Coastal Ranches Conservancy

07/28/2026

Today is rescue day!

Conservationists say the presence of steelhead indicates healthy groundwater flow, but summer conditions continue to threaten the species.

07/27/2026

https://e360.yale.edu/digest/weather-whiplash-france-spain-fires

E360 Digest July 27, 2026 How Weather Whiplash Helped Fuel the Devastating Wildfires in France and Spain A wildfire burning in Burgohondo, Spain, last week. Mateo Lanzuela / Europa Press via Getty Images In a summer of record heat waves, France and Spain are now facing wildfires that have forced the...

07/16/2026

R E S C U E S U R V E Y S S A V E S T E E L H E A D | Rivers and Creeks are dropping and heating this summer! Steelhead stranding can happen quickly. Despite some of our key holding pools drying up last year, our trout are back, but we’ve initiated rescue consultations early, because CDFW needs to seek approval from NMFS before e-fishing or a relocation can occur. If you have trout about in your creek and you are see drying, disconnection of pools from the flowing creek, you can fill out a rescue survey at the QR code on the last slide. Early initiation is recommended! We spotted Western Pond Turtle, dodged several cows, but steady monitoring has been initiated to !

07/14/2026

“To supply the rest stops, Caltrans sources fresh water from the state park, which has been drawing from the Gaviota Creek Watershed since 1998. Fearing endangerment of wildlife and wetlands, the Coastal Ranches Conservancy sued the California State Parks department in 2022, claiming it had abused access to the water spring. Coastal Ranches Conservancy settled the lawsuit last year, and an agreement limits the amount of water State Parks can pull, especially during the summer.”

A critic says the rest area closed due to a "lack of effort from Caltrans."

07/09/2026

The Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been published for the Revised Draft Santa Barbara County Recreation Master Plan Project!

Visit www.countyofsb.org/recreation-master-plan to view the Draft Program EIR.

Public comments accepted until August 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Email comments to [email protected]

06/24/2026

People Over Polluters! https://peopleoverpollutersca.com/endorsements

A new ballot measure headed for the November election could gut core protections under the California Environmental Quality Act, stripping essential safeguards for native plants, wildlife habitat, and your right to have a voice in decisions that affect your community.

Join us for a free educational webinar on Tuesday, June 30, 6–7 PM, featuring CEQA attorney Rachel Hooper and Gabriel Tolson of the Planning and Conservation League. Learn what's at stake and how to get involved.

Register at https://bit.ly/4w6UzBV.

🌿: Sanborn's onion (Allium sanbornii)
📸: Jesse Pluim

06/24/2026

As part of the Open Space Element Update, the County is conducting a survey to help understand what goals the community has for the County’s open space.

Whether it’s a morning walk on the beach, a scenic commute through our rural lands, or a weekend hike on our mountain trails, we all have a unique connection to our local Santa Barbara environment.

Help create a vision for the landscapes you love in Santa Barbara County! Tell us what you value by taking the 5 minute survey. Scan the QR code to access the survey.

05/27/2026

We are lucky to have Ethan Bell’s expertise on our Technical Advisory Group for restoration at Gaviota Creek estuary. He’s currently also assisting the City of Morro Bay to address flood issues and habitat enhancement.

Flooding that took place in Morro Bay back in 2022 and 2023 caused severe damage. Now, the city and county are studying potential plans to prevent such damage in the future.

05/24/2026

Local environmental groups and the state attorney general are challenging a decision by the federal government to move a lawsuit involving Sable Offshore