Santa Ynez Lagoon
Map SatelliteAt the mouth of the Santa Ynez River is the largest salt marsh in the northern part of the County. The dominant species are Salicornia virginica and Frankenia grandifolia, with Jaumea carnosa and Distichlis spicata.
Upstream the marsh intergrades somewhat abruptly with a freshwater marsh, with the bulrushes, Scirpus californicus and Scirpus robustus, and cattail, Typha latifolia, among the more prominent species. The marshes give way in the uplands to annual grasslands.
Near the ocean, on the dunes, is a coastal strand community with Abronia maritima, which here is at the southern limit of its range, Abronia umbellata, Abronia latifolia, and the non-native Carpobrotus chilensis, among others. The rare Castilleja mollis is found in the strand community.
A variety of animal life is found in the area. Both the endangered California least tern, Sterna albifrons browni and Belding's savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi, breed in the area; however, the former is imperiled by human activity. The Virginia rail, Rallus limicola, and sora, Porzana carolina, are found here too. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded in the area.
Two species of fish, the tidewater goby, Eucyclogobius newberryi, and the Pacific staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus, are regularly found in the lagoon. Before construction of the Cachuma Dam (1953) there was a sizeable migration of sea-run steelhead trout, Salmo gairdnerii gairdnerii.
The lagoon is blocked during a portion of the year but it is mechanically opened in the fall, thus assuring a tidal action.
Integrity: A railroad track bridges the lagoon and a highway parallels it. There is a county day-use park on the south side. The recreational use is impairing the vegetation and the tern population. There is fill in the area. A portion is in the Vandenberg Air Force Base and is not used.
Use: Research, educational, observational.
Ref: Mahrdt, C. R. et al. 1976. Natural Resources of Coastal Wetland in Northern Santa Barbara County. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game Coast. Wet. Series #14, 95+ pp.
March 1977
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
