The San Clemente Habitat Restoration Project began in 2006 as a collaboration between UCSB Housing & Residential Services and the Cheadle Center to restore and enhance 5.9 acres of wetland protection area adjacent to the San Clemente Villages housing complex.
The site features an array of natural wetlands, bioswales, and created detention ponds that capture and filter 100% of the runoff from San Clemente Villages. In addition, the site supports over 100 native plant species and provides habitat for the Southern Tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. australis), a rare and endangered annual species.
In recognition of the project’s success, the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded San Clemente Villages LEED® Gold certifications for new construction and existing building operations and maintenance.
San Clemente before restoration in 2008
San Clemente after restoration 2010
San Clemente at a glance
Date Initiated: September 2006
Size: 5.9 acres
Habitat types: Coast Live Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Vernal Pool, Grassland
Special Features: Stormwater Management System (SMS), Southern tar plant conservation area, constructed wetlands
Special Status Species: Centromadia parryi ssp. australis (Southern Tarplant)
All Cheadle Center restoration monitoring reports, databases, and referenceable data are stored in the Cheadle Center eScholarship repository and can be accessed through our Data and Research Resources page.
