In May 2003, watershed groups from across the state organized the first California Coast-Wide Snapshot Day, with the goal of collecting important information about the health of coastal waters flowing into the Pacific Ocean.  Snapshot Day volunteers collected water samples at 565 creeks, rivers, wetlands, and beaches from the Oregon border to Ensenada, Mexico.  Over 679 volunteers came out to work together to collect the largest simultaneous set of data on the coastal waters of California. 

Channelkeeper served as the regional coordinator for this event, organizing 43 volunteers throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, and southern San Luis Obispo counties to test 56 creeks for basic water quality parameters.  Data was collected for air and water temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen, as well as other observations such as trash and odors. Volunteers also collected samples that were analyzed in the laboratory for nutrients and bacteria.  To learn about the results, read the Snapshot Day 2003 Report below.

Every May, Channelkeeper continues to participate in Snapshot Day by organizing local volunteers to conduct water quality monitoring.  Participating groups in our region have included the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Ventura Coastkeeper, the California Coastal Commission, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the Surfrider Foundation, as well as our Ventura Stream Team and Goleta Stream Team volunteers.


Snapshot Day 2003 Report

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3

For more information please contact Ben Pitterle at (805) 563-3377 ext. 3 or ben@sbck.org