CLEAN-UP DAY AT PRISONER'S HARBOR SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Written Dec 11 2009 by
September 19, 2009 marked the second annual beach clean- up at Prisoner's Harbor, located half way up the coast of Santa Cruz Island abeam of Santa Barbara, California. The purpose of the trip, manned by 31 volunteers, was to leave the beach in a more pristine condition clearing much flotsam from the shores.
Park employees, foundation organizers, new members and friends gathered at the Ventura Harbor Island Packer's Terminal for the early morning departure. Ed Shelton drove all night from Phoenix to attend the event and Pat Meyer of the Friends of the Island Fox, Inc. brought along 8 hardy enthusiasts. Frisky dolphin escorted the group on the entire crossing to Prisoner's Harbor.
After an hour and 1/2 of collecting, the items were sorted, weighed and properly disposed of by our Park Ranger Tim Thie. Over 400 pounds of recyclables and trash were picked up.
Ann Huston , Chief of Cultural Resources, reminded us of the area's significance "in 1830, a band of approximately 40 Mexican convicts left Acapulco for Santa Barbara. Outraged and afraid, the people of Santa Barbara searched for a way to make the men leave. They convinced the men that there was promising work in developing a cattle ranch on Santa Cruz Island and raised enough money topurchase livestock and tools for the men to bring to Santa Cruz.
The prisoners landed in a cove now known as Prisoner's Harbor. There they found that developing a ranch would never be prosperous. Some accounts report that a fire destroyed most of their provisions and forced them to leave the island, and others say that the prisoners consumed all that was given to them and then decided to leave. The cattle were slaughtered and their hides were lashed around logs to form rafts. Some believe that the hides attracted sharks on the journey back to Santa Barbara, killing many of the men.
Ann further informed us of the the early development by the Chumash. "Hundreds of years ago, the native island Chumash traveled these ancient waters for hunting, fishing, and trading. They built canoes, called tomols, from trees that drifted down the coast, fastening the cut planks together with animal sinews and sealed with a tar-like substance which occurs naturally in the Channel and along the coast from oil seeping into the water from below the earth's surface."
Pat Meyer and Keri Dearborn from the Friends of the Island Fox heralded the amazing success and efforts that have gone into saving the endangered island fox from extinction.
The second half of the day occurred at Scorpion Harbor after a quick transport by the tireless crew of Island Packers. Marking the event, Channel Islands Park Foundation President, Carol Pillsbury, gave special thanks to Park Superintendent, Russell Galipeau. Further comments lauded the Park employees who support the foundation including Ann Huston, Yvonne Menard, Kent Bullard and Joel Justin. Foundation organizers prepared a wine, cheese and dessert reception to celebrate the clean-up event and to thank the hard workers who spent their Saturday restoring the Prisoner's beach and inter tidal areas.
Prizes were awarded to the Rick Wilcox family in the total- weight-collected category.
Additional prizes went to Paul and Susan Belgum for the most unusual discovery; an archeological site document rolled up in a bottle. Jerry, of the Island Fox group, was awarded the final prize for a rhinestone tiara he discovered on the rocky shore.
After time to explore the Scorpion Ranch and its new Visitor's Center, the volunteers for the day bonded on the return trip to Ventura Harbor.
Special thanks to the following volunteers:
Pam Justin
Arne Anselen
Bonnie Kelnbergen
Michele Velderran
Kendra Gonzales
Mike Lawshe
Mary Renaker
John Kuizenga
Bruce Schmidt
Blake Wilson
Fran Hickman
Don Mills
Submitted by Susanne and Blake Wilson
Tagged as
California Costal Cleanup 2009, Clean-up, Channel Islands beach clean-up, Santa Cruz Island beaches, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands
Written
Dec 11 2009 by
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