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Resident Reserve Director:
Dr. Lyndal Laughrin
Santa Cruz Island Reserve
E-mail: laughrin@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Island Phone: (805) 893-7247

 ONLINE APPLICATION - Click here to submit an application.

Research projects: if you have more than one research project, a separate application must be filed for each project. It is important to indicate on the application the approximate duration of the proposed research project. Approved applications are valid for one field season only (from date of approval through June 30) but may be renewed
annually.
* Each visitor to the reserve must sign liability waivers. Liability waivers for minors must be signed by the parent or legal guardian. It is the responsibility of the group leader (the person who signs the application) to be sure that the necessary waiver forms for his group are signed and delivered to the reserve staff member who meets you upon your arrival at the island.
* The group leader is also responsible for making sure each participant is aware of the reserve policies and guidelines listed here and on the application.

TRANSPORTATION

Please check with the Reserve Director before making any arrangements for transportation. Reservations for air or boat transportation may need to made well in advance of the trip, so please contact him as early as possible.

Information on various modes of transportation are listed below.

ARRIVAL

* Reserve staff will meet you at the island boat dock (or airstrip) when you arrive. The Reserve Director, Dr. Lyndal Laughrin, has an advanced degree in aspects of insular biology, as well as more than 25 years of experience on the island. You will find reserve staff to be extremely helpful during your island visit.

* When you arrive at the field station, and before conducting any activities on the island, it is necessary that you review the emergency procedures that are posted at the reserve, including the location of fire extinguishers and the evacuation process.

* Since janitorial service is not provided, the group leader will be given a check list to follow for cleaning the facility both during the visit and before departure. A fee will be charged if cleanup by the reserve staff is required following your departure.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

• There are sleeping accommodations for approximately 30 persons at the reserve, consisting of bunkbeds in the field station and six private bedrooms. All visitors must sleep at the facility. Bring warm sleeping bags with pillows. Don't forget a flashlight!

• Cooking facilities are provided, including stove, oven, refrigerator-freezer, pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Because of bad weather, people sometimes get detained on the island, so we recommend bringing an extra day's supply of food. Since the island is part of the University's Natural Reserve System, organisms collected on or near the island must not be used as food. All cooking is done at the facility; individual cooking on camp stoves is strictly prohibited, due to possible fire hazard.

• Hot and cold running water, showers, toilets, and limited laundry facilities are furnished. Electricity is limited. Do not bring electric appliances, especially hair dryers, to the island. If electricity is needed for research equipment, consult with the resident director prior to your visit.

• A library/conference room, computers (PC and Mac), and a wet laboratory are available for your use. Air photos and topographic maps are available at the reserve for office use only. Persons desiring maps for field use should purchase them before leaving the mainland (U.S. Geological Survey, 7.5' Santa Cruz Island A, B, C, D). Topo maps can be purchased at Pacific Traveler's Supply, Santa Barbra CA.

• Four-wheel drive vehicles are available for your use. A vehicle use agreement must be completed by all drivers and passengers of reserve vehicles. Prospective drivers must demonstrate competence in driving 4-wheel drive vehicles.

• A 17-foot Boston Whaler and an inflatable boat are available. Persons who intend to operate a boat must demonstrate competence in handling such craft, such as approval from the campus launchmaster, Shane Anderson, who can be reached at (805) 893-2873. If boat users plan to dive, a boat tender is required by University regulations.

• Persons who plan to dive must have University of California Diving Control Cards or their equivalent. Contact the diving officer for UCSB at (805) 893-4559.

• Telephone service is available for emergencies (see Reserve Director). No postal service is available.

Annual Summary of Research Project: Please provide the following by June 30 of each year (the summary and list of publications will be published in the NRS Annual Report and on the NRS systemwide Web Page):

• A brief summary of your research accomplishments, including the title of the project, a list of all participants on the project with their affiliations.

• A list of your current publications based on research done on the reserve (complete references).

* Two copies of all published materials, including conference proceedings, abstracts, and technical reports (one bound copy only of theses and dissertations), resulting from your research.

* Please make acknowledgements in any publication resulting from use of the reserve as follows: "This work was performed (in part) at the University of California Natural Reserve System Santa Cruz Island Reserve on property owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy."
For Work Supported by Systemwide UC Natural Reserve System: "This work was supported by a Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant from the University of California Natural Reserve System."
or (as appropriate) "This work was supported by a grant from the University of California Natural Reserve System."

* Source of funding for your project, dates of funding, and the funding amount.

• All persons visiting the reserve must be actively engaged in research or instruction.

• Bicycles, pets and surfboards are not permitted at the island.

• Only appropriate scientific material may be collected. If such collecting is necessary, consult the reserve director regarding possible limitations. This applies particularly to intertidal regions, since some of the island sites are being monitored as part of ongoing projects. Appropriate permits must be obtained.

• When working on the island, stay clear of the main ranch house and yard. Do not intrude upon the privacy of the owner. Remember that we are guests of The Nature Conservancy and appropriate personal conduct should be exercised during your visit.

INFORMATION REGARDING HANTAVIRUS

A strain of Hantavirus has recently been found in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations on San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz islands. This virus also occurs in many locations on the mainland. The disease caused by this virus is called HARDS (Hantavirus Acute Respiratory Syndrome) or HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome). While the occurrence of the virus on the islands is a recent discovery, most scientists agree that the virus has likely been present on the islands and on the mainland for possibly hundreds of years. No one has ever been infected by Hantavirus on the Channel Islands (to date, some two dozen high exposure risk staff and residents of various island organizations have been tested and all had negative evidence of infection). The chance of getting the disease from a trip to the islands is almost negligible. Still, this is a potentially fatal disease, and some basic precautions should be taken.

Rodents are hosts for a variety of diseases and parasites, including ticks, fleas which carry plague, and rabies. Hantavirus is transmitted through the body fluids of the deer mouse, and can become airborne when large masses of feces and urine are disturbed. People hiking and staying on the island for short visits are at very low risk; rather, most cases of Hantavirus infection have occurred when people have cleaned out or lived in buildings that have been inhabited by large numbers of rodents for many years. Whether on the islands or the mainland, the precautions for avoiding infection by Hantavirus are the same as those for the avoidance of any illness which may be contracted from rodents. Such a practice of Universal Precautions means treating all potentially infectious mammals and insects as if they are infectious.

In response to this concern, the University is making every effort to reduce and avoid contact between users of the reserve and mice. However, this effort requires assistance from you, the reserve users, and we are requesting your help and cooperation, especially by complying with the suggested risk reduction and cleanup guidelines.

The program has three components:

1. Reducing food, water, and refuge in and adjacent to the buildings.

2. Reducing mouse ingress, egress, and access to the buildings.

3. Reducing mouse populations in the buildings by trapping.

Although it is probably impossible to completely eliminate mice from the field station complex, this program should result in reduced exposure for our users and staff.

Keep food and drink in rodent-proof containers. Confine food to the kitchen and dining areas, not in your bedroom, lab, etc. Mice are most active at night, therefore put food in rodent-proof containers, refrigerators, or cabinets. Keep doors closed to cabinets and buildings, especially at night.

Keep kitchen and dining areas as clean as possible. Put food and dishes away in closed cabinets at night. Clean countertops and do not leave dishes overnight in sink drainer. Place trash and food garbage in closed garbage containers and keep lids on them.

1. Special precautions are necessary when signs of mice are present, especially feces, urine, and nest materials. Dry clean-up (sweeping, vacuuming) is not permitted as this aerosolizes particles that may be inhaled. Proper clean-up entails:

• Wearing rubber gloves.

• Wetting the entire area with disinfectant.

• Wet-mopping with disinfectant or wiping up the area with paper towels.

• Bagging the towels and disposing of them in the trash.

• Disinfectant may be household bleach (1 to 4 parts water), Lysol, or other recommended solutions.

• If the area is extremely soiled, notify reserve staff for clean-up advice.

2. Trapping and removal of trapped mice should be done by reserve staff unless authorized by the reserve director. Appropriate precautions and guidelines must be followed.

HARDS first manifests itself as mild flu-like symptoms (muscle ache, slight fever, and lethargy), usually two to six weeks after exposure to the virus. Acute respiratory distress may follow. If you experience flu-like symptoms and believe you may have had contact with rodents within the last 30 says, contact your physician immediately.

Before making arrangements for transportation, please check with the Reserve Director to be sure your application to visit the UCSB field station has been approved and the requested dates confirmed.

Regularly scheduled trips out of Ventura Harbor Times vary so be sure to confirm with the charter service when making your reservations. Round-trip for overnight visitors is approximately $60.00 per person.

All plane reservations are scheduled by the Reserve Director. The plane costs approximately $450. Individual's share of this varies depending upon how many passengers share a trip. Departure is from Camarillo Airport in Ventura County.

Financial travel aid is available for students visiting the UCSB field station on Santa Cruz Island for the purpose of a class visit or student research project. The amount of support is approximately $30.00 per student, per visit. Please apply in writing or via email to:

Santa Cruz Island Travel Fund Coordinator
Natural Reserve System
Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150
Fax: (805-893-8062) -
Email: laughrin@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Please include the purpose of the visit (ie, title of research project, etc., or course number, instructor, etc.), approximate date(s) of visit or proposed number of visits and range of dates, total estimate cost of transportation to and from the island from dock to dock. Please be sure to include an email address or phone number so you can be contacted regarding approval of your request.

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