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Carpinteria |
Contact Information
Andrew J. Brooks, Director
Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve
c/o Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: 805-893-7670
brooks@lifesci.ucsb.edu |
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Location
Santa Barbara County, due west of city
of Carpinteria; 32 km (20 mi) east of
Santa Barbara campus. Map Quest |
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Facilities
Interpretative area, teaching amphitheater,
and nature trail at CSM nature park on
Ash Ave.; some facilities available at UCSB;
no on-site research or housing facilities. |
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Databases
Bibliography of marsh-based inventories/
research; historic/current aerial photos;
species lists; synoptic collections;
geographic information system (GIS);
marsh management plan w/ extensive site
information; selected databases at website. |
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Personnel
Reserve manager/NRS office on Santa
Barbara campus; no on-site personnel. |
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Size
49 ha (120 acres) owned by UC;
93 ha (230 acres) total habitat area |
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Elevation
1 m below mean sea level to 3 m above
mean sea level (-3 to 10 ft) |
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Average Precipitation
38 cm (15 in) per year |
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Average Temperatures
August max: 24°C (75°F)
January min: 6°C (42°F) |
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 Transect
Articles
specific to Carpinteria |
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 Mathias
Grant Research
specific to Carpinteria |
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Site Spec Sheet (PDF) |
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<••• •••> |
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Salt Marsh Reserve |
Established in 1977 |
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| Carpinteria Website |
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The Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve contains a critically important Southern
California estuary, which supports many sensitive plant and animal species.
The site includes extensive wetland and channel habitats along with some uplands
and is adjacent to a sandy beach, subtidal rocky reef, and kelp beds. The reserve
provides habitat for migratory waterfowl along with several plants and animals
listed as endangered, such as the salt marsh bird’s-beak, light-footed clapper rail, and Belding’s
savannah sparrow. It is also an important
regional nursery for halibut and other marine and estuarine fish. As part of the Ash
Avenue Restoration Project, an on-site interpretative center, teaching amphitheater,
and nature trail have been provided to enhance public outreach at the
Carpinteria Salt Marsh (CSM) Nature Park. |
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Field courses:
University courses, including
plant ecology, environmental
studies, marine biology, and a researchmentorship
program..
Bird studies:
Ongoing monthly bird surveys
provide census data, information on
habitat-use and species-density changes.
Habitat restoration:
Extensive marsh
restoration at CSM nature park; removal
of invasive exotic plants.
Public outreach
Class visits from local
elementary/secondary schools; field trips
through such local organizations as Santa
Barbara Botanic Garden and Santa Barbara
Museum of Natural History; interpretive
panels along nature trail in nature
park; weekly docent-led tours. |
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 Selected Research
•NSF-funded, long-term investigation
of watersheds and nearshore marine environments;
new EPA-funded wetland
toxicity center.
• Impacts to estuary from runoff/effluents;
nutrient dynamics in estaurine
ecosystem; long-term vegetation sampling
in relationship to soil texture,
salinity, tidal inundation, and competition
or facilitation among species.
• Impacts to estuary from runoff/effluents;
nutrient dynamics in estaurine
ecosystem; long-term vegetation sampling
in relationship to soil texture,
salinity, tidal inundation, and competition
or facilitation among species.
•Impacts to estuary from runoff/effluents;
nutrient dynamics in estaurine
ecosystem; long-term vegetation sampling
in relationship to soil texture,
salinity, tidal inundation, and competition
or facilitation among species.
Special Research of National Significance
•Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research (LTER)
Land/Ocean Interactions and the Dynamics of Kelp Forest Ecosystems (detailed description...)
•Pacific Estuarine Ecosystem Indicator Research (PEEIR) Consortium (detailed description...) |
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