Presented by Phil McKenna
The Gaviota Coast is the largest intact example of our Southern California Mediterranean coastal environment. Its 200,000 acres span 73 miles of coastline and 43 watersheds. Internationally recognized as a “biological hotspot” for its diversity of plants and animals, it is a mosaic of landscapes—and it harbors many little-known stories: an epic development scheme stretching across 140 years; the largest ranch in Santa Barbara County preserved for restoration and scientific study; a coffee plantation in the foothills; a ranch encompassing an entire watershed being restored through regenerative agriculture. This course will be richly illustrated to display the character, beauty, and conservation challenges facing the Coast at the end of Southern California.