Learn About The Wildlife Watering Station at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve

Our nonprofit organization, Channel Islands Restoration (CIR), installed the trough (also known as a "wildlife guzzler" or wildlife watering station) at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve in Santa Barbara. It serves two purposes.

Over the last few years, the year-round water source in this area dried up due to continued drought. The ongoing drying trend in our climate will potentially mean that this natural water source will not return, so the guzzler is replacing water that should be available for small critters. Wildlife (including birds) would need to travel farther distances for water. The guzzler provides a source for drinking water where a natural source once existed. Since the guzzler is replacing an existing water source, it should not attract more wildlife than was present before the natural spring ran dry. However, it may seem that way because the original water source has been dry for several years.

The guzzler also provides a reservoir for drip irrigation for native plants that CIR installed downhill as part of our native grassland restoration project. Native plants need water for the first year after planting, and a guzzler provides a steady source of water that only needs refilling occasionally. This method is more efficient than driving to sites with a water truck regularly.
We also plan to install more plants in the future, so having a reservoir on hand that provides steady drip irrigation is helpful.

In the coming months, CIR will also monitor the number of species using the guzzler. We have also put in a small sign to explain why the guzzler is there. Finally, we will add some plantings around the guzzler to screen it from public view. Contact us at volunteer@cirweb.org if you have any questions or comments.

We’re providing water for native plants and animals Including:

From left to right: Common Buckeye Plant, Western Garter Snake, Mule Deer, Western Meadowlark

Thank you to The Santa Barbara Foundation for their volunteer support!

Photos by Caleb Stumberg, CIR Volunteer, Representative from the Santa Barbara Foundation