Projects Funded: 8
Total Amount Distributed: $32,795.00
Project: Kids In Nature (KIN)
Total Amount Distributed: $5,300.00
Kids in Nature (KIN) was developed to promote the aspirations and academic achievement of students in low performing schools and to address three major environmental issues: (1) An absence of environmental science education at underserved schools where teachers don’t have sufficient time, resources, and training; (2) Equity and under-representation of young girls and racial, language-minority, and low-income students in the environmental sciences; and (3) “Plant blindness,” a term that was introduced by Wandersee and Schussler in 1999 to describe “the inability to see or notice the plants in one’s own environment, leading to the inability to recognize the importance of plants in the biosphere and in human affairs.”
For additional information, please visit http://ccber.ucsb.edu/education/kin/
Project: Reef Check California
Total Amount Distributed: $3,000.00
Reef Check California (RCCA) is a community-based monitoring program dedicated to conserving California’s rocky reef ecosystem. At UCSB, RCCA trains students in reef monitoring protocols. Students then participate in RCCA’s bi-annual surveys along the Santa Barbara coast and Channel Islands. The students’ data are used by the MPA Monitoring Enterprise to inform the baseline monitoring of marine protected areas in southern California, by the Department of Fish and Game and by leading marine scientists. Costal Fund funds will support staff, training and surveys, providing UCSB with increased opportunities for immersion learning, field experience, and active engagement in marine management processes in California.
For additional information, please visit http://www.reefcheck.org/
Project: Coastal Marine Spatial Planning: First Steps in the Santa Barbara Channel
Total Amount Distributed: $13,000.00
The Santa Barbara Channel accommodates a National Marine Sanctuary, shipping lanes with 6,000+ crossings each year, 20 oil platforms, recreational and commercial boating, fishing and trapping, the largest seasonal congregation of blue whales on earth, marine research and more. Coastal Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) creates “zoning” for the ocean, separating incompatible uses and designating appropriate locations for marine-based human activities. This project will bring together stakeholders to “scope” a potential Coastal Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) pilot project for the Santa Barbara Channel through a full day workshop coordinated by a UCSB intern and will support the work of EDC to cooperatively develop CMSP for our local area. This project has the potential to be far-reaching and influence the spatial planning of marine areas nationwide.
For additional information, please visit http://www.edcnet.org/index.html
Project: Interns and Supplies for Devereux Native Tree Nursery Project
Total Amount Distributed: $2,000.00
Goleta Valley Beautiful, in conjunction with Devereux, subleases a greenhouse on University grounds near Coal Oil Point. With the assistance of Developmentally Disabled clients and UCSB student interns and volunteers, GVB is growing 2,000 native trees and planting an average of 500 trees annually in public areas of the Goleta Valley including the UCSB campus that will protect and enhance watersheds leading to the ocean. This grant continues their organic operations to accommodate interns interested in learning about arboriculture and greenhouse operations in addition to providing trees for volunteer planting projects.
For additional information, please visit http://goletavalleybeautiful.org/
Project: Surfrider Foundation Documentary to Preserve the Gaviota Coast
Total Amount Distributed: $3,500.00
Highliner Studios and the Surfrider Foundation, Santa Barbara Chapter are producing a trailer and documentary about Surfrider’s efforts to preserve the Gaviota Coast from development. “The Twenty” focuses on SB Surfrider, from its conception and founders to present-day threats from the development this unique area faces. This character-driven project will inspire audiences to support Surfrider’s efforts to save the Gaviota Coast – forever. A grant from the Coastal Fund will launch the already-produced trailer into a multi-platform campaign to raise money for the larger community. The Coastal Fund board supports this project entirely. Not only is it a great tool to educate students and community members about the Gaviota Coast, it also encourages student involvement. Much of the marketing campaign will be led by the “task force”, which will consist of UCSB students. This will be a great educational experience because they will be taking ownership of the project.
For additional information, please visit http://www.surfrider.org/
Project: Restoration Intern Training Program Summer-Fall 2012
Total Amount Distributed: $1,200.00
CCBER seeks funding for student interns to participate in CCBER restoration work in multiple sites and habitats from the Campus Lagoon Dune and Bluff restoration to Storke Wetland. Eligible students have generally participated in CCBER’s Restoration Intern Training Program in which CCBER Staff provide three or four options for three-hour training sessions per week for a quarter-long internship focused on a range of relevant restoration skills. CCBER seeks Coastal Fund support for six paid interns per quarter, who can follow-up their training with an opportunity to gain in-depth experience working with a project manager.
For additional information, please visit http://ccber.ucsb.edu/
Project: IV Surfrider Concert for the Coast
Total Amount Distributed: $1,000.00
This is an annual event hosted by IV Surfrider in order to raise money and awareness about local coastal issues. IV Surfrider is seeking funding from funding sources for band and oversight expenses.
For additional information, please visit http://islavista.surfrider.org/
Project: Evaluating the Effect of Water Flow on Santa Barbara’s Boat-Hull Fouling Communities: Implications for Non-Native Species Management
Total Amount Distributed: $3,795.00
Boat-hull-borne invasive species threaten ecological health of California’s marine ecosystems. These species successfully colonize harbors, including Santa Barbara Harbor where boats visiting UCSB’s coastline moor. This research investigates factors influencing the spread of invasive marine species. Surveys indicate that distribution patterns differ between invasive and native hull-fouling species, however physical and biological factors generating those patterns are not understood. The researcher will experimentally evaluate the importance of water flow on non-native species distributions in Santa Barbara Harbor. This study will collect valuable novel information, provide research experience for UCSB students, and help to preserve coastal marine ecosystems.