The South Parcel is a 68-acre open space located on the coast between Coal Oil Point Reserve and Ellwood Mesa. Under protection by a conservation easement granted by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, the property serves partially as a mitigation site for the nearby North Campus Faculty Housing Project.
In 1965, topsoil was removed from the site and used to fill the upper portion of Devereux Slough for the construction of Ocean Meadows Golf Course. Land manipulation has accelerated erosion across the site and has enabled non-native invasive plants to colonize many areas. Although highly disturbed, the South Parcel is part of a unique coastal ecosystem and continues to provide a rich foraging area for raptors and other native species.
The South Parcel Habitat Restoration Project will ensure ongoing stewardship and maintenance of the area while providing recreational and educational benefits for UCSB and the community.
2008. South Parcel showing non-native annualgrasses and fennel dominated areas.
Soil and seedbank studies were initiated in 2009 to evaluate restoration strategies.