Aerial flights over the Chumash Sanctuary!

On September 17th & 18th, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council joined forces with EcoFlight, a Colorado-based 501c3 nonprofit that offers its partners a unique aerial perspective of public lands, resource management, and environmental issues. Flights showcased spectacular sights, including Morro Rock (Lisamu), Morro Bay estuary (Tsɨtqawɨ), the bluffs of Montaña de Oro, Avila Beach (Tsipxatu), and the Guadalupe-Nipomo dunes. Participants were guided by NCTC’s extraordinary Tribal Cultural Resource Monitor, Ernest Houston, who offered insight into the cultural and ecological significance of the region we’re working to protect.

Aerial photo of the proposed CHNMS | Avila Beach - PC EcoFlight

Aerial photo of the proposed CHNMS | Oceano Dunes - PC EcoFlight

We brought along a select group of media and friends for this very special preview aerial tour of the new Sanctuary, and we’re thrilled to share that our event received some great coverage from a few local news outlets! The SLO Tribune featured us in an article called, “See the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary from the air. ‘It's pretty special’,” and they even included an awesome video of the flyover! 

Right to Left: Evie Sweeney (Photographer), Erin Donovan (Nature’s Negotiators), Violet Sage Walker (NCTC Chairwoman), Dave Alley (KEYT) | PC EcoFlight

KEYT news anchor Dave Alley joined us for an unforgettable flight from Santa Maria and created a fantastic news segment that aired across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. A huge shoutout to the EcoFlight team for helping us showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Central Coast and highlight the importance of protecting this incredible area as the first Tribally nominated National Marine Sanctuary in the U.S.!

Chumash Sanctuary Designation Updates!

As a reminder: On September 6th, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS). We’re one step closer to designation!

Under NOAA's preferred alternative, the Sanctuary would encompass 4,543 square miles of coastal and offshore waters along 116 miles of California's Central Coast. If designated at this size, the CHNMS would become the third-largest national marine sanctuary within the National Marine Sanctuary System. We were excited to see that the FEIS includes a plan to expand the Sanctuary’s boundaries to match up with the southern edge of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! This shows that the process is moving forward and highlights the community’s commitment to securing the full nominated boundaries in the near future.

Map of the September 2024 Final Agency-Preferred Alternative boundary for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary  | NOAA

After the FEIS was released, the Sanctuary designation process entered a 30-day ‘cooling-off’ period. We expect NOAA to release the Final Rule, including the management plan and regulations, in early October 2024. After that, Congress and the State will have 45 days for one last review, leading to a final decision on designation in December 2024. We’re not finished yet, but this is a big step forward, and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council is celebrating!

Stay tuned & help us celebrate!

We’re in the final stages of Sanctuary designation! Stay engaged to help us get this over the finish line. We need to keep the celebrations and momentum going these next three months.

Repost our celebrations on social media:

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We are truly grateful for our amazing community of supporters, from our local friends to those across the globe. Thank you for amplifying our message, sharing your own, and for standing together to protect Grandmother Ocean.

Aho,

Chairwoman Violet Sage Walker & the Chumash Sanctuary advocacy team
https://www.chumashheritagesanctuary.org/