Rewilding Mesa Creek

The community is invited to join a Creek Week event on September 24 exploring one of Santa Barbara’s finest examples of creek restoration—a project that transformed Mesa Creek from a concrete channelized stream back to its natural creek bed.

Mesa Creek flows from the Mesa area near the Douglas Family Preserve, along Cliff Drive, to Hendry’s Lagoon at Arroyo Burro Beach. Previously, the lower section of the creek was routed through a buried concrete pipe. This exemplary project led by the City of Santa Barbara’s Creeks Division returned Mesa Creek to its natural state by removing the concrete structure, replacing invasive plants with native vegetation, and making improvements to the upper lagoon.

This fascinating Board Walk and discussion will be led by Channelkeeper Board member Jeff Phillips, a senior fish and wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, along with Dr. Jill Murray, Creeks Research Analyst and Erin Markey, Project Planner, both from the City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division.

Participants will meet at 5:00 pm in the Arroyo Burro Beach near the Lifeguard stand. We will walk along Mesa Creek, up the bike path, across to the Arroyo Burro Open Space, and back down Alan Road to Hendry’s Beach to observe rewilding in action.

Channelkeeper Board Walks are occasional walks and talks around town to explore water from different perspectives. They are designed for the whole community to understand our place in nature, especially with respect to life-giving water. Each will be led by a Channelkeeper Board member, drawing upon the expertise of naturalists, hydrologists, nature film producers, native plant gardeners, and more.