As part of an East Beach habitat restoration project, the Santa Barbara Public Works Department is removing invasive ice plant covering the beach’s sand dunes and will be planting native plant species afterward.

The current phase of the project involves removing the non-native ice plant in a 1.13-acre area at East Beach between the sand and the multi-use path, between Calle Cesar Chavez and the informal soccer fields next to Palm Park Beach House.

Removal methods include black tarp solarization — in which the unwanted plants are covered with black tarps for several months until they dry out — and hand removal. The city said in a news release that the dried ice plant branches will be removed, but their roots will be left to help stabilize the sand dunes.

Following the ice plant removal, irrigation, native plant species and wooden fencing will be installed.

“Native coastal dune plant species aid in the formation of sand dunes, support local birds and wildlife, and honor Santa Barbara’s unique local ecology,” the city’s Public Works Department said.

Signs posted at the project site with more information say that some of the native plants that will be planted include pink sand verbena, silver bur ragweed, dune morning glory and more.

The signs also say that the project will be completed in multiple phases over the next two years, followed by a five-year maintenance period to monitor and support native plant establishment.

While black tarp solarization originally began in December 2022, the efforts were thwarted by the Jan. 10 storm, when the tarps had to be removed in order to provide space for the 24-inch pipe used for emergency harbor dredging operations as part of the Harbor Department’s response to storm damage.

Black tarp solarization efforts began again in September and are expected to be complete in November. Installation work of the irrigation, native plant species and fencing will then take place and is expected to finish by the end of December.

The city is asking people to stay out of the sensitive areas that are fenced off during restoration and establishment periods.