What is the difference between an estuary and a slough?

Nothing!
Estuaries are usually found where a creek or a river meets the sea.
Because the water in a slough is brackish, (a mixture of fresh and saltwater) it hosts a large array of unique plant and wildlife. Many species of wildlife rely on estuaries for food, breeding grounds and housing. A slough is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world.
Human populations also rely on estuaries for food, recreation and employment. As a result, many towns and cities have been built on or near a slough. Unfortunately this has lead to a decline of the health of the sloughs, making estuaries one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world.
We should do our very best in trying to preserve these very important habitats so that we can learn from and enjoy the wonderful life that they provide.

by Emma I.

Insect Invertebrates in the Goleta Slough

Our friend Dr. Michael Caterino, entomologist at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, introduced us to the insects that both depend upon the slough for their existence and help keep it healthy.

We went to the Goleta Slough and found red mites, stink bugs, spiders, caterpillars, flies and larvae. We need bugs.  This is their natural habitat.  Larger bugs eat the smaller bugs.  Birds eat insects and coyotes eat birds. — Owen

We went to the Goleta Slough.  We found many different kinds of insects and larvae.  The bugs live in the slough for many different reasons.  Birds eat insects so it is a whole circle of life that goes on an on. — Catalina

Creek Monitoring At Patterson Ave. and the Bikepath

We decided to see what the water quality was like downstream from the school along the Maria Ygnacio Creek. After passing through a couple of miles of residential areas, businesses and farmland the water was surprisingly healthy. Last year this section was really bad with high levels of Nitrates (fertilizer runoff) and coliform (poo bacteria).

We were testing at the Maria Ignacio Creek.  We were testing water temperature, oxygen, salinity and other things like nitrates. — Caleb

Where we are right now, salinity was good for aquatic life, water was ideal for fish, nitrate was good, which means there is not too much fertilizer, ph was really good, which means it is not too acidic. When you go down the bike path, nitrate was good for people but not for aquatic life.  Ecoli was not good for people but good for aquatic life.  In general, the water was a little bit better upstream.

— Ryan

El Estero Wastewater Treatment Center

We have learned that everything flow to the ocean; creek water, street run-off, storm drains, and yes, even what goes down the toilet! It's quite a process, and this too affects the health of the ocean if not taken care of properly. Fond memories include the "muffin grinder" and the odor.

We went to the wastewater treatment center.  All of the water that goes there comes from your shower, sinks, toilet, etc.  The first place you go to is called the muffin grinder.  It filters out the larger junk and goes to the landfill.  It smelled awful.  From there, the water all goes to a settling tank and from there it goes to a tank that skims off the top foam.  Then it goes to the tank that was full of oxygen and there was so much oxygen in it, you would probably die because it was like falling into fog but you couldn’t breathe so you would die.  From there the water goes somewhere with black goo.  Then they put chemicals into the water to take out the bad chemicals and they send that water to the ocean. — Sarah Jane

Tidepooling at Coal Oil Point

Cris Elfes lead us through the intertidal zone of Coal Oil Point, a preserve that borders UCSB. We found all kinds of sea stars, anemones, crabs, and a family of sea hares. One of the sea hares was not too excited about being picked up and blessed us with its beautiful purple ink!

We love the tidepooling at Coal Oil Point. Here are a few of the things we saw. We saw feather boa kelp, surf grass, encrusted coralline algae, stunted Turkish towel seaweed, chitons, sea lettuce, a sunburst anenome, welts, turbin snails, hermit crabs, leaf barnacles, acorn barnacles, starfish as big as my head and sea slugs.  My little sister got inked by one.  The ink was there for a long time.—Natalie and Chloe

"Litter in the Creek" animation

This great little animation demonstrates what happens when plastic trash gets into the watershed system. It's an endless cycle!

Area I Visit with Growing Solutions

We visited the "Area I" restoration site on the Goleta Slough next to UCSB. This restoration was lead by Growing Solutions and UCSB. Mark Holmgren joined us for a little bird watching along this incredible site.

Tidepooling at Arroyo Burro Beach

We went tidepooling at Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry's Beach) to learn about the health of the intertidal zone.

Planting Natives at Growing Solutions

We have worked with Growing Solutions on habitat restoration at the Goleta Slough several times this past year. We have worked in the nursery transplanting "baby" plants, done seed dispersal, planted adult plants in a planned restoration, and visited a premier restoration site. Great work!

Growing Solutions is a restoration organization that works near the airport.  They are working on the restoration of the Goleta Slough.  We planted seeds into the one gallon buckets, then put them into the kiddie pools.  Plants that like water need to live in the wetlands.  Some like salt.  Sloughs are really important because they are like a filter for things that get caught in there.  It is also a nursery for fish and birds.— Addie and Sarah Jane

Pacific Mole Crab Study

We have been collecting data concerning the Pacific Mole Crab at Goleta Beach as part of the LiMPETS program. This is monitored by NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuaries. The Pacific Mole Crab, sand crab, are a great indicator species, giving loads of information concerning the health of the ocean environment.

We went to Goleta Beach to study Pacific Mole Crabs. They can get up to 2 inches long. They drink water which have sometimes has poisons in it.  Fish eat the crabs.  Birds eat the fish and if the crabs have poison, the fish will die.  They are an indicator species. — Cayden

Creek Monitoring at HBP

We tested the water quality of our adopted creek, Maria Ygnacio Creek, right behind the school. Because of the great rains last year there is still quite a good flow of water. Overall the water in the creek is pretty healthy for the plants and animals who depend upon it.

Creek Kids Program with Watershed Resource Center

We learned about watersheds, picked up trash along Arroyo Burro beach, and played games to help us learn how to better care for the ocean.

Coastal Cleanup Day at Growing Solutions

A small group of us worked on invasive plant eradication with Growing Solutions at the Goleta Slough. we pulled several barrels of Curly Dock!

Annual Review of HBP Ocean Guardians

2010-2011 Measurable Impacts by Santa Barbara HomeBased Partnership Ocean Guardians

Some activities were undertaken in partnership with Keep California Beautiful, Channel Islands Restorations and the Park Service

Reduce/Recycle/Reuse Activities                       #

# of recycling bins installed                                                               2

# of composting bins installed                                                         2

Pounds of trash/debris removed                                                     138

Lbs of trash/recyclables/food waste kept out of the

land fill (doesn’t count composted food)                                     47

Outreach Activities                                                    #

# of teachers reached outside your school                                 11

# of parents reached within and/or outside your

school community                                                                                100 (est.)

# of community members reached                                               45 (est.)

# of articles, blogs, etc. uploaded to websites                           4

# of presentations/workshops                                                          2

# of videos/films/power points produced                                     1

# hits on oceanguardians blog                                                        820

# of items (student written articles and videos)

posted on blog                                                                                         20

Restoration Activities                                              #

# of native perennials/annuals/grasses planted                     86

Sq. ft. of non-native invasive plants removed                        4,000 (est.)

# trees propagated from cuttings (willow)                                 25

2011-2012 Goleta Slough and Channel Island Restoration Impacts undertaken by Santa Barbara HomeBased Partnership

Some activities were undertaken in partnership with Growing Solutions, Channel Islands Restorations and the Park Service

Outreach Activities                                                       #

# of students reached outside your school                                   

# of teachers reached outside your school                                     11

# of parents reached within and/or outside your

school community                                                                                    100 (est.)

# of community members reached                                                  20 to date

# of games or skits created                                                                    2

# of newsletter items and school emails regarding

program                                                                                                         10

# of items (student written articles and videos)

posted on blog                                                                                             8

# of presentations/workshops                                                              1

# of videos/films/power points produced                                        2

# hits on oceanguardians blog                                                           1,668 to date

Restoration Activities                                                 #

# of seedlings transplanted                                                                   309

# of native perennials/annuals/grasses planted                         tbd

Cubic feet of seeds dispersed                                                               95 (2500 sq. ft.)

Sq. ft. of non-native invasive plants removed                            2,500 (est.)
Planting at airport mitigation/restoration site with Growing Solutions
         We planted 221 plants! The species are: Frankenia salina – alkali heath, Spergularia macrotheca, Limonium californicum, Isocoma mensizii – coast golden bush! Karen Flagg and several Growing Solutions staff were there to assist our younger students.

**Coming soon: May 11 and May 18 restoration trips to Anacapa Island to broadcast seed, transplant seedlings, and plant one-gallon island native plants**