Outreach

Storm Response Cleanup

December 21, 2023 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

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

July 19, 2022 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

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

February 23, 2022 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

In November, Channelkeeper’s Board of Directors elected Brad Newton as its new board president and his term began on January 1^st. 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

December 13, 2021 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

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.

Governor Newsom’s Drought Declaration Intensifies Water Conservation Measures

October 29, 2021 by Molly Troup

2021 is on track to be the driest year recorded in California since 1924. In October, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for the entire state of California, extending the declaration already active in 50 counties to the eight remaining counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, San Francisco, and Ventura. Under the proclamation, water suppliers are asked to prepare for the possibility of another dry year ahead.

“As the western U.S. faces a potential third year of drought, it’s critical that Californians across the state redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible,” Newsom said.

What Does a State-Wide Declaration Mean?

The drought declaration authorizes California’s water regulators to ban wasteful water use such as spraying down public sidewalks or using potable water in decorative fountains and authorizes the Office of Emergency Services to provide assistance and funding under the California Disaster Assistance Act to support the emergency response and delivery of drinking water and water for public health and safety.

The declaration also requires municipalities to implement their water shortage contingency plans at “a level appropriate to local conditions that take into account the possibility of a third consecutive dry year.”

Currently, all water providers within Santa Barbara County are maintaining their water supply stages at either Stage I or Stage II. Water shortage contingency plans typically include a scale ranging from a normal supply stage with no water supply reductions to Stage 1 through IV or more, with corresponding water restrictions. Each stage defines actions that a municipality will take to address a supply shortage.

Local water agencies encourage community members to use water resources as efficiently as possible.

The City of Santa Barbara’s Enhanced Urban Water Management Plan outlines strategies for managing the City’s water supplies under drought conditions. City staff is currently using the plan to manage local water resources and guide decision-making. They will update the Water Commission and City Council on potential next steps in drought response during the spring of 2022.

Conservation is Key

Although the drought declaration does not include firm water conservation mandates for Californians, it sets the stage for water restrictions in the future. For now, citizens are asked to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 15% as compared to 2020. As the state enters a potential third year of drought, the need to intensify local water conservation efforts is clear.

The State Water Resources Control Board recently reported that on the Central Coast (which includes Santa Barbara), water consumption appears to be moving in the right direction, but more is needed—with urban water use 5.2% less than in August 2020. Ventura County (included in the South Coast region) used 3.1% less water than in August 2020. Because of the severity of the drought conditions and projections for a warmer and dryer La Niña winter, our community needs to do more to reach the conservation goal that the Governor has called for and to ensure that we make water conservation a way of life.

What can you do?

Take your water conservation to the next level. Explore ways to use water more efficiently and further reduce your water consumption. Here are a few ways to intensify your water conservation efforts:

Learn about easy ways to save water throughout your daily routines with better habits like turning the water off while brushing teeth, washing hands, or shaving and washing only full loads in the dishwasher or laundry machine. Set a timer to limit your shower to 5 minutes or less and recycle indoor water use on plants.
Review your household water use with a water audit to see where you can effectively implement conservation measures.
Get a free water checkup for additional help with assessing water usage on your property and ways to save water and money on water bills.
Take a tour of your yard to determine how much water your landscaping really needs, where you can capture rain, disconnect downspouts, and reduce paved or compacted areas that prevent water from penetrating the soil. Check your sprinkler system for leaks and make other irrigation adjustments to stay on track with your water savings. Contact Channelkeeper to purchase a kit that converts a wine or beer barrel into a rain barrel.
Plant a water-wise organic garden and replace water-thirsty plants with drought-tolerant ones. Check for landscaping rebates to help make your yard or garden more water wise.
Check your local city for rebates that are offered for water conservation tools like the Flume Smart Home Water System, high efficiency washing machines, rain shut-off sensors, and much delivery.
Install a greywater harvesting system that diverts water from your washing machine (which would otherwise go to the sewage treatment plant) and reuses it to irrigate outdoor plants and trees.