Santa Barbara Airport Firestone Ditch Vegetation Maintenance (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-SBA-55636-R5)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has executed Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-SBA-55636-R5 with the City of Santa Barbara for the maintenance of the Firestone Ditch. The project is designed to preserve the hydraulic function of the channel, clear overgrown vegetation from roads, and ensure safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists. The scope of work includes trimming approximately 1,500 linear feet of riparian and wetland vegetation on the west side of the channel and 1,250 linear feet of non-native vegetation on the east side. Specific requirements mandate that native oaks and willows be trimmed to a height of 10 to 12 feet and cleared from road shoulders and traffic lanes on Firestone Road and Hollister Avenue. Non-native species, such as oleander, olives, and Mexican fan palms, must be trimmed to ground level while keeping root systems intact to prevent erosion. Maintenance activities follow a strict performance schedule, with roadside vegetation trimming occurring once per year, grassy area mowing four times per year, and channel bottom vegetation trimming every other year. The project is located in Santa Barbara, California, and has been determined categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act by the City of Santa Barbara. Administrative oversight is managed by Project Planner Jessica Metzger for the City of Santa Barbara and Environmental Scientist Cooper Wall for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.