UCSB Site Visit restoration of Ellwood Marine Terminal

Project Wrap Up: Shaping the Future of Ellwood Marine Terminal

A collaborative, community-driven engagement process has culminated in the creation of a public access and use concept design plan that reflects the values and needs of Chumash community members and the broader Santa Barbara public. This effort is part of the larger restoration of the Ellwood Marine Terminal (EMT) site for public use, led by the UC Santa Barbara Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration.

Through a series of targeted engagement activities—including identifying key stakeholders, conducting site tours, convening a Chumash roundtable listening session, hosting informal conversations, and organizing a community webinar—Strategic Earth successfully facilitated open dialogues that helped shape the vision for the restored site’s public access and use.

Feedback gathered during these activities has directly informed the latest draft of the public access and use concept design plan. This collaborative approach ensures that the restoration not only honors the area’s rich ecological history but also aligns with the priorities of the Santa Barbara and Chumash communities. Key elements of the design, such as trail layouts, scenic overlooks, gathering areas, signage, and interpretive features, reflect community input and emphasize environmental restoration and cultural connection.

Strategic Earth played a pivotal role in coordinating the project, conducting stakeholder outreach, and facilitating meetings. These efforts were instrumental in fostering meaningful relationships with community members and Chumash leaders, ensuring their voices shaped the EMT restoration process.

This project underscores the importance of thoughtful, inclusive engagement in ecological restoration. The resulting concept design plan exemplifies how community collaboration can lead to outcomes that support both environmental stewardship and public accessibility. As the project moves toward implementation, the EMT site is poised to become a space that honors its ecological and cultural heritage while serving as a resource for future generations.

Learn more about this entire project online by reading our Ellwood Marine Terminal client case study here.

Blog post written by Noelia Aponte-Silva

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