Ten years after the Refugio Beach oil spill injured a stretch of California’s coastline, NOAA commemorates a decade of restoration progress. This work continues to heal marine ecosystems, rebuild fisheries and wildlife populations, and reconnect communities with coastal habitats.
On May 19, 2015, a ruptured pipeline near Refugio State Beach—just outside Santa Barbara—released more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil. The oil flowed through storm drains and ravines into the Pacific Ocean. It contaminated sensitive rocky intertidal zones, sandy beaches, and nearshore waters. It injured fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, and forced closures of fisheries, beaches, and coastal recreation areas.
Through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process, NOAA led the assessment of how the oil spill harmed the ecosystem and impacted human uses, such as recreation. In 2020, NOAA and other state and federal agencies secured a $22.3 million settlement with Plains All American Pipeline, the party responsible for the spill. Since then, we have managed the use of settlement funds to restore the impacted habitats and help coastal communities recover.
Jen Boyce, marine habitat resource specialist with the Office of Habitat Conservation, says, “These projects continue to improve the health and fortitude of these critical habitats. We already see the impact they’ve had, from the brown pelicans breeding successfully on Anacapa Island, to the rocky reefs that once again support red abalone, and to native dune habitat taking shape at Santa Monica beach. Signs of recovery are everywhere.”
Rebuilding Shoreline Habitat
In efforts to restore nearshore habitats, NOAA has initiated multiple projects along the Gaviota Coast.
At multiple reef sites, NOAA and partners outplanted more than 5,000 juvenile red abalone. This work is part of a comprehensive plan to establish a self-sustaining population, with a long-term goal to introduce up to 40,000 abalone. Abalone are crucial to kelp forest ecosystems. They control the growth of algae, which ensures these forests continue to provide food and shelter for fish species. The project also includes long-term monitoring to assess survival rates and reef conditions.
NOAA and partners are also actively restoring eelgrass beds along the Gaviota Coast. These beds provide critical habitats for refuge and breeding grounds for fish, invertebrates, and migratory birds. They also stabilize the seafloor with their root systems, preventing erosion so that more complex and resilient ecosystems can develop.
On land, another project is restoring and enhancing native beach dune vegetation. This involved planting 45 pounds of seed—from 15 different California plant species. The success of this work is already visible: snowy plovers have returned to that site in greater numbers than before restoration.
Expanding Public Access
NOAA-supported projects have also helped reopen and enhance recreational experiences disrupted by the spill, including:
- Installation of interpretive signs that help visitors learn about local ecosystems and the impacts of the spill at Arroyo Burro Beach
- Participation in the Bridge to Nature program, where NOAA and partners helped 600 students explore and learn about beaches and tidepools—many for the first time
- Upgraded paths and beach wheelchairs at Ventura Harbor that improve access for all visitors, along with safety and communication enhancements that support beach patrol operations
Restoration by the Numbers
Since the settlement in 2020, NOAA and our partners have completed or initiated work across key coastal sites. To date the team has:
- Outplanted more than 5,000 red abalone
- Supported roughly 600 students through environmental education
- Began—12 human-use projects (many are already completed)
- Engaged nearly 500 volunteers through 23 community events
Looking Ahead
A decade after the Refugio oil spill, NOAA and partners have made significant progress restoring habitats, fisheries, wildlife, and public access.
While the work is not finished, NOAA will continue to lead the next phase of restoration and monitoring and adaptive management, using the remaining funds.
