BLM CA Interpretive Services Seabird Protection Central CA Coast

On September 28, 1997, a discharge of crude oil resulted when a 20-inch offshore pipeline emanating from Platform Irene off the Santa Barbara County coast near Vandenberg Air Force Base ruptured. The Spill resulted in the fouling of approximately 17 miles of coastline and rock islands, and caused an impact to a variety of natural resources, including seabirds, sandy and gravel beach habitats, rocky intertidal shoreline habitats, and use of beaches for human recreation. The offshore rock islands affected became part of the BLM California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) in 2000. With the damages assessed from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment for the oil spill, the Trustees developed the Torch Platform Irene Oil Spill Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment 2007. Of the five most preferred restoration activities, the Seabird Colony Enhancement Project is intended to protect seabirds by reducing human disturbance of roosts and colonies. The BLM California State Office approved that the CCNM assumed leadership for the chapter of the Seabird Protection Network covering Point Sur (Monterey County) to Point Mugu -Ventura County - to advance the Seabird Colony Enhancement Project. The BLM and its chapter partners in the region conduct public outreach and media at harbors and kayak launch sites, commercial boat operations, bird festivals, and meetings of pilots associations.