Goleta Slough is an estuarine wetland near Goleta formed from the remnants of historic inner Goleta Bay. Long inhabited by Native American peoples and once used by European ships, the area was transformed when erosion after heavy grazing, fires, and the winter storms of 1861–62 filled much of the bay with sediment, and later by agriculture, roads, levees, and airport construction. Though greatly reduced from its historic size and now surrounded by urban and industrial development, the slough still preserves extensive wetland habitats, supports diverse plant and animal life, and remains a vital ecological reserve for wildlife, education, and research on the Santa Barbara coast.

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