Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Keeping Watch for Clean Water

Outreach

Watershed Brigade Hosted Cleanups Inspire Awareness and Action 

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“How long do you think it would take this plastic water bottle to break down?”  Veronica Moran, Channelkeeper ‘s all-star program assistant, asks a group of cleanup volunteers. 

“Forty years!” a young woman exclaims. “One hundred!” another responds. 

“Good guesses! Actually, it’s more like 400 years,” Moran explains, “and these items are never really gone, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic. That’s why the work you’re doing to remove trash from the beach is so important!” 

Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade organizes hosted cleanups for school groups, companies, churches, and organizations. During these events, participants clear a stretch of beach of trash, removing items like cigarette butts, plastic lids, food wrappers, and cans. Once they have cleaned up the area, they weigh the trash they have collected and play the game “How Long Until It’s Gone?” which involves guessing the lifespan of the items they have found. 

At hosted cleanups, participants also learn about the land-sea connection and the importance of removing trash from areas throughout the watershed to prevent debris from flowing down stormdrains, creeks, and rivers and into the ocean.  

To demonstrate this connection, Moran relates the story of the Ojai Rubbish trash can that Channelkeeper staff removed from Santa Cruz Island last year, after powerful winter storms sent debris down the Ventura River and into the Santa Barbara Channel. Debris like this trash can, she explains, ended up on remote beaches of the Channel Islands, underscoring the importance of trash cleanups on the mainland.  

This year, the Watershed Brigade has led eleven hosted cleanups, including the Santa Barbara School of Squash, the Turner Foundation, Camp Towanka, and the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers.

The Watershed Brigade’s hosted events are a positive and productive way for groups to work collaboratively to benefit the environment while also learning about the wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel. 

To join the Watershed Brigade, click here or follow us on Instagram (@Watershedbrigade). 

Storm Response Cleanup 

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Help Keep Trash Out of the Santa Barbara Channel

Every time it rains, stormwater enters the City of Santa Barbara’s storm drain system and flows untreated to the ocean. On its way, this water picks up trash and debris that litters our streets and sidewalks. A lot of this trash ultimately ends up on our beaches. Wildlife can ingest and/or become entangled in plastic and other pieces of trash. Stormwater is a major source of pollution for our creeks, wetlands, and ocean.  

Cleaning up the mess and keeping trash out of the ocean is a massive job that calls for the Watershed Brigade! This litter-fighting group of Channelkeeper volunteers acts as the last line of defense by heading out in groups or on their own to remove trash from city streets, trails, parks, and beaches before it can be swept into the ocean. Volunteers clean up trash higher in the watershed prior to forecasted rain events to prevent trash from entering storm drains and along the coast after storms.  

Interested in conducting a Watershed Brigade storm response cleanup? Before you head out, take a look at our cleanup safety guidelines.  Important storm-related guidelines include checking the local weather forecast and tide levels; wearing protective clothing, shoes, and gloves; and remembering to put your personal safety first. High tides, waves, outflows, and currents can be dangerous during and after storms. To minimize potential health risks, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services recommends that people do not swim, play, or surf in the ocean and creeks for at least three days (72 hours) following a significant rainfall event.  

Channelkeeper has trash grabbers, bags, gloves, and buckets that volunteers are welcome to borrow and use. We’re grateful for your help to remove trash and debris from our coastline.  

In an effort to stop the flow of pollution into our local waterways and prevent the need for future storm response cleanups, Channelkeeper also continuously advocates for upstream solutions. We have worked along with partner organizations to convince municipalities across our region to adopt ordinances that ban the distribution of plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam takeout containers, and plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery. In addition, we work to educate the community about the impacts of single-use plastics on our oceans, wildlife, and human health. Channelkeeper also supports an initiative spearheaded by Abblitt’s Fine Cleaners to recycle film plastic. 

To join the Watershed Brigade, visit our webpage, join our Facebook Group, or follow us on Instagram (@Watershedbrigade). 

Take Your Plastic Advocacy to the Next Level

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The news headlines about plastic are grim. A dead whale with 33 pounds of plastic in its stomach; a seal with a frisbee stuck around its neck; microplastics found in the meat and milk we consume. Each of us feels the weight of the plastic crisis and wants to take action. We’ve said no to plastic packaging and found plastic-free alternatives to common household items. But what can we do beyond recycling and limiting our own dependence on single-use plastics? How do we level up our individual actions? We’ve outlined a few ways to channel your positive energy into effective plastic-fighting advocacy campaigns that build upon your everyday efforts.

Have a conversation

A meaningful conversation can be an effective way to promote plastic reduction efforts in your area. Do you like a particular product or store, but you wish they would reduce or eliminate their use of plastic? Take a moment to ask the business to consider reducing their packaging or switching to a reusable alternative. Talk, call, or send an email. Businesses may be resistant at first, but if they hear the same request from multiple customers, they may consider making some changes.

Spread Awareness While You Scroll

Digital platforms can be an effective way to advance plastic-reduction messaging. You’re likely on social media anyway, so pour a cup of tea and commit half an hour to liking and sharing plastic-related posts, articles, and videos that will have a positive ripple effect. Today, brands are sensitive about how they are perceived online, an awareness you can leverage to help create change.

  • Make it personal. Write a sentence or two to personalize a post when you share or reshare.
  • Tag people and businesses that you think may be interested.
  • Use hashtags to broaden your reach.

Write a Letter to the Editor of Your Local Paper

Formulate a concise, fact-based letter that outlines your concerns about plastic and makes the issue personal and directly related to your community. Explain how readers in your area will be affected by the plastic crisis. Invite decision-makers to take action.

Engage in the Civic Process

Vote, Vote, Vote. Local elections have far-reaching effects. Support politicians who will prioritize the environment. Call or email your state representatives to voice your support for single-use plastic reduction policies or attend a city council or regional government meeting to make a public statement.

Introducing Chanelkeeper’s New Board President

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In November, Channelkeeper’s Board of Directors elected Brad Newton as its new board president and his term began on January 1st. Brad has served on the board since 2016 and is the founder of Newton Geo-Hydrology Consulting Services, LLC. He has a B.A. in geology, an M.A. in groundwater hydrology, and a Ph.D. in surface water hydrology, and he is a licensed professional geologist with 33 years of experience in environmental consulting. We recently caught up with Brad to learn more about his life-long interest in earth surface processes, his commitment to service, and his plans for supporting the exciting next phase of Channelkeeper’s work.

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? What interests you? 

I’m still growing up and hope it never stops.  I was born in Wyoming into a family that has lived in Wyoming for many generations.  My youth was spent on the sands of Huntington Beach, California, and I migrated north to Santa Barbara in the early 80s.  

2. Was there a defining moment in your life that inspired you to work with water? 

My excitement about the earth and earth surface processes was first ignited by a high school teacher named Carol Stadum.  She taught geology and invited me to join her class. She took us to fossils digs all over Southern California.  She was more than just passionate about geology; she was an outstanding teacher!  I joined the Geology Club and became president for one year.  I eventually earned my BA in geology at UCSB, but my excitement about hydrology began when I worked in the geothermal energy exploration industry.

3. What excites you about Channelkeeper? Why did you choose to become a board member? 

My family elders were always involved in service organizations throughout my life.  It has been natural for me to give back to my community.  Channelkeeper sparked my interest when one past board president, Tim Robinson, and one current board member and co-founder, Ken Falstrom, began sharing about our mission and inviting me to donate.  The Santa Barbara Channel is a globally unique ecosystem of biodiversity and human interaction.  Channelkeeper monitors and collects data from the watersheds that provide fresh water and nutrients to the channel, and undertakes other critical activities offshore.  As an earth surface processes scientist, the physical processes that impact the health of the channel are well within my expertise, particularly the interface of the terrestrial and oceanic environments.

4. How will your background in hydrogeology influence your role as board president?  

As board president, my science background merges with all aspects of the organizational operations.  Our staff is world-class, and our board fully supports their efforts and vision.  Our board is comprised of individuals with a wide range of expertise, including finance, business operations, legal, science, marketing, and networking.  I am so thankful that our Board is fully engaged in contributing their expertise to SBCK.  No one person can run the show, and my role may largely be to encourage consensus while utilizing individual contributions.  

5. What great things do you hope to accomplish as board president?

Channelkeeper is currently at a pivotal transition.  With a new Executive Director, Ted Morton, our staff, and many years of healthy operations, Channelkeeper is poised to look to the distant future and imagine a place regarded globally as a model example of preservation and restoration.  The journey there is the focus of our new, to-be-developed, Strategic Plan.  As board president, my role is to support the journey for this exciting new phase of Channelkeeper activity. 

6. Do you have a favorite aquatic pastime? 

I regularly run our local trails, board surf and body surf when there is a swell, fishing, and scuba diving are always fun, as well as sailing and boating.  If there is an adventure to be had, I’ll often jump on and enjoy the ride!!

7. If you were a marine organism what would you be and why? 

Phytoplankton!  Definitely Phytoplankton! Primary production is fundamental to life on this planet, and Phytoplankton is a major contributor to the primary production that supports all life.  Besides, “phyto” is a cool nickname. 

Volunteer Spotlight: For Sue Sadler-Paré Cleaning up the Beach is Personal

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Sue Sadler-Paré feels a profound connection to the ocean and she explains that she’s happiest when she’s in, on, or under the water. As often as she can, she heads to the beach to walk her dog, take in the beauty, or go for a swim. She’s always picked up trash along the way, but in the midst of the pandemic, she noticed an increased amount, so she started taking bags with her and picking up trash as she walked. 

“I didn’t quite get in the longer walks I had hoped for, but I felt it was more important for me to pick up the plastic cup that 500 people had just walked by. It was driving me crazy. I had to do something—and that motivated me to take action.”

To date, Sue has collected more than 340 pounds of trash. She’s an extraordinary advocate for pollution prevention and a true watershed hero who makes fighting for the Earth and the environment her everyday goal.

Sue has always loved the ocean. She grew up in Laguna Beach, moved to the mountains of Big Bear for high school, was drawn back to the coast for college in Santa Barbara, and never left. Living by the water, she explains, was a high priority.

Her relationship with the ocean is intimate. As a diver, swimmer, and beach walker, she has had extraordinary aquatic experiences and felt nourished and cared for by the ocean throughout her life. So it’s no wonder that she feels very protective of the Channel. In fact, cleaning up trash along the water’s edge is almost a gesture of reciprocity and gratitude.

“The ocean has always been so good to me that it feels meaningful that I’m able to give back to her. I liken it to assisting my mother when she got older and couldn’t do things. I was able to help her out and feel like I was making a difference.”

Sue feels a strong sense of responsibility to clean up the beaches near her home, so she tends to focus on Haskell’s Beach and Goleta Beach, with occasional neighborhood cleanups around Calle Real and Fairview. She is 1000% committed to pollution prevention and does whatever it takes to remove litter from coastal areas and get the job done right. On more than one occasion, she has had to request outside assistance because the trash was more than she could handle on her own. Now that’s dedicated!

Several months ago, Sue recruited a friend to join her on cleanups and they’ve enjoyed spending extra time together outside laughing about the odd items that they discover while doing something positive for the environment. The duo recently cleaned up Fairview Avenue and stuffed Sue’s car with debris. They participate in Watershed Brigade cleanup events and appreciate the sense of camaraderie the Watershed Brigade provides and the knowledge that there are other like-minded folks who are out cleaning up our community. Plus, Sue explains, the challenges and prizes make it extra fun.

It’s Sue’s personal sense of responsibility for the environment and her commitment to act locally to reduce pollution that make her such an inspiring force for good.

“When I see trash on the beach and it may be seconds away from being washed into the ocean, I feel a sense of urgency,” she explains. “It’s become much more of an issue of ‘if not me, who?’ We know what’s going on with the climate crisis and ocean pollution, and it’s not going to get better if we don’t take action. There’s no way I’m going to look past that cigarette butt that’s sitting in the sand. They say if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem and that’s really resonated for me.”

We’re deeply grateful for heart-driven volunteers like Sue Sadler-Paré, who make it their mission to create a cleaner, healthier community. You inspire us every step of the way.

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