By Mauricio Gomez
I have been working on local habitat restoration projects in the Santa Barbara and Ventura region since 2002. Over these past two decades, my passion has remained the same: building partnerships to protect, conserve, and restore the native biodiversity of our incredible coastal watersheds. Today, I am thrilled to introduce a new tool to help us achieve that mission—our updated website.
At South Coast Habitat Restoration (SCHR), we believe that healthy creeks and thriving native species are the lifeblood of our community. However, for too long, the stories of our watersheds have been hidden behind concrete barriers or lost in outdated infrastructure. Our new digital home at https://schabitatrestoration.org/ is designed to bring those stories to light and connect with like-minded people and organizations.
Showcasing Our Impact
The heart of our new site is the updated Projects page. Here, you can explore the tangible results of our collaborative efforts:
- Fish Passage Restoration: You can now see detailed records of projects like the Wheeler Gorge Fish Passage, where we recently removed four barriers and opened 13 miles of upstream habitat for the endangered Southern Steelhead Trout.
- Creative Solutions: Explore how we modified concrete channels at Patterson Avenue to help native fish navigate urban environments.
A Focus on Education and Partnership
We have always known that we cannot do this work alone. Whether it is our fiscal sponsorship through Earth Island Institute since 2007 or our daily collaboration with private landowners, tribes, and wildlife agencies, teamwork is our greatest asset.
The new website features resources to help visitors better understand the challenges we face and tools we have to confront them. Check out our videos and blog page and learn how to Get Involved.
We want this to be a resource for anyone—from a student studying aquatic biology to a local landowner—who wants to understand why clearing the way for steelhead migration is critical for our region’s ecological health.
Looking Ahead
We look forward to filling you in about upcoming projects as we move from the behind-the-scenes design/approval phase to construction and completion.
Our work is an act of “putting things back where they belong”. We hope this new website makes it easier for you to join us in that vital endeavor.
Warmly,
Mauricio Gomez
Founder and Director
South Coast Habitat Restoration
