Devereux Slough, located along California’s South Coast near Santa Barbara, is a small seasonal estuary that spans approximately 0.4 square miles and is part of a 2.5-square-mile watershed. The slough receives an average annual rainfall of 15 to 20 inches, with seasonal creek flow typically blocked by a sandbar during dry months. This seasonal closure creates a dynamic lagoon system where water levels, salinity, and oxygen levels fluctuate, influencing both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

The slough supports critical habitats for a variety of species, including migratory birds, native fish, and coastal plants. It is part of the Coal Oil Point Reserve and is recognized as an important site for wildlife conservation. Human activities, including urban development and recreation in surrounding areas, can impact water quality, sedimentation, and hydrology, while sandbar dynamics can pose flood risks to adjacent infrastructure during heavy rain events.

Real-time water level monitoring at Devereux Slough provides essential data to track sandbar formation, flooding risks, and the impacts of seasonal changes on habitat conditions. This information supports conservation planning, flood management, and efforts to balance ecological health with the pressures of human activity in this sensitive coastal system.