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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Keeping Watch for Clean Water

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Press Releases

Environmental Defense Center Files Lawsuit Challenging State Waivers for Defective Oil Pipeline

Apr 15, 2025

A coalition of environmental groups, including Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, filed a lawsuit challenging state waivers granted to a Texas oil company for the restart of a defective pipeline on the California Coast – the same pipeline that ruptured near Refugio Beach in 2015 and caused one of the worst oil spills in California history. 

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2024 Channel Islands Marine Debris Cleanup

Nov 21, 2024

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, twenty-three volunteers joined representatives from Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Island Packers, Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to clear approximately 2,100 pounds of trash and fishing gear from Yellowbanks, a stretch of cobble beach on the south side of Santa Cruz Island, and Driftwood Cove on Anacapa […]

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Volunteers and Fishermen Clear Lobster Traps from Local Beaches

Apr 23, 2024

On Saturday, April 20th, twenty-five volunteers with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and members of the commercial fishing community and Tidy Seas worked together to remove more than fifty lobster traps that had washed ashore between Goleta Beach and More Mesa. 

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Santa Barbara City Council Approves Changes to the Cruise Ship Program

Apr 11, 2024

On April 9, 2024, the Santa Barbara City Council voted in favor of improving the City of Santa Barbara’s Cruise Ship Program with measures to limit the number of ships calling on Santa Barbara and prioritize those ships with advanced pollution prevention technology and solid environmental compliance records.  

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Environmental Groups Settle Lawsuit with Hot Line Construction Inc. to Protect the Goleta Slough from Toxic Pollution

Nov 14, 2023

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Ecological Rights Foundation announced on November 14, 2023, that they have entered into a consent decree with Hot Line Construction, Inc. resolving a citizen lawsuit concerning a contaminated utility pole storage facility site near the Santa Barbara Airport. Hot Line Construction, Inc. stored wooden utility poles treated with toxic chemical […]

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Groups Challenge Water Boards’ Orders as Harmful to Disadvantaged Communities and Fisheries

Oct 10, 2023

A coalition of environmental organizations, rural Latino community and farmworker groups, and commercial and recreational fishing organizations filed a lawsuit against state agencies’ decision to strike down measures to control extensive nitrate pollution in the Central Coast region.

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Channelkeeper Volunteers and Fishermen Clean Traps from Local Beaches

Apr 26, 2023

Channelkeeper volunteers and members of the commercial fishing community worked together on April 22nd to removemore than thirty lobster traps that had washed ashore.

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Court Prohibits Fracking Off California Coast Until the Federal Government Complies with Environmental Protection Laws

Jun 03, 2022

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal government violated environmental protection laws when it approved permits for fracking and acidizing from platforms offshore California. The Court agreed with the Environmental Defense Center and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper that the government failed to conduct a full environmental review and should have prepared an Environmental […]

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Settlement Agreement with Southern California Edison will Help Protect Waterways from Toxic Pollution

Nov 17, 2021

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Ecological Rights Foundation recently reached a settlement agreement with Southern California Edison under which Edison has agreed to clean up utility pole storage and processing facilities identified as sources of toxic contaminants that flow into streams, rivers, and other waterways.

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Settlement Agreement Helps Restore Flows to the Ventura River

Sep 03, 2021

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s advocacy for Ventura River reached a critical milestone on August 5th, when the City of Ventura, for the first time in history, curtailed all pumping at its well field at Foster Park, specifically for the purpose of restoring flows to the parched river ecosystem.

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Welcomes New Executive Director

Jul 27, 2021

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Morton as its new Executive Director. Ted joins Channelkeeper at a pivotal time as the organization intensifies its efforts to tackle large-scale environmental issues through bold local action.

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Removes Derelict Lobster Traps From Local Beaches

Jun 16, 2021

On June 19th, volunteers from Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and members of the commercial fishing community will work together to remove derelict lobster traps from the sand along Santa Barbara’s coastline. Volunteers will dig out partially buried traps and prepare them to be loaded onto a commercial fishing vessel for proper disposal. 

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The City of Ventura and SB Channelkeeper Amend Settlement Agreement

Aug 24, 2020

The City of San Buenaventura and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, a local environmental group, have announced an amendment to their settlement agreement in the lawsuit regarding the pumping and diversion of water from the Ventura River Watershed. Both Channelkeeper and the City remain committed to ensuring the protection of this local water source and the species […]

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper's boat, R/V Channelkeeper on the water during a beautiful sunset.

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Feb 11, 2020

For 20 years Santa Barbara Channelkeeper has protected the precious water resources in and along the Santa Barbara Channel through science-based advocacy, education, field work, and enforcement. The organization is dedicated to actively addressing the primary threats to these water resources, including plastic pollution, urban and agricultural runoff, dewatered streams, wetland destruction, sewage spills, offshore […]

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City of Ventura and SB Channelkeeper Sign Interim Settlement on Ventura River Litigation

Sep 30, 2019

The City of San Buenaventura and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper are pleased to announce an interim settlement in the lawsuit regarding the pumping and diversion of water from the Ventura River Watershed. Both Channelkeeper and the City are dedicated to ensuring the protection of this finite water source and the habitat and species that rely on […]

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Channelkeeper and EDC Take Fracking Suit to Federal Court of Appeals

Jun 18, 2019

(June 18, 2019) Santa Barbara, CA—Today, the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (“SBCK”) announced that they will go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to defend their court victory that currently prohibits the use of fracking and acidizing offshore California.  The groups will also seek full environmental review […]

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Channelkeeper Applauds City of Santa Barbara for Reducing Sewage Spills

May 22, 2019

May 22, 2019 (Santa Barbara, California) – Yesterday, the Santa Barbara City Council received an update on the City’s progress in reducing sewage spills, prompted by a lawsuit filed by local water watchdog Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in 2011. Thanks to heightened investments in sewer system inspections, cleaning and repairs, the City reduced spills from a […]

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Judge denies oil company’s request to continue fracking offshore California despite moratorium

Apr 24, 2019

A federal judge issued an order last night declaring that the oil company DCOR, LLC cannot proceed with its two proposed permits to conduct fracking in the Santa Barbara Channel at Platform Gilda.  In November 2018, the judge ruled in favor of the Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (“SBCK”), prohibiting the Trump […]

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Federal Judge Sides with Channelkeeper and EDC – Halts Offshore Fracking

Nov 09, 2018

A major win in the battle against offshore fracking in California! A federal judge issued an order today (11/9) declaring that the federal government violated environmental protection laws when it approved permits for fracking from platforms offshore California. The judge agreed with Channelkeeper and the Environmental Defense Center that the government failed to conduct adequate consultation […]

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Huge Win in Battle Against Ag Pollution!

Sep 19, 2018

Big Win for Clean Water Today! The Appellate Court ruled in Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and our partners’ favor that the State Water Board needs to implement stronger regulations to protect waterways and communities from agricultural pollution on the Central Coast.

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Turning the Tide on Invisible Pollution

Jul 13, 2018

A great op-ed published in the Santa Barbara Independent, co-authored by our executive director Kira Redmond, SB County Supervisor Das Williams and Bren School Professor Bob Wilkinson. Read More!    

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Clear the Coast, A Band of Passionate Californians is Fighting to Keep Crucial Waterways Clean

Jun 08, 2018
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Channelkeeper and EDC defeat feds’ attempt to dismiss our offshore fracking lawsuit

Jul 24, 2017
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City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Extend Clean Water Enforcement Agreement

Jan 23, 2017
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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and EDC File Lawsuit Challenging Federal Approval of Offshore Fracking and Acidizing: Lawsuit Seeks Protection of Endangered Species and Full Environmental Review

Nov 11, 2016
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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and Santa Barbara County Settle Lawsuit to Clean Up Pollution from County’s South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station

Sep 13, 2016

On September 13, 2016 Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper settled a lawsuit to clean up pollution from the County’s South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station.

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and EDC file a notice of intent to sue the federal government for violating the Endangered Species Act

Aug 11, 2016

On August 10th, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and our partners at EDC filed a notice of intent to sue the federal government for violating the Endangered Species Act because it failed to consult with expert wildlife agencies regarding potential impacts to at least 25 threatened and endangered species, including whales, sea otters, fur seals, sea turtles, […]

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Desalination Subsurface Intake Study Press Release

Mar 23, 2016

On March 23, 2016, the Santa Barbara City Council denied a plea by environmental watchdog Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to revise a study of the feasibility of alternatives to make the City’s desalination plant less environmentally harmful, which Channelkeeper contends was intentionally designed to find alternatives infeasible.

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Channelkeeper and EDC file two lawsuits challenging federal government’s refusal to disclose information on oil pipelines in southern California

Dec 07, 2015

On December 7, 2015, Channelkeeper and EDC filed two lawsuits challenging the federal government’s refusal to disclose information on oil pipelines in southern California, including the Plains Pipeline that ruptured in May and spilled 143,000 gallons of oil on the Gaviota Coast.

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Judge Rules California Not Doing Enough to Curb Agricultural Pollution

Aug 11, 2015

August 11, 2015 (Santa Barbara, California) – Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley ruled that California is not doing enough to curb the witch’s brew of pollution pouring off of California farms. Judge Frawley ordered the State and Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board to create new rules to protect human health and the environment, […]

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Victory in Channelkeeper’s Lawsuit to Restore Flows in the Ventura River

Jun 04, 2015

April 27, 2015 (Santa Barbara, California) – At a hearing in California Superior Court in San Francisco this past Thursday (April 23, 2015), Santa Barbara Channelkeeper won a critical victory in its lawsuit to restore flows in the Ventura River.   The City of Ventura pumps hundreds of millions of gallons of water from the […]

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Channelkeeper Statement on Oil Spill at Refugio

May 19, 2015

In the wake of today’s oil spill, where a pipeline ruptured and spilled an estimated 21,000 gallons of oil at Refugio State Beach, the local environmental watchdog organization Santa Barbara Channelkeeper issued the following statement:   “Channelkeeper is sickened to learn of the oil spill in the Santa Barbara Channel and is extremely concerned about […]

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Channelkeeper Calls for Action to Protect Public Health from Fracking Contamination

Mar 18, 2015

On Friday Santa Barbara Channelkeeper petitioned two government agencies – the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (VCHD) and the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) – to take action to protect public health and the environment from contamination emanating from oil fields along the north coast of Ventura County. Citing a recent […]

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Team Up to Promote Water Conservation

Feb 04, 2015

Local non-profit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is teaming up with local brewery Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. (FigMtnBrew) to promote water conservation by co-hosting a public event on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 11:00 AM at FigMtnBrew’s Santa Barbara location, 137 Anacapa Street, to demonstrate how to convert beer barrels into rain barrels.

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Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Files Lawsuit to Keep Ventura River Flowing

Sep 22, 2014

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, a nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds, filed a lawsuit Friday against the State Water Resources Control Board to protect the Ventura River and the people, animals and plants that depend on it.

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Environmental Groups and Owners of Ojai Quarry Settle Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act Case

Aug 11, 2014

A federal judge with the United States District Court for the Central District of California has approved a settlement agreement between environmental organizations Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Environmental Defense Center and the owners of the Ojai Quarry in Ventura County.

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Businesses Unite to Fight for Clean and Plentiful Water in California

Jul 23, 2014

California Coastkeeper Alliance and 12 local Waterkeeper organizations today announced the launch of the Blue Business Council, a network of California businesses working to protect the State’s most valuable and threatened natural capital—its coast, ocean, bays, rivers, and streams.

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Channelkeeper Takes Local Youth Out On the Water for Ocean Education Tours as part of World Oceans Day Activities

Jun 09, 2014

This Saturday, June 7, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper will be providing on-the-water educational experiences for local youth and community groups as part of a host of ocean stewardship activities planned for World Oceans Day.

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Ultra-High Tides Illustrate Vulnerability of Santa Barbara’s Shoreline

Dec 27, 2013

Next Monday (December 30, 2013), some of the year’s highest tides will lash California’s coastal and bay shorelines, providing a glimpse of what the state can expect as sea levels rise in the coming years. These “king tides” – a term used to describe the highest winter tides – will be captured by citizen imagery […]

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Channelkeeper and EDC File Suit against the Ojai Quarry

Sep 04, 2013

Today, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Environmental Defense Center filed a lawsuit in federal court against Gralar LLC, dba Mosler Rock Product, for violations of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act at its Mosler Rock Ojai Quarry.  

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Give a Holiday Gift to the Environment – Celebrate “A Day Without A Bag” on December 19th!

Dec 18, 2012

Channelkeeper is sponsoring Santa Barbara’s sixth annual “Day Without A Bag” on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 as part of an ongoing effort to address plastic bag pollution.

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Ultra-High Tides Illustrate Vulnerability of Santa Barbara’s Shoreline

Dec 11, 2012

Over the next three days, some of the year’s highest tides will hit California shorelines, providing a glimpse of what the state can expect as sea level rises in the coming years.

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Environmental Groups Sue State Water Resources Control Board

Nov 29, 2012

Today, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, together with The Otter Project, San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, sued the State Water Resources Control Board for delaying regulations meant to protect the public and the environment.

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Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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(805) 563-3377

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NAVIGATION
  • About
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Our Team
    • Our Boat
    • Our History
    • Our Impact
    • About the Santa Barbara Channel
    • About Local Watersheds
    • Strategic Framework
    • Financial Information
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Education
      • Student Art Show
    • Community Engagement
      • Cruise Ship Advocacy
      • Report Pollution
      • Volunteer
      • Water Conservation
      • Oil Spill Resource Guide
      • Film Plastic Recyling
      • Action Alerts
    • Field Work
      • Beach Water Quality
      • Stream Team
        • Water Quality Indicators
        • Stream Team Data Portal
        • Leydecker Archives
      • MPA Watch
      • Cruise Ship Monitoring
      • Ocean Acidification
    • Advocacy
      • Aquaculture Advocacy
      • Polluted Runoff
      • Agriculture
      • Oil & Gas
        • Protecting the Coast from Sable Offshore’s Pipeline Restart
        • Refugio Oil Spill
        • Oil Spill Resource Guide
        • Platform Decommissioning
        • Legacy Oil Wells
        • Offshore Fracking
      • Ventura River
      • Plastic
        • Film Plastic Recyling
      • Marine Protected Areas
        • MPA Watch
      • Water Supply
        • Desalination
        • Conservation
    • Enforcement
      • Ventura River
      • Offshore Fracking
      • Agriculture
      • Sewage
      • Ojai Quarry
      • Halaco
  • Media
    • Press Releases
    • Blog
    • Newsletter Archive
    • eNews Archive
    • Photo Gallery
    • Video Gallery
  • Take Action
    • Donate
    • Events
    • Volunteer
      • Watershed Brigade
      • MPA Watch
    • Report Pollution
    • Action Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNews
    • Shop
      • Buy Channelkeeper Gear
      • Shop & Support Channelkeeper
  • Donate