Novel Creek Setbacks Obeyed by Local Housing Development

Seemingly small victories are no less sweet, and one such victory was recently demonstrated by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC). During the last several months, the EDC, Urban Creeks Council, SB Audubon Society, and Goodland Coalition worked together to preserve a local creek in Goleta. 

 The Village at Los Carneros project, which proposes to develop as many as 500 residential units, will now have to comply with a 100 foot setback from the nearby Tecolotito Creek. As a potential spawning passageway for the local and endangered southern California steelhead, it is no wonder that the Goleta City Council opted to enforce the buffer last month. 

The Tecolotito Creek Watershed and adjacent Cameros Basin, Credit

 

The EDC also negotiated for other improvements to the project that will remove other roads and paths from the creek bank and push them back to a respectable distance. These efforts will reduce erosion of the bank as well as physical and chemical disturbances and pollution, which will help to keep the Tecolotito Creek clean and diverse. Restoration of open spaces around the project was also agreed upon by the applicant, which will help to reduce stormwater runoff and enhance soil penetration and retention, all of which are good for the creek.