CIR staff and volunteers installed a total of 1,760 native plants at the site beginning in 2011. Since the initial planting, we have removed weeds from the site every year through 2015. Funding for this project was provided by the Goleta Valley Land Trust and by the San Marcos Foothills Coalition.

Scroll down to see before and after photos of the site and for a list of plants that were installed.

Starting in 2012, CIR embarked on a project to remove invasive plants along the 2.6 miles of Preserve trails, in sensitive habitats including at the wetland spring near the Antone Road entrance to the Preserve and to install natives plants at the Via Gaitero trailhead. Planning for the project began in early 2012, led by biologist Darlene Chirman and planting and trailside weed removal began in early 2013. Native plants and invasive weed control along trail corridors improved habitat for native animals and also enhanced the experience for people visiting the Preserve. The priority areas where invasive plant removal occurred included:

The Spring near the Antone Road entrance to the Preserve
Several native wetland plants such as spikerush, umbrella sedge and California rose grow at this natural spring near the Antone Road entrance to the Preserve. Because the area is wet year around, several invasive plants also grow at the Spring, including cape ivy, a particularly invasive non-native plant. Because the Spring is a natural wetland and may be a site for a future, larger restoration project, removal of invasive plants in this area is a priority.

Native grasslands and oak woodland
Two native grassland areas and an oak woodland benefited from non-native weed removal during this project. These areas included extensive native purple needed grass, blue-eyed grass and coast live oaks where we removed scattered weeds such as mustard, fennel and thistle.

Planting at the Via Gaitero trailhead
A total of 137 plants were installed at the Via Gaitero trailhead during initial installation and follow up replanting. Extensive browsing from pocket gophers, brush rabbits and deer caused many of the plants to die. Subsequent re-planting included above and below ground browse cages that improved the survival of the replacement plants.

Funding for this project was provided by REI, the Ventura Patagonia store and the San Marcos Foothills Coalition. Scroll down to see photos of staff and volunteers performing this work and for a list of plants installed at the Via Gaitero trailhead.