The Santa Rosa Island Fire was a historic, wind-driven wildfire that burned 18,379 acres—roughly one-third of the island—in Channel Islands National Park between May 15 and June 4, 2026. It stands as the largest wildfire ever recorded in the history of the Channel Islands. The fire affected native grasslands, coastal scrub, oak woodlands, rare plant communities, watersheds, cultural landscapes, roads, trails, campgrounds, and portions of one of the world's rarest pine forests. History of the FireThe fire was first reported in the early morning hours of May 15, 2026, on the remote southeastern coast of Santa Rosa Island. The fire progressed quickly from the initiation point to the north and east despite high winds out of the northwest. Firefighting operations faced extreme logistical hurdles. Because the island sits 26 miles off the Santa Barbara coast, crews and heavy equipment had to be shuttled in by boat. Wind and cloud cover inhibited early access by aircraft. Thick marine layers and fierce coastal winds initially grounded federal air tankers, forcing hand crews to battle 30-foot flames on the ground. The fire pushed north and east through canyons, threatening invaluable natural and cultural resources. The blaze burned directly toward a critically endangered grove of Torrey pines—a genetically unique tree subspecies found naturally in only two places on Earth. Two historic park structures were lost in the first few days. Throughout the fire, suppression efforts emphasized point protection of critical values, checking fire progression through the use of aerial suppression resources (due to steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain), using roads as line, and preparing direct and indirect control lines (bulldozer and hand) near park facilities at Bechers Bay. As of May 21st, total fire acreage reached 18,379 acres and it remained as such until containment on June 4, 2026. Planning for RecoveryAn interagency team comprised of Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists with expertise in hydrology, geology, cultural resources, botany, infrastructure, wildlife, paleontology, GIS, documentation and public information was assembled to address and communicate post-fire impacts associated with the Santa Rosa Island Fire. The BAER team conducted a formal in-brief with park staff on June 4, 2026 to provide an overview of the assessment process and solicit a list of potential values at risk. Satellite imagery obtained for the fire provided a preliminary indication of potential soil burn severity and vegetation mortality. These data were used by BAER team members to perform hydrologic modelling of anticipated watershed response, which helped to inform field assessments in and downstream of the burned areas. BAER team members were based on the island June 5–10, 2026 where they conducted field reconnaissance and compiled data from onsite, aerial, and remotely sensed observations of fire-impacted forests, watersheds, invasive plants, cultural resources, and other site-specific values and hazards. Once back on the mainland specialists evaluated values at risk for fire-related impacts, potential post-fire threats, and assessed the need for and feasibility of emergency stabilization and rehabilitation treatments. On June 16, 2026 the BAER team shared its final findings and recommendations with park staff during a formal close-out presentation. BAER ReportThe BAER report contains an assessment of post-fire conditions and recommended, cost-effective treatments needed to protect human life, property, and critical natural and cultural resources. It addresses both Emergency Stabilization (ES) and Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR). BAER and BAR are intended to address imminent (<1 year) and short-term (<5 years) threats caused by wildfire, respectively; neither program is responsible for long-term management or rectifying deficiencies that existed prior to the fire. The BAR program protects resources by repairing or improving burned landscapes unlikely to recover naturally to desired management conditions and to repair or replace fire-damaged minor assets. Treatment priorities take into account human safety, the relative values of property and critical natural and cultural resources to be protected, and the feasibility of emergency stabilization and rehabilitation. The basis of the BAER and BAR assessment process is identifying, evaluating, and protecting, repairing or replacing values at risk—human safety, properties, capital improvements and natural and cultural resources—located within and downstream of burned areas, and impacted by fire and/or vulnerable to post-fire conditions. Burned Area AssessmentsObjectives
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FindingsSoil burn severity was predominantly low to moderate overall with very small patches of high soil burn severity in the dense scrub oak stands. In the 18,379-acres fire perimiter, 1088 acres were unburned and soil burn severity was low in 15,431 acres, moderate in 1,847 acres, and high in 13 acres. Hydrologic modeling indicates that a 1-hr storm with a 25-yr return interval (40 mm) would result in a slight to moderate increase in runoff, erosion, and peak channel flows. Compared to pre-fire conditions, channel peak flow across the 16 modeled watersheds is expected to increase from 0 to 285% with the greatest expected increases found in Torrey Pines 5, Water Canyon, Quemada, and Johnsons. Peak channel flow of Torrey Pines 5 is expected to increase from approximately 157 to 607 ft³/s and from 79 to 241 ft³/s in Water Canyon. Sediment yield is expected to increase slightly to moderately across burned hillslopes: 0 to 442% with the greatest increases expected in the Torrey Pines portion of the burn. While various hillslopes within the Torrey Pines are expected to only produce 150 to 270% more sediment than pre-fire conditions, these hillslopes were already incredibly erosive with 24 individual hillslopes producing more than 40 tons of sediment per acre and three hillslopes producing more than 60 tons per acre. Hillslope 71 of the Torrey Pines 5 modeled watershed had one of the largest increases post-fire responses and the hydrograph of sediment yield and runoff illustrate the post-fire changes in the Torrey Pines. For both runoff and sediment yield, the loss of vegetative cover, aboveground litter, and soil integrity results in an immediate loss of water and sediment compared to pre-fire conditions where the kinetic energy of precipitation can be dissipated and infiltration can occur at a sufficient rate to reduce the total amount and peak flow of runoff. While this rate of loss is less than other watersheds that exhibit rates greater than 90 tons/acre (e.g. Water, San Augustine, and Wreck Canyons), topsoil in this watershed is critical to the success of the proposed Torrey Pine reforestation efforts and must be stabilized. Debris flow modeling indicates that under conditions of a peak 15-minute rainfall intensity storm rate of 1.02 inches/hr (26 mm/hr), corresponding to a 1-year return interval storm, a majority of the drainages in the burn scar show low (20–40%) to very low (0–20%) likelihood of debris flow initiation, with a low combined hazard (volume + likelihood) rating. Volume estimates show that under these same storm conditions, most drainages in the burn scar are predicted to mobilize debris flows containing volumes of less than <1,300 cubic yards or ranging from 1,300 to 13,000 cubic yards. The few basins that do present a moderate (40–60%) likelihood of debris flow initiation include relatively small, un-named sub-watersheds that flow into the lower Water Canyon watershed, just upstream of Water Canyon Campground. In addition, there are another three unnamed small watersheds that flow through the Torrey Pines grove directly to Bechers Bay, crossing East Point Road, which present a moderate (40–60%) likelihood of initiation of debris flows. All these drainages that present moderate likelihood of debris flow initiations, are estimated to mobilize volumes ranging from less than <1,300 cubic yards to volumes ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 cubic meters. The three unnamed drainages that flow through the Torry Pines grove are predicted to mobilize volumes of less than <1,000 cubic meters each. These drainages described above present a moderate combined hazard (volume + likelihood) rating. Some other drainages that present 20–40% likelihood of initiation of debris flows and a moderate combine hazard include some drainages that flow into lower Quemada watershed and Old Ranch Canyon. Most watersheds in the burned area would have a 50% probability of debris flow initiation during storm magnitudes of >1.57 inches/hr (40 mm/hr) during the first year post-fire. Some other watersheds exhibit higher debris flow initiation probabilities at lower rainfall threshold intervals between 0.94–1.57 inches/hr. Values at Risk
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FindingsHazardous materials were not identified during a visual survey within the footprints of burned structures, though park staff indicated that all three structures contained asbestos. Eric Lam (NPS Contaminated Lands Project Manager) was provided pictures and a description of the burned buildings. His recommendations are that even if asbestos is present, the buildings do not pose a risk to humans as long as the site is avoided. Cleanup of the burned debris should be completed by employees wearing PPE appropriate for potential hazmat conditions. Wire from burned fencelines poses a safety risk to visitors. Four corrals were burned within the fire perimeter, but only two are easily accessible and along roads/trails where visitors will frequently pass. These corrals are the Wreck Corral and the Old Ranch Corral. The Old Ranch Corral had most of its posts burned and has a substantial amount of rusty wire now laying on the ground, within mere feet of the East Point Road/trail where visitors pass by. The Wreck Corral had fewer burned posts but has substantial metal debris (old guardrail sections) freely hanging or on the ground which again pose a risk to visitors that pass closely by on the Wreck Road. Drainage channels lead to each of the camping beaches along the southeast shoreline of the island, within the SE quadrant of the camping permit system. Field assessments and watershed modeling indicate that the expected hydrologic response to the Santa Rosa Island Fire is not expected to be a serious risk to human life and safety. However, due to the highly erosive soils and the steep topography of the island, staff and visitors should not be located near the openings of these drainages during storm events. Illegal camping will be likely without a consistent NPS presence and public messaging effort. The fire burned the grass and shrub layer on the landscape down to the beachline in many places, providing an open landscape that will be inviting to campers and cross-country hikers. The frequent challenges of finding suitable camping sites that are restricted to the beach, such as high tides and a requirement of campers to avoid disturbing or causing pinnipeds to evade humans, will make the open terraces and landscape above the beaches highly attractive to campers. Medical and logistical support from existing Channel Islands NP personnel is already very limited, and the increase in BAER implementation-related activity and personnel further stretches the ability of current park personnel to meet those support needs. Values at Risk
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FindingsTorrey PineAreas dominated by Torrey pine and Santa Rosa Island manzanita experienced the highest soil burn severities due to the accumulation of litter and duff under the canopy, which resulted in long fire residence times. The fire response of these plants is largely unknown given the rarity of this species and the limited fire history on the island. We evaluated numerous trees throughout the fire impacted stands, observing varying degrees of crown scorch, root collar scorch, and litter/duff consumption, and found that only trees with very low crown scorch and very low root collar- scorch appeared to be alive. Most fire damaged trees did not produce sap following multiple scratch tests, and exposed tissues were dry and somewhat brittle, suggesting that heat was intense enough to cook the cambium and xylem vessels, effectively destroying the tree’s internal plumbing. Numerous mature trees also had extensive roots above the soil surface that were heavily insulated by thick accumulations of needle cast and duff. As a result, these exposed roots were severely damaged by long duration, high heat, which also contributed to elevated crown- and root collar-scorch. Based on these observations, and on literature suggesting that mature Torrey pine is not well adapted to survive moderate to high-severity fire, we concluded that the fire resulted in an estimated 60–80% mortality rate. Limited research suggests that the species is poorly adapted to survive fire but is functionally adapted to recruit after fire, making post-fire monitoring essential to understand the extent of stand mortality, plan and implement post-fire reforestation, and contribute to the broader understanding of post-fire effects on Torrey pine. A large unknown is that Torrey pine characteristics, such as delayed cone release and higher establishment rates with greater exposure to sunlight, suggest that the species may readily recruit naturally postfire. These mechanisms make even high mortality fires potentially important recruitment events, provided that surviving canopy seed stores remain intact. Past studies show that recruitment increases after disturbance, though long-term survival rates can be low, and that seedling survival was greatest when leaf litter was present under low precipitation scenarios, which are now more common climate conditions. The lack of litter is now a common link between the mainland Torrey pine stands and the postfire island Torrey pine stands and may further inhibit seedling establishment in the absence of assisted reforestation. We found the soils where Torrey pines grow to be either loamy sands or sandy loams, both of which are highly erosive. Depth to bedrock was shallow, so erosion is a significant concern given the steep slopes and the extent of moderate and high soil burn severity in the stand. Such erosion could result in substantial loss of site potential for pine establishment in the post-fire environment. The other concern for Torrey pine regeneration is that the island is exceptionally prone to invasion and dominance by invasive annual grasses, and these species readily exploit disturbances. Pre-fire invasive annual grass cover within the Torrey pine stands was among the lowest in the entire fire area, except for the manzanita stands along Main Road and near Sierra Pablo. Average invasive annual grass cover over the last 30 years (1995–2025) has been estimated at greater than 40% across more than 13,000 acres within the fire perimeter. Invasive annual grasses readily exploit disturbances and competitively exclude desirable perennial vegetation. With such dense annual grass presence directly adjacent to and within the burned stands, there is a real and present threat to natural pine revegetation and overall site potential post-fire. Although Torrey pine relies on infrequent, high-severity fire to create conditions suitable for recruitment, this fire also produced significant barriers to natural recovery. High mortality can reduce canopy seed stores; postfire soils are highly erosive, shallow, and situated on steep slopes prone to site degradation; and widespread invasion by annual grasses threatens to rapidly occupy disturbed ground and suppress pine regeneration. While the species’ reproductive strategy offers some potential for natural recruitment, long term survival is often low, and the absence of protective litter layers, combined with heavy competition from invasive annuals, combined with increasing temperatures and declining precipitation further diminishes natural establishment probability. Given the global rarity of the species, the scale of stand loss, the degraded postfire environment, and the high risk of invasive grass dominance, natural recovery alone is unlikely to sustain the long term viability of the Santa Rosa Island Torrey pine population. Reforestation, though costly, is therefore essential to prevent permanent loss of genetic, ecological, and cultural value and to ensure the continued persistence of this irreplaceable pine. ManzanitaPost-fire species response of the Santa Rosa Island manzanita is unknown. While most manzanita resprout post-fire, the Santa Rosa Island manzanita lacks a burl found with resprouting species. Channel Islands National Park staff have had success germinating Santa Rosa Island manzanita using liquid smoke treatments, which suggests a post-fire germination response. Extensive intact habitat exists both inside and outside the burn area. The primary concern for this population is the introduction of invasive weeds along roadsides and into moderate severity burn areas. Other Federally Protected SpeciesThe remaining federally listed species in the burn area were annual forbs interspersed within grassland ecosystems, which generally experience low burn severity and short fire residence time. A majority of the habitat where these species occur were unburned or burned at low severity, with patches of moderate burn severity interspersed. The only species which was directly observed by BAER team members was the slender-flowered gilia, which was found flowering in an unburned patch. Given the spatial heterogeneity of fire severity as it overlapped with federally listed plant species, the recovery of these species is not an immediate concern. Single-Island Endemic SpeciesSingle-island endemic dudleya species were also within the fire footprint. Their preferred habitat is on rocky ridgelines with little fuel and grass accumulation. These rocky environments were largely unburned or had low soil burn severity. However, adjacent to these rare plants were more heavily burned shrub patches which seemed to impact dudleya via heated air convection. Both the READ team and BAER team surveyed these areas and estimated that 5% of the population had been impacted. Fire resilience of these populations is unknown and may need to be monitored for longer term impacts. Cloud Forest Restoration SiteA small portion of the Cloud Forest Restoration Site was impacted by fire, limited only to a handful of seedlings planted by park staff as well as some staged restoration materials for building wattles. None of the keystone mature oaks were impacted. Upon assessment of repairs made by the Resource Advisor team and discussion with park staff, it was determined that no action is necessary to replace restoration infrastructure. The Cloud Forest restoration site is a success story for Channel Islands National Park, and much of the same techniques used in this effort can be translated directly to the fire-impacted Torrey pine stand. Invasive SpeciesAnnual grasses cover a significant portion of the island yet are largely absent from manzanita habitat at the northwestern edge of the fire along Main Road. This habitat primarily burned at moderate severity, leaving newly exposed soil and an absence of aboveground biomass. Additionally, the manzanita burned area is directly adjacent to Main Road, a travel corridor which was used as the primary holding feature for the fire. The combination of roadside proximity, moderate soil burn severity, and high vegetation mortality leave this area primed for invasion by annual grasses. It will need to be monitored closely for invasive species and treated where necessary to maintain the integrity of recovering manzanita ecosystem. Detection should be followed by treatment prescriptions during the same year of discovery, with follow-up maintenance monitoring and treatments as necessary in following years to control the spread into susceptible manzanita burn areas. Existing treatment areas for petite licorice (Plecostachys serpyllifolia) were surveyed within the burn area. The fire burned through the core of the population, creating opportunity for this population to be completely eradicated by park staff. Individuals of Plecostachys serpyllifolia still are present on the outskirts of the treatment area so it is vitally important to implement further treatments. Post-fire conditions provide an extraordinary opportunity to control target invasive species while they are particularly vulnerable to treatment. Treating invasive plant populations when they are small is the most cost effective and ecologically beneficial way to control them. Targeted weed species such as fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) were observed along river and road corridors, along with pervasive annual invasive grasses such as rip-gut brome (Bromus diandrus) and slender wild oats (Avena barbata). Treating along road corridors can slow the spread of invasives into receptive post-fire habitat. Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) vegetation plot locations were surveyed throughout the burn area across all soil burn severity classes. Aluminum stakes were largely intact and clearly visible. Some carsonite posts were found damaged in moderate severity burn areas. After further discussions with park staff, it was determined that no additional funding is necessary to replace infrastructure related to I&M monitoring plots. Values at Risk
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FindingsFire effects were variable throughout the burned area. The vast majority of the fire burned at low severity, but patches of moderate burn severity and unburned vegetation occur throughout many portions of the burn. Areas of high burn severity are minimal, in fact nearly absent, and will not be discussed further in this assessment. Soil burn severity does not correspond directly to vegetation mortality but does correspond to revegetation patterns and will thus be most relevant when assessing long-term, indirect impacts on wildlife populations. Widespread, high vegetation mortality occurred even in areas with low soil burn severity due to the broad coverage of nonnative grass species. The potential for invasion of nonnative annual grasses exists across the burned area and could convert other habitat types to grasslands dominated by these species. Generally, areas that burned at lower severity will revegetate more quickly and are likely to regenerate with vegetation communities more similar to pre-burn conditions when compared to moderate or high burn severity. Areas of moderate burn severity are also more prone to post-fire sedimentation when compared to areas of low burn severity. Grasses, forbs, and various riparian plant species were observed quickly regrowing within multiple areas of low burn severity and riparian corridors. It is probable that direct mortality of wildlife is less likely to occur in areas of low severity burn, where fire was less intense and had less residence time. Areas of unburned habitat primarily occurred around natural firebreaks (i.e. rocky, sandy, or barren areas) and at higher elevations where fire behavior was possibly mediated by maritime fog. Hereafter these effects will be assessed by taxonomic groups. CarnivoresThe Santa Rosa Island fox and island spotted skunk compose the mammalian carnivore community on SRI. The Santa Rosa Island fox is endemic to SRI and was delisted from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2016 after rebounding from 15 individuals, with most recent population estimates at 2,123 individuals (NPS draft data). There are not recent estimates of island spotted skunk population abundance on SRI. Capture rates during CHIS fox monitoring efforts and recent camera monitoring both suggest skunks are widespread but occur at low densities on SRI (Bolas et al. 2020). Although habitat selection patterns have been found, both species are best characterized as habitat generalists that occur across SRI (Davidson et al. 2019). The species have similar diets and occupy a similar ecological niche, however island skunks are more carnivorous, whereas island foxes have a wider dietary niche and are more omnivorous(Crooks and Van Vuren 1995, Cypher et al. 2014). Island foxes are thought to be the dominant competitor and to moderate island spotted skunk populations, as demonstrated by sudden skunk population increases when fox populations decreased precipitously on SRI followed by subsequent decreases after fox recovery (Jones et al. 2008). Without natural predators and finite habitat on an island without the possibility of emigration, populations of these species on SRI are largely thought to exist at carrying capacity (Davidson et al. 2019). The amount of direct mortality on adult island foxes and island spotted skunks from the fire is unknown but assumed to be low due to the mobility of both species. Two adult fox carcasses were observed in the burn but were assessed to be pre-fire mortalities due to the advanced state of decomposition. No skunk carcasses were observed. Higher likelihood of direct mortality is assumed for juveniles of both species due to the timing of the fire coinciding with pup-rearing seasons. The less mobile juveniles may not have escaped the fire in areas of fast spread if not in protected dens. Juvenile foxes were observed by BAER team members in an unburned area 3 weeks post-ignition (Figure 2). Indirect, short-term effects of the fire are likely to have the greatest impact on island foxes and island spotted skunks. The fire effects and immediate widespread loss of vegetation cover has certainly displaced individuals into the unburned portion of SRI. Foxes were not observed in the vast majority of the burned area, whereas numerous individuals were seen in the unburned area. With populations already at carrying capacity and no emigration, the resulting inter- and intraspecific competition will reduce survival and reproduction of both species. The increased density of both species in remaining habitat will also increase predation rates on prey species like deer mice, ground nesting birds, and reptiles. It is likely that populations will exhibit detectable decreases until forage resources rebound. While difficult to predict, the majority low severity of the burn suggests much of these short-term impacts will begin a reversing trend within 2-5 years as vegetation begins to recover. Long-term effects are likely to occur but are difficult to predict due to the complexities of competition and fine-scale niche partitioning between the island foxes and island spotted skunks. There is an extensive body of knowledge on these processes on SRI/CHIS thanks to research and monitoring efforts by the Park, but large wildfires are a novel variable. With foxes as the dominant competitor, it is probable that skunk populations will suffer greater declines in a landscape of elevated competition and decreased forage. There is evidence that island spotted skunks avoid relatively open habitats and select for more dense vegetation, which will take longer to regenerate (Jones et al. 2008). These factors suggest that the SRI island spotted skunk population may experience greater declines and take several years longer to recover compared to the island fox population. Once sufficient diversity and abundance of forage and cover species recover to facilitate niche partitioning, populations of both species should restore balance. Since island spotted skunks are already thought to occur at low densities, monitoring of their population will take on greater importance over the next several years. Burned area rehabilitation treatments specific to Santa Rosa Island foxes or island spotted skunks are not necessary. Native plant recovery will be the most crucial process in restoring populations to pre-fire densities. This is expected to occur relatively quickly in many areas due to the low burn severity of most of the burned area. Due to biosecurity concerns, seed mixes must be grown/collected on island and available seed is extremely limited. Treatments aimed at weed prevention (ES-9 and ES-12, BAR-3 and BAR-8) and reforestation (ES-10, BAR-4) will aid in this native vegetation recovery process. Continued and expanded monitoring of these species on SRI will be important to understanding and predicting fire impacts. GPS telemetry of foxes will be the best method to truly elucidate patterns of inter- and intraspecific competition because VHF telemetry lacks the spatiotemporal resolution to do so accurately. Island spotted skunks are difficult to GPS collar due to body morphology (A. Little pers. comm.), therefore cameras will provide an effective means for simultaneous monitoring of both species. Small MammalsThe Santa Rosa Island deer mouse is the only small mammal species on SRI and the most abundant mammal on the Island (Davidson et al. 2019). The island deer mouse plays an important role in the Island’s ecology both as a prey species and as a seed predator. Multi-year deer mouse monitoring has been conducted on other islands in CHIS but not on SRI, with populations proving to be especially dynamic within CHIS compared to mainland populations (Schwemm et al. 2018). Deer mice in CHIS have been found to be less abundant in grassland habitats (Mayfield et al. 2000), although they still occupy grasslands. Island deer mice diets have been found to contain plants, arthropods, and lizards (Millus and Stapp 2008). Direct mortality of deer mice was not documented during field reconnaissance of the burned area. It is possible that deer mice were protected from heat within burrows and rock crevices. It is also possible that widespread scavenging of mouse carcasses occurred in the weeks intervening the fire and the rapid assessment, by ravens, skunks, foxes, gulls and other wildlife. Indirect, short-term effects on SRI deer mice within the burned area will result from a lack of forage and cover. Burned lizards, arthropods, and plant matter within the burn area will provide food resources for weeks immediately following the fire. There will then be reduced forage available until plants regrow and go to seed, a period of months. More importantly, there will be a lack of vegetative cover for months or years in some areas, leaving deer mice highly susceptible to predation and suppressing populations in those areas. Island deer mice were found to have increased hantavirus prevalence following the 2020 Scorpion Fire on Santa Cruz Island, which has implications for disease spread to foxes and Park visitors (John Connock pers. comm.). Long-term effects will occur in areas with high mortality of shrub cover or moderate burn severity. Invasive annual grasses are likely to immediately colonize those areas. Island deer mice abundance will likely be lower in grass/forb-dominated sites due to a lack of overhead cover. In areas that retain cover adjacent to burned areas, deer mice abundance will be higher than pre-fire conditions due to an increase in vegetative food resources like seeds while still providing cover from predators. This may be the case in portions of the Torrey pines stand where trees and shrubs survived the fire, in which case mouse predation of Torrey pine seeds could be elevated. Deer mouse abundance has often been found to increase drastically in forests that burn at higher severity (Culhane et al. 2022). Treatments aimed at weed prevention (ES-9 and ES-12, BAR-3 and BAR-8) and reforestation (ES-10, BAR-4) will aid island deer mice by facilitating the revegetation of shrubs and trees which provide cover. Past research and monitoring efforts from other islands in CHIS have provided crucial information in assessing fire impacts on the island deer mouse. Recreating these efforts on SRI will provide applicable information on fire effects with implications for other native wildlife and plant species, such as island fox, island spotted skunk, and Torrey Pines. BatsLess information is available on the SRI bat community compared to other taxa. Several species have been confirmed to occur on SRI, including the hoary bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, California myotis, and Mexican free-tailed bat (Brown and Rainey 2018). These bat species are insectivores and are likely to forage near riparian corridors and roost in rock crevices, caves, and trees (in cavities and bark). Direct mortality of bats from the fire is unlikely. Bats are highly mobile and often roost in rocky areas that are protected from fire. Hoary bats and California myotis roost in trees and may have experienced some direct mortality. Bats also roost in human structures on SRI, of which 2 burned. It is unknown if bats roosted on or in those buildings. Indirect, short-term effects on bats from the fire are likely. These effects mostly pertain to reduced insect abundance following widespread, high vegetation mortality. Since most of the fire burned at a low severity and riparian areas were observed to be revegetating quickly, insect availability will likely increase within a period of months and may exceed pre-fire levels due to new vegetative growth. The fire and initial revegetation period coincide with the pup-rearing season for bats. These bat species generally have 1 pup per year and need sufficient nutrition to lactate for several weeks in order to raise young. It is possible that reproductive success of bats will decline due to a temporary period of reduced insect availability coinciding with pup-rearing season. Long-term effects mostly pertain to changes in mature trees in the burned area. Hoary bats are foliage roosters and nest among leaves in tree canopies. The most suitable tree species for this on SRI are oak species, which experienced mortality in several areas of the burn resulting in decreased roosting habitat for hoary bats. California myotis often roost in snags and will gain roosting habitat from the fire, especially in the Torrey pines stand. Reforestation efforts in the Torrey pines (ES-10, BAR-4) will provide roosting habitat for hoary bats. The retention of snags, especially larger sized snags, within the burned area will provide roosting habitat for California myotis. LandbirdsLandbirds compose the highest diversity of terrestrial wildlife on SRI, including passerines, shorebirds, woodpeckers, raptors, hummingbirds, among other groups, all encompassing a wide variety of habitats and life histories. There are nearly a dozen endemic subspecies of landbirds on SRI. The western snowy plover is listed as Threatened under the ESA and occurs on SRI along with Designated Critical Habitat, which is composed of beaches and dunes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2007). Landbird monitoring has been conducted on SRI for several decades via point counts (Davidson et al. 2019). A notable species of concern is the island loggerhead shrike, endemic to CHIS, which is estimated at <250 individuals on SRI (Stanley et al. 2012). Increasingly dense vegetation structure in the absence of grazing and introduction of nonnative grasses has been suggested as a factor in shrike declines (Davidson et al. 2019). Bald eagles were reintroduced to CHIS in the early 2000’s following extirpation in the mid-20th century. Direct landbird mortality from the fire was likely restricted to eggs and chicks. Resource advisors documented burned ground nests and a burned bald eaglet (Figure 3). Since the fire coincided with nesting season for resident birds, it is assumed that many nests burned across the burn area. Short-term effects on landbirds consist of decreased forage, cover and nesting habitat. As outlined in other sections, areas of widespread vegetation mortality will experience temporarily decreased availability of insects, mice, reptiles, and vegetative forage. A number of landbird species are also prey for carnivores/raptors on SRI, and will experience increased predation risk due to a lack of concealment cover in much of the burned area. Raptors like peregrine falcons and red-tailed hawks will have decreased forage availability during this period of revegetation, which coincides with the young-rearing period. Vegetation also serves as cover and structure for nesting of many bird species, therefore nesting habitat is greatly reduced in the burned area. The return of nesting habitat will be species dependent, with ground nesting birds like western meadowlarks and California quail regaining sufficient habitat in a period of months. Species that nest in shrubs, like spotted towhees or loggerhead shrikes, will regain nesting habitat in a period of years. Since many landbird species do not leave the island, these effects are more pronounced than a low severity burn in mainland ecosystems where abundant habitat often exists surrounding burn areas. Many of these bird species are territorial and competition for forage and nesting habitat will likely lead to decreased survival and reproductive success and population declines until habitat recovers. Long-term effects on birds will mostly pertain to alterations in vegetation communities in the burned area. The species experiencing the most negative impacts will be those that rely on mature trees and shrubs, especially in the Torrey pines which experienced high mortality. Tree nesters, such as Hutton's vireo and bald eagles, will not regain lost nesting habitat for decades. Other species also use mature trees for foraging perches such as Pacific-slope flycatchers. Species that will experience long-term benefits from the fire are those that rely on snags, which were rare on SRI pre-fire. These species include cavity nesters such as American kestrels and woodpeckers, which include acorn woodpeckers and northern flickers. The burned area will have reduced loggerhead shrike nesting habitat but perhaps improved foraging habitat since a lack of disturbance has been identified as a threat – unknown effects of the fire on this declining subspecies warrants increased monitoring. An assessment of snowy plover critical habitat determined that the critical elements remain intact and unburned, largely owing to scarce and discontinuous fuels (Figure 4). Plover survey results were similar to pre-fire surveys - 33 adults were observed. Adults were observed feigning injury on 3 separate occasions, indicating nests or chicks in these areas. Nest predation from island foxes and island spotted skunks may increase while inland prey resources are reduced. Continued monitoring of landbird populations will be especially important in the post-fire environment, both community-wide and of focal species. Acoustic recording units can aid in expanding spatiotemporal coverage of surveys. Nest monitoring of focal species like snowy plovers and raptor species is recommended, along with population estimation of island loggerhead shrikes. BAER treatments aimed at weed prevention (ES-9 and ES-12, BAR-3 and BAR-8) and reforestation (ES-10, BAR-4) will facilitate the recovery of important habitats for landbirds in the burned area. Large snags should be retained wherever possible to support cavity nesters and woodpeckers. SeabirdsA wide diversity of seabirds occurs on SRI but the primary breeders are Brandt’s cormorants, pelagic cormorants, western gulls, and pigeon guillemots. Seabirds nest on rocky outcroppings and cliffs on the Island’s coastline. Direct mortality of seabirds was assessed to be very limited, consisting of locations where the fire burned close to nesting sites. The rocky areas that seabirds nest acted as natural fire breaks and protected the vast majority of nests from heat and flames. South Point was the only location with seabird nesting sites immediately adjacent to the burned area because it had more gently sloping terrain and was downwind of the fire (Figure 5). Cormorants were observed incubating eggs at South Point. Some active nests during the fire likely failed due to heat. Dead adult seabirds were documented both in and out of the burned area, all of which were assessed to have died from causes other than the fire. Indirect short- and long-term effects on seabirds from the burn are largely negligible. These species forage on marine resources and rocky nesting substrates were unaffected by fire. Elevated nest predation by island foxes and island spotted skunks due to scarce inland forage resources is possible but seabirds largely select nest sites that are inaccessible to these species. AmphibiansTwo species of amphibians are found on SRI, the Channel Islands slender salamander and Baja California tree frog. Abundance, distribution, and habitat use of amphibians are poorly known for SRI. These species are limited to areas with moisture due to their life histories. Slender salamanders are terrestrial and seek moisture under rocks or woody debris. Direct mortality of amphibians was not documented in the burned area. Widespread direct mortality of these species is unlikely due to their affinity for moist locations and sites protected from sunlight. It is probable that some mortality occurred of individuals that were more distant from refugia. Short-term, indirect effects on these species should be limited to a period of weeks as revegetation of mesic areas occurs quickly. Field surveys found riparian areas and wetlands to be revegetating quickly. Numerous tree frogs were observed in the creek crossing on East Point Road (Figure 6). Long-term effects may occur from post-fire erosion and sedimentation. Habitats may be altered or filled in with sediment if heavy rain occurs before slopes revegetate and stabilize. Hydrologic modeling indicates low probability of major sedimentation or debris flows in the burned area. Treatments aimed at slope stabilization (ES-3, ES-5) will provide localized reductions in post-fire sedimentation. Inventories of tree frog breeding sites on SRI and continued monitoring of these sites to determine long-term occupancy and breeding success are recommended. Monitoring of salamanders using cover boards is recommended. ReptilesReptile species on SRI include the Southern alligator lizard, island fence lizard, Santa Cruz Island gopher snake, and garter snake. Little is known about reptiles on SRI compared to the other taxa but monitoring via coverboards and research has been conducted. Island fence lizards exhibit preferences for woody trees and shrubs as well as rocky outcrops (Trumbo et al. 2021). Direct mortality of lizards was documented more than any other taxon and was widespread throughout the fire (Figure 7). Dozens of burned lizard carcasses of both species were observed by the BAER team during fieldwork. No snake carcasses were observed. Gopher snakes were likely protected in burrows and rock crevices. Short-term, indirect effects on reptiles will consist of decreased forage and cover. Deer mice, insects, and other prey will be reduced until revegetation occurs over a period of months as discussed in above sections. Concealment cover will be reduced for a period of months and perhaps years in areas of shrubs or trees that burned at moderate severity, leaving all of these species more susceptible to predation. Long-term effects will pertain to gopher snakes in areas with altered deer mouse abundance. See the small mammals section for greater detail on the nature of those effects. Areas converted to grassland may experience long-term decreases in deer mouse abundance, whereas other areas of mixed burn severity may experience increases. Island fence lizards will experience degraded habitat in areas of woody vegetation that transition to grassland postburn, especially where invasive annual grasses dominate. Treatments aimed at weed prevention (ES-9 and ES-12, BAR-3 and BAR-8) and reforestation (ES-10, BAR-4) will facilitate recovery of degraded island fence lizard habitat by facilitating regrowth of woody vegetation. Pinnipeds and marine lifeThe beaches of SRI provide important breeding habitat for northern elephant seals and harbor seals and haul out sites for other pinnipeds. Black abalone occur on rocky shorelines and are listed as Endangered under the ESA due to population declines caused by overharvesting and disease. CHIS conducts annual long-term monitoring of rocky intertidal habitats on SRI. No direct mortality of pinnipeds or marine life was observed and is highly unlikely to have occurred. No short- or long-term effects from the fire are predicted for pinnipeds. Negative impacts on black abalone could occur from sedimentation, especially in the short term until burned slopes revegetate. Post-fire debris flows in the year following the 2020 Dolan Fire on California’s coast resulted in a rapid loss of 84% of the local black abalone population and 21% of the local habitat adjacent to the fire. Important differences exist between the Dolan burned area and that on SRI. The vast majority of the area burned on SRI has <20% probability of debris flow, whereas the vast majority of Dolan Fire had >80% debris flow probability. A rare atmospheric river event also occurred within months of the Dolan Fire and dropped nearly 15 inches of rain in 2 days. Negative impacts to black abalone following the SRI fire have a far lower probability and would be less severe if they do occur but the potential does exist. The highest probably of debris flows along East Point Road north of the Torrey Pines where storm patrols have been prescribed (ES-1). Those patrols should also visually check for evidence of debris flow into rocky intertidal habitats. BAER treatments focused on slope stabilization (ES-3, ES-5) will help mitigate potential negative impacts on black abalone from debris flow and sedimentation. Ongoing rocky intertidal habitat monitoring efforts should be timed as soon as possible after major rain events on SRI to determine subsequent impacts on black abalone populations and habitat. Values at Risk
TreatmentsNone, though there will be ancillary benefits from treatments for other values at risk. Objectives
Issues
FindingsTorrey Pines TrailField assessments of the Torrey Pines Trail revealed substantial concerns regarding trail stability and safety following recent fire impacts. Multiple burned trees, with downed limbs, and sloughing pose risks of destabilizing the slope and an increased risk of trail users encountering hazardous terrain. Debris is present along the trail, and several compromised trees increase the risk of downslope movement. The trail edge is undercut, especially at the top of trail and on the eastern switchbacks. The loss of brush has exacerbated preexisting erosion and stability issues. There is a heightened risk of trail destabilization due to both brush loss and potential tree mortality. Slope stability is a concern, with several trees immediately identified as compromised and sections containing heavy burnt limbs over the path. Sections of trail with steep cross-slope and significant vegetation and duff loss weaken the integrity of the trail infrastructure, especially in areas affected by moderate to high soil burn severity. The eastern segment presents numerous hazards, including burned trees that may topple, soil and ash debris, and erosion concerns. The team found approximately 30 feet of log steps were destroyed due to burn. Rapid assessment found a root ball burn has already destabilized a section of trail, resulting in additional tread and downslope issues. Overall, the trail’s stability is compromised by cross-slope, eroding tread, loss of brush, and downslope ash flow and washouts in narrow drainages. The Torrey Pines Trail requires maintenance to address erosion, tree hazards, and debris to ensure trail safety and stability. Clapp Springs InfrastructurePark staff identified the Clapp Springs water source and infrastructure as a value at risk. Recreation specialists and hydrologists inspected the roadside infrastructure and determined no damage to the Clapp Springs infrastructure including visible sections of the pipeline. The water to the spring flowed with consistent pressure and water ran clean. Water Canyon CampgroundThe fire affected the area around the campground, including the northern uphill slope. Erosion and runoff concerns are addressed in the Watershed Assessment. Infrastructure at one campsite, including the wind break shelter, picnic table, and food storage box, were destroyed. Southeast Quadrant Backcountry Camping AreasDuring our trail assessments, the Southeast Quadrant camping areas—including East Point, Jolla Veija, Johnsons Lee, Ford Point, and San Augustin—were evaluated with a primary focus on drainage and slope-related risks affecting visitors camping on the beaches. The terrain immediately upslope from these camping areas, as well as the mouths of drainages, present heightened risks for campers. Specifically, there is an increased potential for water, debris, and ash flow during rain and wind events, which could impact visitor safety and site stability. In addition to these hazards, the longstanding issue of visitors camping on terraces is expected to worsen in the aftermath of the fire. The loss of vegetation and shrubs has left sensitive and exposed resources more vulnerable, making terraces increasingly attractive yet more fragile for camping. This environmental shift compromises the integrity of these areas and increases the importance of monitoring and managing visitor impacts to protect the site. East Point RoadThe decommissioned East Point Road serves as a primary route for visitors hiking to the East Point backcountry campsite, winding through grasslands and shrubs that were previously well vegetated. Although recreation specialists did not identify the need for post-fire trail improvements, the loss of vegetation has rendered approximately a quarter mile of the trail difficult to distinguish. Park staff requested an assessment and location check for a trail counter; however, the team was unable to locate the device. Field staff clarified that the trail counter had been removed prior to the fire event. Additionally, BAER team members documented remnants of an old vault toilet along the route, which park staff confirmed is no longer in use. Ford Point Road to San AugustinThe Ford Point Trail leading to the San Augustin camping areas traverses five distinct drainages. While most sections of the trail can be navigated without difficulty, this changes at the points where the trail intersects with the drainages. In these areas, the terrain has become unstable as a result of recent fire damage, including burnt soil and significant loss of vegetation. This destabilization affects both the descent into and the ascent out of the drainages, creating challenging conditions for hikers and campers using the route. South (Wreck) RoadPost-fire maintenance is unnecessary for the decommissioned road segment. The Wreck Line human waste bin was unaffected, but the Wreck Canyon trail sign was destroyed. Johnsons Lee Coastal RoadDamage to and loss of culverts under Johnsons Lee Coastal Road will require trail rehabilitation to prevent future blowouts or loss of trail segments. The team identified two sections of trail where culvert damage compromises the trail structure, including two areas where plastic culverts were burned and left cylinder gaps vulnerable to water and debris flow. The Officers Beach kiosk is mostly intact apart from fire damage to a single 4x4” post. An unidentified burned sign was also discovered near Officers Beach, uphill of the kiosk. Three of the five wooden picnic tables and one trash can at the structures near the nexus of Johnsons Lee and Main Road were destroyed. A single picnic table uphill of the road and approximately .4 miles east of the Johnsons Lee structures was also damaged in the fire. Cherry Canyon Trail and Telephone RoadCherry Canyon Trail served as a natural fire break during suppression efforts, with approximately 2,000 feet of the trail located inside the burn perimeter. The sections of the trail within the burn area and along the ridge do not require any maintenance at this time. However, the trail segment ascending from the eastern trailhead may be in need of minor maintenance, especially following storms. Specifically, two drains beneath the trail should be checked and cleared as necessary, and there is potential for sloughing and the need to remove post-fire debris on the eastern portion. No maintenance issues or concerns were found during an assessment of Telephone Road. Values at Risk
Treatments
Objectives
Issues
FindingsThe rapid rate of burn, low burn severity, geomorphology of the landforms, and the nature of the fossil outcrops resulted in minimal to no impact on values at risk (VARs). Exposure of fossil resources was limited, as most localities occur where there was minimal vegetation on the interior of the island, which will quickly recover with vegetation regrowth. Exposure of fossil localities along the sea cliffs and into the drainage channels are in vertical walls, with minimal burn above them and no resulting indirect concerns for enhanced erosion or slope failure sourcing from above. While background erosion on Santa Rosa is already very high, the soil burn severity in the area of the VARs is low or unburned and debris flow models came out as low, very low, or no risk. These factors combined do not indicate a heightened concern for impact to the areas where VARs exist . Values at Risk
TreatmentsNone recommended. Planned TreatmentsNews Releases |
Last updated: August 18, 2026