NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Channel Islands National Park California

Contact Information For more information about the Channel Islands National Park Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or (805) 658-5730 or write to: Superintendent, Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001 Purpose Significance

Significance statements express why Channel Islands National Park resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit.

• Channel Islands National Park is significant for both its natural and cultural resources. The significance of Channel The purpose of Channel Islands Islands National Park stems from the islands’ remote, isolated position at the confluence of two major ocean National Park is to protect and currents, a region of persistent oceanic upwelling, and the connect the public to the nationally border of two tectonic plates. significant natural, scenic, wildlife, marine, ecological, historical, • The isolated and undeveloped nature of the Channel archeological, cultural, and scientific Islands makes them an exceptional laboratory for studying values of the Channel Islands in the the processes of island biogeography. This unique setting also supports significant research and understanding on state of California. the islands’ 13,000 years of interplay between humans and their environment. Significance Fundamental Resources and Values

• The Channel Islands preserve some of the finest remnants Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, of the coastal Mediterranean-type ecosystem in America. processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or The unique suite of plants and animals that have colonized other attributes determined to merit primary consideration the islands and their isolation from the mainland and each during planning and management processes because they are other over eons has resulted in the evolution of many rare, essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining endemic species and subspecies. its significance.

• Channel Islands National Park harbors a prolific • Physical Environment and Processes paleontological record. A record that spans from as • Island Ecology far back as 120,000 years to a time when humans and pygmy mammoths may have coexisted on the islands • Marine Ecology 13,000 years ago. • Island/Marine Interplay • Archeological resources in Channel Islands National Park record some 13,000 years of human occupation and • Scientific Values maritime adaptation. • Ethnographic Resources • Channel Islands National Park’s historic structures, • Archeological/Anthropological Resources landscapes, and sites represent ranching, fishing, hunting, navigation, and other endeavors from a wide variety • Historic Resources of cultures. • Visitor Values • The Channel Islands have long been recognized for their scientific values. The extensive archeological record, the unique island ecosystems and taxa, and the isolation from development and human impacts contribute to creating an environment of great interest to researchers, educators, the public, and park management.

• Channel Islands National Park provides the public with almost unparalleled opportunities for solitude, tranquility, wildlife viewing, and appreciation of natural history, outdoor recreation, and education. Description

Located off the coast of southern California, the eight The archeology of the park provides a unique opportunity to Channel Islands and waters encompass a diverse and understand the historical ecology of Pacific Coast environments unique marine environment. Five of the islands— and the interaction of maritime peoples with dynamic coastal Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and ecosystems. The oldest positively dated human remains in Santa Barbara—and the submerged lands and waters North America were unearthed on Santa Rosa Island. The native within one nautical mile of each island, were designated people—the Island Chumash—relied on the sea for much of their by Congress as Channel Islands National Park on sustenance and manufactured tools and trade items from shells March 5, 1980. The park encompasses 250,000 acres and stones. These islands continue to hold meaning for today’s of land and sea. A much larger area, approximately Chumash people. During the last 500 years, European explorers, 1,400,000 acres of ocean, lies between the five islands. otter hunters, ranchers, fishers, and the military have used island resources. Historic ranches, military structures, and more than 100 Giant kelp forests, seagrass beds, rocky reefs, and known shipwrecks remain as examples of California’s heritage. submarine canyons in the park are populated with more than 1,000 species of fish,os Alamos invertebrates, and It has been a goal of the park staff to control or eradicate nonnative algae. The park provides essential vital nesting and species that threaten the viability of native island species and N feeding grounds for more than 90% of the sea birds function of ecological processes. The park and partner agencies and ompoc 15 F PIN 6 N IN ees Peak in southern California. Twenty-six species of marine organizations have achieved success eliminating7510ft invasive mammals 33 N 90m Solvang 6 I N mammals feed, transit, or raise their young in the park from the islands and restoring populations of native species, ranuillon PIN ountain 159ft N 101 S PADS NAINA FS 658m because they are near abundant food and are safe including the recovery of the island fox and the reestablishment of IN 1 N N 15 N P N P from disturbance. anta ne Peak bald eagles and peregrine falcons. 670ft 98ft 1310m N 0m N I N aviota Pass I N

101 ai oleta PIN CNCPIN Santa 150 ontecito Isla arbara Summerland

Vista Carpinteria I N Santa arbara N -300ft ak View -91m arbor 150 PIN F OUTDOORS SANTA BARBARA VISITOR CENTER Santa Paula I D 101 t -90m 33 16 N Ventura

-1578ft C -81m N N CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK -1998ft Ventura -609m arbor l io Camarillo -60ft VISITOR CENTER -750m PARK HEADQUARTERS N IN o -56ft 101 os neles -166m 8mi 77km Channel Islands Newbur arbor Park t nard -119m 1 a olla Peak N 1567ft -780ft 78m

-38m N ichardson ock ilson ock SANA NICA NAINS C

NAINA CAIN AA

CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK SAN MIGUEL arris or Point r PIN ISLAND a est Point corion anc N r SANTA CRUZ le aint Prince Island Castle ock u SANTA ROSA N Ca ISLAND C Carrinton an iuel ill ISLAND ANACAPA Point rionr aror 831ft Cario onmnt C ount Dialo tr anc it 50ft an Pedro ISLAND 53m -1886ft Point ennett ler Point C 77m -575m N P iht ai an icr anc mulers P C ain it tation an mm Crook Coe echers anc P ummit Point NPS PP and a N Peak Point N C 936ft I kunk Point NA CNSVANC PP 8m N orr in N N orse Point

oledad Peak C ull Island 157ft ast Point 80m C N -918ft -80m N

ohnsons ee outh Point -58ft N -1600m -6600ft

-01m

N I C -3109ft -98m PCIFIC CN -39ft N -10m

I C N I N Do Not Use This Map For Navigation -68ft P -1966m I -10ft -31m or af oatin ationa can r cart ar inina I

N Authoried park boundar

he Channel Islands National Park boundar etends 1.8 km (1 nautical mile) from the shore of each island.

-0ft Authoried marine sanctuar -18m boundar he Channel Islands National arine Sanctuar boundar etends 10.8 km (6 nautical miles) from the shore of each island.

-17ft anger station Campground -55m

estrooms

Data Sources SANTA BARBARA Depth tints and terrestrial relief derive from Digital levation odels (Ds) produced b NAA and the ISLAND SS. athmetric relief shading was manuall produced. it acon

North util Island 0 5 10 ilometers

0 5 10 iles