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Coal Oil Point Reserve
updated: Oct 02, 2010, 8:45 AM
By the Dedicated Staff
With history and habitat abound, Coal Oil Point Reserve is one of Santa Barbara’s natural gems. Despite being tucked
away behind Isla Vista and having virtually no public parking, the unique sights of the reserve make it worth the trek.
Coal Oil Point is part of the University of California’s Natural Reserve System. Features like Devereux Slough contribute to the delicate interaction of
ecosystems that is home to both local and non-local endangered species.
Most visitors to the spot are researchers and joggers, but a walk around the reserve will reveal nearby
recreationalists, such as golfers and beach bocce-ballers. The diversity of the reserve’s ecosystem and its immediate
surroundings has something to offer for everybody – just make sure to bring your binoculars and leave your car behind.
Here are Edhat’s top 5 reasons to dust off your bike and make a trip to Coal Oil Point Reserve:
Hang out on the beach. Be sure to avoid getting yelled at by the Snowy
Plover docents at neighbouring Sands Beach, and head over to Devereux Beach with
the UCSB students. You can entertain the kids by looking in big pieces of wet
kelp for live crabs or by finding sea slugs in the tide pools. Make sure to walk
down toward Isla Vista and see how the jailhouse is painted
that week.
Learn about oil. The oil rigs off the coast are part
of the beachside
scenery here in Santa Barbara County. A tour at Coal Oil Point Reserve will
provide you with information about our year-round Christmas trees. For instance,
Venoco Oil Company actually financially supports the
reserve. Along the path,
you can see Venoco's oil storage tanks that are filled twice a week via pipeline
from the platform offshore.
 Bird watching. The reserve is a great place to look for birds.
It's been designated an important bird area by the Audubon society. With
identification boards of the resident species posted, even beginners can partake
in the fun. The best time to look for birds on the slough
is on overcast
mornings. You can see the endangered snowy plovers on the
beach, but they are
reclusive and heavily protected, so you have a better chance of hanging out with
the scuttling Sanderlings.
Look for flowers. You can identify plants that are being restored by the
flag markers next to the plants. Although not accessible to visitors, the
reserve is home to the endangered Ventura County Milk Vetch. And if you're
feeling adventurous, you can eat the fruit of the Lemonade Berry bush, which as
its name indicates, has a strong sour taste.
Volunteer. Looking for a way to give back to your community? The reserve
offers many ways to help preserve the local ecosystem, from counting grey whales
to taking field samples. Check out the website for more
opportunities and
information.
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