Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

The Park's Protection and Establishment

Channel Islands National Park was established in large part to protect the unique natural and cultural resources found both on the islands and within ocean waters, and the park has a long history of monitoring, protecting and restoring these resources. Even the shortest visit to the islands exposes visitors to the beauty and richness of park resources, whether it be leaping dolphins, undulating kelp, flowering Coreopsis, scampering mice, or soaring bald eagles. We hope this virtual visit to the natural resources of Channel Islands National Park provides you with information, if that is what you seek, or hopefully the inspiration to experience the islands more intimately by traveling yourself across the Santa Barbara Channel.

As the islands continually change in response to changing natural conditions and human impacts, our understanding of the resources within our care must also respond. Scientifically-based research can provide such information, and can answer many questions about how plants and animals live and how we can best protect them. Within these pages we provide examples of current and past research that attempts to increase our knowledge of island resources and in some cases provide links for more information.

Environmental Factors and Channel's Contribution to the Green Revolution

Natural areas, such as Channel Islands National Park, play an important role in indicating when critical changes are happening on the earth, our life support system. Parks can play the role of “the canary in the mine.” Just as the miner’s canary alerted mine workers to poison gases in a shaft, natural areas can alert us to biological, chemical, and environmental changes that will affect our quality of life and the survival of species.

The Channel Islands played a role in two events in 1969 that galvanized our nation to take seriously the growing warning signs of our deteriorating environment. In January 1969, an environmental disaster occurred in the Santa Barbara Channel. An offshore oil platform suffered a blowout. 200,000 gallons of crude oil escaped into the ocean over a period of eleven days. The oil created an 800-square- mile slick that impacted all of the northern Channel Islands and nearby mainland beaches. Thousands of seabirds and marine mammals died.

At the same time, scientists were becoming aware of a serious decline in the breeding success of California brown pelicans. Adult brown pelicans appeared to still be numerous, providing a deceptive façade that environmental conditions were intact. However, when the scientists looked more closely, they realized with horror that the pelicans were unable to nest successfully because the eggshells were too thin to withstand incubation and thus were crushed in the nest. For several years, the pelicans suffered nearly total reproductive failure. In 1970, only one chick was successfully raised on Anacapa Island, an island that had historically been the largest breeding colony for California brown pelicans on the west coast of the U.S.

The cause of the failed pelican breeding was DDT, an organochlorine pesticide. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the mean eggshell thickness was found to be approximately 50% thinner than normal. High levels of DDT residues were correlated with the eggshell thinning--the higher the DDT levels the thinner the eggshells. Later analysis of museum eggshells collected before 1943 and the notes of biologists showed that the eggshells of California brown pelicans were substantially thinner by 1962. Also, a long-term decline of brown pelicans began along the California coast as early as the mid-1950s. DDT similary affected bald eagles and peregrine falcons. However, because there was no standardized biological monitoring of pelicans (or any other wildlife), the problem wasn’t identified until the populations had nearly collapsed.

Pollutants have affected other species on the Channel Islands also. Bald eagles were once an important component of the island ecosystem. It is estimated that at least twenty nesting pairs of bald eagles occurred on the park islands in the early 1900s. Hunting, egg collection, and DDT all took their toll and resulted in the total elimination of bald eagles by the 1950s.

Fortunately, the American public and government reacted strongly to the loss of wildlife and the growing pollution of the environment. Many consider the publicity surrounding the Santa Barbara oil spill and the fate of the California brown pelican a major impetus to the environmental movement. Just one year later, in the spring of 1970, Earth Day was born.

The "Shore" to "Sea" Lecture Series

Every month Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary jointly sponsor the “From Shore to Sea” lecture series. The purpose of the series is to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding waters. Past lecture topics have included the recovery of the sea otter populations in southern California water, the French and Italian heritage of Santa Cruz Island, survival strategies of open water fishes, new approaches to understanding kelp forest ecosystem health, and park efforts to restore the Prisoners Harbor wetland.

The lectures occur at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way in the Santa Barbara Harbor and the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. The programs are free and open to the public.

2010 Schedule

January 12 & 13 - Feral Cat Eradication Program on San Nicolas Island by Annie Little, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

February 9 & 10 - Recent Anthropological Research on the Channel Islands by John Johnson, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

March 9 & 10 - Channel Islands National Park 30th Anniversary 1980-2010 Film Presentation: Restoring Balance: Santa Cruz Island by Russell Galipeau, Channel Islands National Park

Directions to Channel Islands National Park

While the mainland visitor centers in Ventura and Santa Barbara are readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended.

First you have to know which island you want to get to, and you can then find out how to get there by visiting one of these visitors centers or commercial company's pages.

The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center
at Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 658-5730

The visitor center is located in the Ventura Harbor in Ventura, California. Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Only train, bus, and private car transportation are available from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to Ventura.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Victoria Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Victoria.
• Turn right onto Olivas Park Drive to Harbor Boulevard, where Olivas Park Drive runs straight into Spinnaker Drive.
• The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Free parking is available at the beach parking lot.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Seaward Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left onto Harbor Boulevard, then proceed on Harbor to Spinnaker Drive.
• Turn right onto Spinnaker Drive.
• The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Free parking is avaliable at the beach parking lot.

113 Harbor Way 4th Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 884-1475
http://outdoorsb.noaa.gov/

The visitor center is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara is located 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles north of Ventura. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Castillo Street exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn right onto Castillo.
• When Castillo ends, turn right onto Cabrillo Blvd.
• Take a left at the next signal light, which is Harbor Way. City pay parking is immediately on your left or right. There are also 90 minute free parking spots in the harbor parking lot.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Bath Street exit.
• Take a left at the next signal light which is Gutierrez.
• Take a left at the next signal light which is Castillo Street. Follow Castillo until it comes to an end.
• When Castillo ends, turn right onto Cabrillo Blvd.
• Take a left at the next signal light, which is Harbor Way. City pay parking is immediately on your left or right. There are also 90 minute free parking spots in the harbor parking lot.

Island Packers
1691 Spinnaker Dr.
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 642-1393
www.islandpackers.com

The main office for Island Packers is located in the Ventura Harbor. Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Victoria Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Victoria.
• Turn right onto Olivas Park Drive to Harbor Boulevard, where Olivas Park Drive runs straight into Spinnaker Drive.
• Turn right onto Spinnaker Drive and follow to the "Island Tours/Island Packers" sign on your right just past the Ventura Harbor Village shopping area. Turn right at our sign. Parking is free. Please do not park in the 20 minute zones.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Seaward Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left onto Harbor Boulevard, then proceed on Harbor to Spinnaker Drive.
• Turn right onto Spinnaker Drive and follow to the "Island Tours/Island Packers" sign on your right just past the Ventura Harbor Village shopping area.
• Turn right at our sign. Parking is free. Please do not park in the 20 minute zones.

Island Packers also has a satellite office in the Channel Islands Harbor at 3600 S. Harbor Boulevard in Oxnard, California. Oxnard is located 65 miles north of Los Angeles and 35 miles south of Santa Barbara.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Victoria Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Victoria and continue to Channel Islands Boulevard .
• Turn right on Channel Islands Boulevard and continue over a large bridge to Harbor Boulevard .
• Turn left on Harbor Boulevard and continue until you see the "Marine Emporium" sign on your left.
• Turn left and park in parking lot for free. Across from the parking lot is the office. It is on the south side of the large gray building.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Seaward Avenue exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left onto Harbor Boulevard and follow it approximately 8 miles to Channel Islands Harbor.
• Stay to the right where there is a fork in the road and continue until you see the "Marine Emporium" sign on your left.
• Turn left and park in parking lot for free. Across from the parking lot is the office. It is on the south side of the large gray building.

Truth Aquatics
301 West Cabrillo Blvd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-3564
www.truthaquatics.com

Truth Aquatics is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor in the city of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is located 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles north of Ventura.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Castillo Street exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn right onto Castillo.
• When Castillo ends, turn right onto Cabrillo Blvd.
• Take a left at the next signal light, which is Harbor Way.
• Turn left into the city pay parking lot and ask for directions to Truth Aquatics at Sea Landing from the attendent.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Bath Street exit.
• Take a left at the next signal light which is Gutierrez.
• Take a left at the next signal light which is Castillo Street. Follow Castillo until it comes to an end.
• When Castillo ends, turn right onto Cabrillo Blvd.
• Take a left at the next signal light, which is Harbor Way.
• Turn left into the city pay parking lot and ask for directions to Truth Aquatics at Sea Landing from the attendent.

Channel Islands Aviation
305 Durley Avenue
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 987-1301
www.flycia.com

Channel Islands Aviation is located in the Camarillo Airport in Camarillo, California. Camarillo is located 86 miles north of Los Angeles and 14 miles south of Ventura.

From the 101 Freeway northbound:

• Take the Las Posas Road exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Las Posas.
• Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road.
• Turn right onto Airport Way.
• Turn left onto Durley Avenue. Turn right at our sign. Parking is free.
• Click here to map your route.

From the 101 Freeway southbound:

• Take the Las Posas Road exit.
• At the end of the freeway exit, turn right on Las Posas.
• Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road.
• Turn right onto Airport Way.
• Turn left onto Durley Avenue.
• Turn right at our sign. Parking is free.

Location