monitor rocky intertidal and ocean currents.
Contact Information
Cristina Sandoval
Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
805-893-5092
Mobile: 805-451-2403
sandoval@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve website
Location
Santa Barbara County, on UC Santa Barbara’s West Campus, overlooking the Santa Barbara Channel.
Facilities
Nature Center with wet lab, office, meeting room, kitchen, interpretive displays
Reserve bibliography
The reserve bibliography includes citations of journal articles, books, theses, art, and other works published about or based on activities conducted at the reserve.
Databases
Extensive monthly climate records; some records of lagoon temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen; plant and animal lists and monitoring data; historic/current aerial photos; published management plans for plants, animals, and hydrology; natural-resource geographic information system (GIS); comprehensive catalog of research on UC Santa Barbara wetlands under development.
Personnel Reserve director, conservation specialist, and steward are based at the Nature Center.
Size
69 hectares (170 acres)
Elevation
0 to 12 m (0 to 40 ft.)
Average Precipitation
36-53 cm (14-21 in.) per year
January minimum: 6 ºC (42 ºF)
August maximum: 24 ºC (75 ºF)