Category: Uncategorized

Restoration Event

Our first restoration session in More Mesa County Park was held on the beautiful sunny morning of March 27th. Thirteen hearty volunteers showed up to hear Stephanie Langsdorf, of Growing Solutions, teach us the basics of the area’s ecosystem, and the particulars of natives and non-natives as well. Then, pitchforks and shovels in hand, we went to work on a hilly rise quite close to the western edge of the park. This area had been previously cleared and planted with various native shrubs and trees; oak, elderberry, coffeeberry, blackberry and bee plant. Our task was to clear the immediate vicinity of each of these plantings of all non natives; most especially Harding grass and thistle. Good News: Almost all of the plants had survived and a large fraction were thriving. Our attention should encourage even more vigorous growth, as well as natural introduction of natives.

Later in the morning, we turned our attention to the creek trail and did some vinca clearing. Stephanie also pointed out quite a large field of our lovely native, fiesta flower. All our volunteers seemed excited about the opportunity to do more of this kind of thing, and we are confident this is just the beginning. Just look at all the smiling faces in the photos!

Earth Day
The More Mesa Preservation Coalition will be participating in Earth Day on April 18th. Come to the Courthouse Sunken Gardens to look at the displays and say hello.

Concert For The Coast
The Concert for the Coast is a free event held in mid May, and sponsored jointly by the Isla Vista Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and the Shoreline Preservation Fund. The purpose of the concert is to raise awareness of local issues. Happily, this year the organizers have selected More Mesa as their focus! Because of this, we will be able to bring our message to a large number of people who may not be aware of the issues. In addition, proceeds of a raffle, held concurrent with the concert, will be donated to the More Mesa Preservation Coalition. Details of the concert will be posted as soon as they are available. Thank you Concert for the Coast!

Restoration Project on More Mesa County Park

We have had a really gratifying response to our call for volunteers on the Restoration Project on More Mesa County Park!

Where and When: We meet next Saturday, 27 March at 8:45 AM on the west side of More Mesa. To get there, proceed south on Patterson Avenue, almost to the point where the road goes up the hill and becomes Shoreline Drive. There are two dirt parking areas on the left side of the road. We should be able to get all the cars in these two spots. However, if the turnout is overwhelming, additional cars can park near the bike path on the right side of the road, and we will shuttle people to the entrance of the county property.

What To Bring: All the tools and trash bags will be provided. Please bring heavy work gloves to protect your hands, and lots of drinking water. We will be learning and working until noon, when we hope you will decide to bring a picnic lunch and join us in enjoying this beautiful place. It will be a great opportunity to spend some time in the company of fellow More Mesa lovers.

Feel free to contact us if we don’t already know you are coming, or if there are any other questions, via the Contact Page.

Information on the Restoration Project
Santa Barbara County owns 40 acres of the northwest corner of More Mesa; the More Mesa County Park. This is a part of More Mesa that ALREADY belongs to all of us! As part of our 2004 activities, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition has been exploring ways in which members of the community interested in More Mesa can assist in carrying out the Management Plan for that lovely oak riparian section of More Mesa. We decided on RESTORATION as the first step.

Following a recent meeting with folks from Santa Barbara County Parks, we drafted a plan whereby interested volunteers will be able to participate in a half-day restoration session on a section of the north trail in More Mesa County Park. Volunteers will be trained on how to recognize (search) and eradicate (destroy) nonnative plants. We will also learn how to encourage and nurture natives. Trainers will then work side-by-side with us to clear an important section of the trail. After a morning of warring on weeds, we will find a shady spot for lunch and visiting.

Spring is lovely on More Mesa! This event will be an excellent opportunity to learn about local plants and make a beautiful place even more inviting. And, more importantly, those who join us will get to meet others who share a passion for More Mesa, as well as to experience the collective energy that comes from working together with people who care about the same things you do.

This training/work party is envisioned as the first of a continuing series. Once we have trained volunteers, it will be possible to plan other events to maintain the section already complete and add new areas.

We have concurrence from County Parks, and are scheduled for Saturday, 27 March from 9-12. If you would like to come to the party, contact us via the Contact Page.

ALSO CHECK OUT TWO NEW FEATURES ON OUR WEB SITE!
* [For the whole of More Mesa, you can see what plants can be found and where by season: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall.]
* You can also become part of our documentation team by reporting plants and animals of note. This can be done by completing and submitting the new SIGHTINGS REPORT.

Hope to see you on the 27th!!
Valerie Olson
More Mesa Preservation Coalition