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National Parks Service volunteer project
Habitat Restoration, Channel Islands National Park (California)
By Harold Neufeldt
Twice this spring I joined park staff and other volunteers on Santa
Barbara and Santa Rosa Islands to plant endangered plants, weed out
invasive non-native vegetation, gather seed and place erosion
control matting and seed over exposed ridgelines.
These semi-desert, subtropical islands have been acquired by the
National Parks after a couple hundred years of livestock grazing. I
joined an effort already underway to re-establish plant communities
presently only found where the goats, sheep and rabbits where not
able to reach on cliff edges and to gather and plant them in
adjacent former areas on the islands. Working and spending evenings
with small community of researchers, botanists and other disciplines
restoring the islands was most rewarding. As was spending time
reflecting / meditating / journaling while being memorized by the
swells, beautiful sunsets, feeling the wind and listening to the
seabirds / mammals from perches high above the sea. All this made
being island bound for a week at a time all too short.
Through these efforts God’s on going creation is receiving some much
needed help.Santa Rose Island photos:
Adjacent eroded hillsides:
Work site and ocean beyond:
Laying erosion matting:
Tree roots shows extent of wind erosion from area where
animals had eating and trampled all the chaparral vegetation:
Fog rain wetting adjacent area when ground has been dry
for some time. Note water ponding under live oak tree and creating
a streamlet in foreground (Strong winds cause the fog to condense on
branches and leaves and rain down). These mountain ridges once were
covered with a chaparral ’cloud forest’ of shrubs and trees which
provided considerable water for hillsides and streams prior to the
introduction of livestock. Chaparral vegetation is starting to come
back.
Last three photos are of Santa Barbara Island a small 600 acre
island with two 600 foot hills and no fresh water.
Photo 1 shows a cliff edge planting site with island below.
Daniel holding one of the 821 Dudleya succulent
seedings we planted to help re-establish them:
A junior high class from the mainland using the island as there
laboratory:
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-- Harold Neufeldt
© 2005 Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship
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