Santa Rosa Island Research Station

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Camarillo, CA
Santa Rosa Island Research Station

For questions related to SRIRS, qualified trip inquiries, or more info contact: [email protected]

The California State University Channel Islands (CI) Santa Rosa Island Research Station (SRIRS) seeks to cultivate a diverse community of scholars and initiate innovative resource management solutions by supporting research, education, and outreach programs across disciplines.

09/29/2026

Celebrate 100 years of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden with free admission every Sunday in October.

Bring your family, friends, and even your four-legged companions later in the month to explore 78 acres of California native plants, enjoy special activities, and reconnect with the Garden. Each week will highlight a different theme, including art and music, health and wellness, youth and family experiences, and dogs in the Garden.

Reservations are required, so be sure to plan ahead before your visit. Come celebrate a century of growing appreciation for California native plants and the communities that care for them.

09/25/2026

Island fact: This fruiting plant known as the Elderberry (genus Sambucus) can produce small flowers that can support pollinators, and it's dark berries provide seasonal food for birds and other wildlife.

On Santa Rosa Island, plants like blue elderberry help connect different parts of the ecosystem. As wildlife feeds on the berries, seeds can move across the landscape, supporting new plant growth and habitat connections over time.

Healthy plant communities help sustain food sources, shelter, and wildlife movement throughout island ecosystems.

Tags:

Image Description: Elderberry, likely Sambucus cerulea, growing with clusters of dark purple berries and green leaves among dense island vegetation.

09/23/2026

Wildlife Wednesday is not always about the animals that are easy to spot from far away. Here we have some small but mighty island critters known as the Bi-Colored Carpenter Ant (genus Camponotus)

Across island ecosystems, insects and other invertebrates perform a wide range of ecological roles, from nutrient cycling and pollination to supporting soils and food webs. They also provide food for other wildlife, helping connect the many species that make up a balanced island ecosystem.

On Santa Rosa Island, even tiny species help keep the ecosystem moving.

Image Description: A close-up view of small insects and natural debris on sandy soil near island vegetation.

09/22/2026

Marine Debris Monday highlights the hands-on work it takes to protect island coastlines.

Marine debris can reach remote beaches from local and distant sources, carried by waterways, storms, and ocean currents. Removing items like netting, rope, plastic, and other materials helps reduce hazards for wildlife and supports healthier coastal habitats.

Cleanup work often requires teamwork, careful handling, and planning, especially on remote island shorelines.

Image Description: Field team members collecting and organizing marine debris along a sandy beach below coastal bluffs.

09/14/2026

Mark your calendars for California Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, 2026 from 9am to noon!!

This statewide cleanup brings people together to help remove trash and debris from beaches, waterways, and coastal spaces before it reaches the ocean or impacts wildlife. It is a simple but meaningful way to care for California’s coast and support healthier habitats.

Help spread the word, invite a friend, and be part of the effort to keep our shorelines clean. Every piece removed makes a difference.

Learn more at coastalcleanupday.org.

Image Description: California Coastal Cleanup Day flyer featuring illustrated coastal wetlands, water, native vegetation, distant mountains, and event details for September 19, 2026 from 9am to noon. Artwork credit is noted on the flyer as a donation from Phyllis Shafer.

09/11/2026

Water has a way of leaving its signature on a landscape. Across Santa Rosa Island, waterways and the surrounding terrain create pockets of habitat that add another layer to the island's remarkable ecological diversity.

Look at the shapes surrounding the water here: the smooth rocks, winding channel, and vegetation all tell part of a much larger island story. It's a good reminder that on Santa Rosa Island, sometimes following the landscape leads to the coolest discoveries.

Image description: A narrow waterway runs between pale rock formations and vegetation on Santa Rosa Island, with hills rising in the background.

09/10/2026

Blink and you might miss the splash!

The waters surrounding the Channel Islands support an incredible diversity of marine life, and spotting a dolphin cutting through the waves is a pretty unforgettable reminder that the island ecosystem doesn't end at the shoreline. These surrounding marine habitats provide important space for wildlife to travel, feed, and thrive, which makes responsible observation all the more important. Enjoy wildlife from a respectful distance, keep those cameras ready, and remember: we're visitors in their very big blue backyard. 💙

Image description: A dolphin moves through dark blue ocean water, sending a burst of white spray into the air.

09/07/2026

What looks like a pile of debris is also a collection of data points. Marine debris can travel incredible distances before washing shore, including the remote beaches of the Channel Islands.

Removing and documenting that debris gives researchers valuable information about what is reaching our coastlines while helping reduce its impact on marine and coastal environments. Every item collected can become a tiny piece of a much bigger story about how human activity connects us to even the most remote shorelines. Less debris, more data, healthier coasts. That's a win-win-win!

Image description: People standing beside a large collection container holding recovered metal and other debris near the water.

09/05/2026

Look closely at the island's cliffs and exposed rock surfaces and you can spot layers, textures, curves, and colors shaped by geological processes over time.

For researchers, landscapes like these can offer clues about how landscapes and environments have changed over time; for the rest of us, they're a pretty spectacular reminder that the ground beneath our feet has a history of its own. Next time you're exploring a rocky landscape, give the details a second look. Sometimes the coolest stories aren't written in words, they're written in stone.

Image description: A person examines a light-colored exposed rock formation surrounded by sandy soil and vegetation on Santa Rosa Island.

09/02/2026

Biosecurity starts before the fieldwork even begins! On Santa Rosa Island, researchers, students, and visitors all have a role to play in helping prevent nonnative species and pathogens from reaching sensitive island ecosystems. That can mean inspecting boots, clothing, bags, and equipment for unwanted hitchhikers like seeds, soil, or insects before heading into the field.

Small habits? Absolutely. Big impact? You bet. Thoughtful preparation helps protect native biodiversity and keeps island research moving responsibly.

Image description: A field researcher sits aboard a boat with a red backpack and field equipment used during island research, gear that can be inspected and cleaned as part of biosecurity practices.

Address

1 University Drive
Camarillo, CA
93012

Telephone

+18054371653

Website

http://www.csuci.edu/sri/

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