Announcing a New Philanthropic Agreement with Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands Restoration (CIR) and Channel Islands National Park (CINP) are pleased to announce a new philanthropic agreement to enhance conservation efforts within the park. This collaboration establishes formal philanthropic partnership which supports both organizations in achieving mutual goals and meeting funding needs. 

This strategic partnership authorizes CIR to engage in fundraising activities for specific programs and projects while establishing a supportive relationship with CINP. The agreement outlines numerous collaborative activities, including invasive plant management, botanical surveys, native plant restoration, erosion control, landscape management, vegetation monitoring, educational outreach, volunteer engagement, and development funding. 

This agreement focuses on East Santa Cruz Island, the park’s most visited area. By encouraging shared stewardship of the park, CIR and CINP aim to foster community relevance and engagement. 

This collaboration highlights CIR’s growth, public impact, and donor investments in meeting the park’s needs. For further information or to get involved in these initiatives, please contact us at volunteer@cirweb.org or (805) 448-5726. Join us in preserving the natural beauty of Channel Islands National Park for future generations. We look forward to offering volunteer trips later this year. Stay tuned for more information.

Developing a Chumash Ethnobotanical Nature Trail at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve

Article by Doug Morgan, CIR Operations Manager

Regular visitors to the West Mesa at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve (SMFP) may have noticed changes in our developing Chumash Ethno-Botanical Nature Trail. It is also getting more foot traffic as people appreciate the beautiful 360-degree views and gentle rise in elevation. This is due to the talented design of the trail builder, Ray Ford. A good trail maximizes the surrounding beauty and minimizes the effort and maintenance. It’s a perfect stroll for those who like to savor each step, and moderate use is precisely what a trail needs to stay in good shape. This trail was designed to be slowly savored, but we are far from done. 

We enlisted the help of Chumash people, local experts in a variety of disciplines, and our in-house staff to create an interpretive garden to educate visitors on the history, culture, ecology, and especially the uses and value of the native plants that were once common on the West Mesa and surrounding areas. We have a beautiful design, an extensive plant pallet, and several thousand plants growing in our greenhouse, and we have begun tentatively installing a few natives to get some momentum on the project.  All plants for the trail were grown from seed collected at the SMFP.

Creature Feature

**Nightsnake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha)**

This secretive snake is 12 to 26 inches long and often found in California grassland habitats, which are rapidly disappearing due to development, but they may be found in a variety of habitats, from chaparral, sagebrush flats, and deserts. It has a triangular-shaped head, a dark eyestripe, and elliptical pupils; it is often mistaken for a young rattlesnake. The snake is easily distinguished from the latter by a tail that tapers to a point and the absence of a rattle. It is gray or beige with dark gray or brown spots and a pair of large dark brown markings on the neck. This nocturnal snake is rarely encountered during the day, but it is often seen crossing roads at night. It can be found under rocks, boards, logs, and other surface objects.

The nightsnake preys upon lizards, small snakes, frogs, salamanders, and mice. Young spotted night snakes feed upon insects. Nightsnakes have mildly venomous saliva that is introduced into prey by the repeated chewing action of two enlarged teeth found at the rear of the mouth. Fangs do not inject venom; they are introduced into the prey through small puncture wounds made by the enlarged teeth. Venom helps incapacitate small prey, but it is not considered harmful to humans. The small size of the snake's head, the location of the fangs, and the chewing action necessary to administer the venom make it difficult to envenomate anything but small animals.

Photo by @skyswildart - Thanks for sharing!

Learn more about other reptiles found at San Marcos Foothills Preserve by visiting www.sanmarcosfoothills.org/reptiles

10 Things You Can Do to Help With Climate Change

 CIR board members list 10 climate change New Year's resolutions for 2025

Adopt a plant-based diet.
Advocate for climate action and legislation. Contact your government representatives by letter, email, or through a climate action organization.
Commute to work or school by bicycle; if possible, use a bike for errands and other outings.
Join a community garden or work with your local community to start a community garden.
Volunteer your time with nonprofits like CIR to join efforts to combat climate change.
Support efforts to ban single-use plastic products.
Reduce your energy use by using less heat and air conditioning, using energy-efficient appliances, and installing solar panels on your roof.
Remove your lawn and use local native plants for landscaping.
Monitor your water usage more closely to avoid overwatering.
Purchase local in-season food rather than food shipped for long distances.
For suitable and slightly used clothing, don't just throw it away. Wash it well and donate it to the local Goodwill.

San Marcos Foothills Preserve Docent Training Program

You're invited to join our San Marcos Foothills Preserve docent training program. The program provides an excellent opportunity for you to learn about the Preserve while providing the public with valuable information that enhances their visitor experience and helps to ensure that native plants and animals are protected. The training is self-paced and on the web, covering five modules with videos, quizzes, and a 100-page docent manual full of interesting information. The course and manual cover such topics as:

What is the Preserve, the docent program, and Channel Islands Restoration

Natural history of the Preserve including geology, plants, and animals

Cultural history of the Preserve, including the Chumash people

How to talk to and educate the public about the Preserve

If you are interested in signing up for the docent course or if you have any questions, please email Natasha Booth at natasha@cirweb.org. Everyone is welcome, and more information will be forthcoming.

Catalina Island: A Conservation Crisis

By Melissa Baffa

Representatives from the Ventura Land Trust were invited to participate in a tour of the conservation work being done by the Catalina Island Conservancy (CIC) on Catalina Island, 26 miles across the sea (as the song goes) from the port of Long Beach.

Representatives from conservation groups, elected officials, and other CBOs attended. After lunch and an overview, we split into groups and went to the island interior to see the project elements firsthand. The biggest challenge faced by the CIC is the island’s population of voracious, invasive mule deer, introduced for the purpose of hunting. These deer, with no natural predators, are adversely affecting native species on the island and forcing type conversions from the native habitat to highly invasive species instead.

A lot of people don’t know that mule deer exist on Catalina, but they do know that bison have also been introduced. Why are the bison not as controversial? Bison are slightly less problematic because their population be easily controlled through birth control. Also, they do not browse on the native, endemic vegetation as much as the deer. They are grazers, preferring grass and weedy material over shrubbery.

February Digital Newsletter 2025