The Cheadle Center at UCSB manages more than 340 acres of open space between Ellwood Mesa and Goleta Slough, carrying out ecological restoration, research, and education projects across these sites. Characterized by a rich mosaic of oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, grassland, and wetland ecosystems, the area is known for its relatively high level of biodiversity. The Cheadle Center’s project sites and management areas help protect and strengthen the region’s ecology through habitat conservation, upland restoration, wetland creation and enhancement, and the implementation of sustainable stormwater management solutions. Through careful integration with local watersheds and surrounding natural areas, the Cheadle Center’s management areas provide important corridors and refuge for wildlife, support the long-term preservation of the region’s natural resources, and serve as outdoor classrooms, research sites, and recreational areas for the campus community and the public.
The Restoration Register is the Cheadle Center’s bimonthly newsletter from the Ecological Restoration & Management Program, highlighting ecological restoration projects, research, native plants, wildlife, volunteer opportunities, and other news from across the Cheadle Center’s restoration sites and management areas. This archived July 2026 issue includes updates on the Ellwood Monarch Grove, salt marsh bird’s-beak, new staff, young wildlife on campus, and more. The Species Spotlight features California sand aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia), while the feature story explores vegetation monitoring methods and long-term restoration outcomes across the Cheadle Center’s restoration sites.
