Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Keeping Watch for Clean Water

environment

Building Meaningful Careers: An Interview with MPA Watch Interns  

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Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are underwater sanctuaries that provide safe havens for marine wildlife. Channelkeeper’s MPA Watch program trains and engages community volunteers to observe and record human uses of coastal and marine resources both inside and outside of marine protected areas (MPAs) along the Santa Barbara coast. Using standardized protocols volunteers and program interns collect relevant, scientifically rigorous, and broadly accessible data that are used to help inform MPA management and enforcement. Through Channelkeeper’s shore-based MPA Watch program, we’re able to collect data related to human use activities at the Campus Point, Naples, and Kashtayit MPAs along the Santa Barbara coastline. MPA Watch interns focus their work at these three MPAs along the Santa Barbara coastline. 
 
MPA Watch interns are key to the program’s success. This year, we are fortunate to have three UCSB undergraduate interns supporting this community science program, thanks in part to a grant award from the UCSB Associated Students Coastal Fund. MPA Watch interns conduct weekly surveys to ensure consistent coverage of all the coastal MPAs, perform data entry of volunteer surveys and data quality control checks, assist with volunteer training workshops, and lead volunteer field training sessions. 

Channelkeeper recently caught up with our three current MPA Watch Interns, Brynn Campos, Madi Trudeau, and Raven Berse to learn more about their experiences.  

Why did you choose to intern with Channelkeeper? 

Madi: I chose to intern with Channelkeeper because I wanted to find a way to engage with the local community and learn more about the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds.  

Brynn: I chose to intern with Channelkeeper because I was interested in ecology/marine biology internships with flexible scheduling. Not only did Channelkeeper work fit into my busy schedule, but it gave me the opportunity to spend more days at the beach and build up marketable skills in the field I am passionate about. 

Raven: I didn’t have many opportunities to really make a difference at my local community college. As a 3rd-year transfer to UCSB, I felt like I needed to hit the ground running and find as many opportunities as I could. I called Channelkeeper and went on a few surveys. I was so fascinated and amazed that I was able to participate in the MPAWatch program as an intern. I have worked with Channelkeeper for over a year now, and I love the team and the work that we do to keep our marine protected areas safe. 

What skills do you hope to gain from this experience? 

Madi: I’m gaining a ton of useful experience in fieldwork, data collection, and data entry. I’m continuing to learn a lot about what it means to collect good data, and how the importance of it can translate into other fields. I’ve found that I really enjoy being out in the field, so I’m glad that I get to continue working on these skills and honing in on potential careers I want to pursue. 

Raven: I have gained a lot of knowledge and confidence in survey-taking and data collection. After school, I want to do research work and this was my first hands-on experience.  

Brynn: Other than the obvious data collection/data entry experience, I am happy with the soft skills I have gained from this experience and how much I have been able to learn about local ecosystems. I have improved my ability to communicate scientific concepts to the public (especially children!) and gained more experience training others. In addition, taking regular walks along our beaches for the past year has allowed me to see the seasonal patterns of the ocean including the dynamism of the tides and the bluffs, the diversity of beautiful fauna (especially birds!), and more generally the interplay between weather and ocean conditions. It has been an invaluable experience getting to personally witness the dynamics of the ocean for my future in marine biology. 

If there were 25 hours in a day, how would you spend the extra hour? 

Brynn: If there were 25 hours in a day, I would spend the extra hour taking my cat Bella on a walk in her backpack.  

Raven: If there were 25 hours in a day, I would try to spend the extra hour doing art or being outside. 

Madi: As a student, it’s really easy to get caught up in work and I find myself spending all day in lecture halls and the library. Having an extra hour would give me the chance to prioritize my passions, like hiking, surfing, and generally just appreciating the outdoors.  

What has been the highlight of your intern experience? 

Raven: The biggest highlight of my intern experience has just been getting out of the house and seeing the beauty of the world outside. After COVID, I really stopped going outside as often. This opportunity pushes me to be outdoors, and it’s really enjoyable to spend a few hours outside near the beach while knowing you’re making a small difference while you’re there. I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities to see the tidepools, walk through the fields along the coast with the cows and horses, have hawks and butterflies fly right over me, and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. It has been a very wonderful and enjoyable experience.  

Brynn: The highlight of my intern experience has been getting to go to our beautiful Channel Islands for a beach cleanup. My trip with Channelkeeper was my first time on the Islands and it was such a beautiful and enriching day. Not only were we able to clean up over 1,000 pounds of trash, but I got to witness the real impact of marine pollution on what should be a pristine natural beauty. Having this experience will drive my future efforts to ensure that we live on a clean, green planet. 

Madi: The highlight of this experience was definitely Underwater Parks Day. It was such a fun outreach event that gave me the chance to connect with community members, other volunteers, and interns. I also got to learn a ton of new information about Santa Barbara’s intertidal zones, and it was fascinating to see all of the organisms they had in their care. It helped me to connect with a new community of people who love marine life as much as I do.    

Channelkeeper feels grateful beyond words to work with these three extraordinary women who, after graduation, plan to launch careers in areas such as aquatic ecology, ocean research, and marine biology. With great optimism, we look forward to learning about all that they will accomplish. 

Annie Lovell Joins Channelkeeper

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Channelkeeper is pleased to welcome Annie Lovell to the team as our new Development Director. In this role, Annie will help develop strategic partnerships and raise funds to support Channelkeeper’s mission and programs.

Annie brings experience in fundraising, grant writing, and community building, along with a deep appreciation for the ocean and a background in environmental science.

We took a moment recently to chat with Annie and learn more about her experience and interests.

  1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? What were you interested in as a young person?  

I grew up in Arizona and spent a lot of my childhood playing sports, volunteering, camping, hiking, and traveling with my family. I learned how to swim before I learned how to walk, and as a kid, I spent a lot of time underwater in the pool and then swam competitively in high school and into college. I volunteered at various local non-profits, including the foodbank and women’s shelter. I participated in a life-changing service-learning trip to Nicaragua in college. My parents also took us on wonderful family vacations that connected us with nature in different parts of the country. This translated to my spending a lot of time planning trips with friends to explore beautiful areas of the southwest, and then New Zealand, as a study abroad student. These early interests have persisted throughout my life. I was recently looking through my “special box” of memorabilia from my childhood and it was so fun to see how the things I spent my time doing as a child are still my primary interests as an adult.  

  1. It sounds like you have a deep personal connection with the ocean. Mind sharing a little about that?   

Many of my childhood summers were spent at the beach. I always loved the ocean, spending hours playing in the waves and collecting shells. When I moved to Hawai’i after college, my love for the ocean deepened. While living on O’ahu I spent as much time as possible playing in the ocean – surfing, outrigger canoe paddling, swimming, scuba diving, and sailing. Water, and the ocean in particular, provides so much to me – it’s my happy place, the basis for my community connections, and I feel most at home when I am in or near the water.   

  1. What inspires your work to protect coastal ecosystems?    

When I was living in Hawai ‘I, I began volunteering for local non-profits working to protect the ocean and coastlines, including the Surfrider Foundation and Hui o Ko’olaupoko. The more time I spent at the beach and in the ocean, and the more I learned about coastal and marine ecosystems, the more I wanted to protect these special places. Protecting our coastlines and oceans and the communities that rely on these resources gives me great purpose in my life.  

I believe that everyone should have access to clean water, not only in terms of its value to human health, but as a sanctuary for individuals to escape to for recreation, reflection, or connection. For this simple reason, I am motivated to protect these ecosystems for both my own benefit, but also for the benefit of everyone, both current and future generations.  

  1. Do you have a personal hero?   

Captain Liz Clark has been a role model and hero since I first learned about her sailing ventures and environmental advocacy. Her capabilities and adventurous spirit inspire me to pursue my dreams and feel capable of anything I set my mind to. I also respect her environmental ethic and how she leads by example. She has done so much to change the perspectives of young women wanting a more conscious and self-aligned life. While not many of us can live this same low-impact, ocean-centric lifestyle, I often dream about one day sailing around the world or living on a remote Pacific Island. 

  1. You have experience in both environmental science and fundraising. Tell us about how you use your superpowers to support environmental conservation. 

My 8th grade biology teacher first got me interested in the natural sciences and I went on to get a degree in environmental studies and psychology. Then I began my career in environmental consulting focusing on water resource management. I spent a lot of my time in the field – gathering water samples, building rain gardens, or writing environmental assessments. However, I was always most interested in the human components of the projects – Why would someone care about this work? What policies can be changed to protect our environment in the long term? How can the community be engaged in this work? When I started combining my experience as an environmental scientist with my understanding of human behavior, I found that I was most effective at developing relationships, building community, and communicating the importance of protecting our environment. 

  1. What aspects of Channelkeeper’s work are you most excited to engage in?   

Before moving to Santa Barbara, I spent about five years working for an active travel company, leading hiking and cycling trips around the world. Travel has always been an important part of my life, but it has felt at odds with my environmental values. I’ve been very interested in the sustainable tourism industry and finding ways for travel to have a positive impact on the environment and communities. Therefore, I am excited about engaging in SBCK’s efforts to address the cruise ship industry’s impacts in Santa Barbara.  

In graduate school, I also became fascinated with seaweed aquaculture and the development of the industry along the U.S. west coast. I am looking forward to supporting potential opportunities for Channelkeeper to guide responsible aquaculture development. I’m also very excited about participating in the Watershed Brigade cleanups as a way of connecting with the community and getting my hands dirty to protect our watersheds and coastlines.  

  1. Any highlights so far? 

Within my first month on the job, a highlight has been developing the relationships between Channelkeeper and the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. After graduating from the Bren School in 2022, I wanted to continue my connection with the program. I am now excited to find ways to meaningfully collaborate with students and faculty.   

  1. How do you balance your life? What do you do for fun? 

I love to spend as much time in the water as possible – mainly surfing and swimming. I also love outrigger canoe paddling, which is an incredible way to enjoy the ocean and be part of a wonderful community. Other than that, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, riding my bike, and doing yoga. While I prioritize movement and time outdoors, I also love reading and getting together with friends for a meal or venturing to new parts of the world that I have yet to explore.  

  1. If you were an aquatic organism, what would you be and why?   

If I were going to be any aquatic organism, I would be a dolphin so that I could swim fast, glide gracefully through the water, and surf the waves. I’ve had a lot of dolphin encounters, and I have never lost my appreciation for their presence and beauty as they play in the water. 

If you would like to connect with Annie to personally welcome her, you can reach her at annie@sbck.org.

Protecting Biodiversity in the Santa Barbara Channel 

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Home to acres of giant kelp forests and a diverse array of marine species—from anemones and nudibranchs to sheephead and yellowtail, and sharks, sea lions, dolphins, and whales—the Santa Barbara Channel is considered an ecological treasure and one of the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth.  

Its unparalleled species density and diversity can be attributed to the Channel’s location in the transition zone between the cool northern California Current and warm Southern California Countercurrent, where two distinct ecological systems merge. In addition, wind-driven upwellings, which force deep, nutrient-laden ocean waters to the surface nourish a productive food web that includes plankton, squid, hundreds of fish species and invertebrates, dolphins, sharks, birds, and whales. 

Why is biodiversity important? 

Biodiversity is essential for healthy ecosystems. It is a primary indicator of our planet’s health. All of the organisms within an ecosystem are interconnected, so when biodiversity declines and organisms disappear, it affects the entire ecosystem’s ability to function and survive. Humans, as part of this network, are reliant on the ecosystem’s health and biodiversity. Every breath we take depends on another life, another species. Healthy ecosystems provide us with clean water, air, a secure food supply, essential medicines, and they also help moderate the climate.  

Help us Protect Biodiversity 

Humans have caused rapid ecosystem changes and loss of biodiversity across the planet in recent decades. In the Santa Barbara Channel scientists have documented changes to fish and bird populations, shifts in ocean pH levels, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of harmful algae blooms that have indicated imbalances. 

Channelkeeper works to protect biodiversity in the Santa Barbara Channel by conducting important fieldwork, increasing public awareness, advocating for more protective policies, and enforcing environmental laws.  

Marine Protected Areas 

Out on the water, our team monitors human activity within nine of the nineteen marine protected areas in the Santa Barbara Channel and educates the public on their ecological, economic, and cultural value. These designated areas provide sanctuaries for species to grow and reproduce. We also mobilize a corps of volunteers to help track human activity in them through our MPA Watch program. 

Plankton Monitoring 
Channelkeeper staff collects plankton samples and sends them to the California State Health Department for analysis as part of our effort to monitor hazardous algal blooms in the Santa Barbara Channel.  

In addition, our team periodically assists with domoic acid response efforts and important research in the Santa Barbara Channel by collecting water samples and sending them to experts with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. The data and observations that we collect during these sampling events will help provide a better understanding of the geographic extent of algae bloom events and how climate stressors may affect them.  

Policy Development 
Through ongoing advocacy efforts to address pollution, habitat destruction, and the impacts of climate change, and protect both water resources and public health, we work to improve environmental policies at the local, state, and national level. Some of the issues that we are working on are regulating pollution from irrigated agriculture, evaluating the impacts of aquaculture project development in the Santa Barbara Channel, addressing the environmental risks and limiting the number of cruise ships that anchor off Santa Barbara, and restoring flows to the Ventura River.  

We hope you’ll join us in taking action locally to protect the biodiversity in our backyard from threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and the effects of climate change. Become an MPA Watch volunteer and help track activity in these aquatic sanctuaries, join our Watershed Brigade to help remove trash from local waterways and reduce pollution, or support our work to protect and restore ecosystems throughout the Santa Barbara Channel with a donation. Let’s work together to ensure that they are healthy and vibrant for future generations. 

Every Yard Counts in Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

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The Santa Barbara Channel is vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. Your yard can help protect it. 

The Santa Barbara Channel is one of the most biologically productive ecosystems found on Earth. However, changing oceanographic processes, warming water temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise produced by a changing climate are already affecting the health of marine ecosystems.  

We’ve seen recently how coastal runoff from intense rains and flooding flushes trash and debris into the Santa Barbara Channel, degrading water quality. We’ve also seen how high nutrient levels from coastal runoff contribute to harmful algal blooms. Yet our community can minimize some of these impacts by making a few changes in their own yards.  

By conserving water and managing runoff, focusing on soil health, and reducing emissions from lawn care equipment, each of us can lessen our yard’s climate impact while conserving resources and enhancing habitat. Here are a few ideas to implement in your landscaped space. 

Replace Your Lawn

Fertilizing, mowing, blowing, and irrigating a lawn leads to a sizable climate footprint. In 2011, an Environmental Protection Agency report found that gas-powered lawn and garden equipment emitted approximately 6.3 million tons of volatile organic compounds and criteria pollutants (carbon, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter), and 20.4 million tons of carbon dioxide. By planting a variety of native, drought-tolerant plants, trees, shrubs, and ground covers that don’t require high maintenance, you can reduce your landscape’s water use, while providing habitat for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects. You can make the transition gradually over time by replacing a different patch of turf each year. In addition, many municipalities offer rebates when you replace your lawn with water-wise plants. 

Focus on Soil Health

Healthy soils are the base of thriving ecosystems. Soils rich with organic matter support healthy populations of beneficial organisms while retaining moisture and helping sequester carbon. 

Avoid using synthetic fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers are not only extremely energy-intensive to manufacture, but they also provide more nitrogen than plants can absorb, contributing to polluted runoff and hazardous algae blooms in the ocean, lakes, and rivers that collect runoff. 

Alternatively, composting food and yard waste is a great way to build healthy soil in your yard. Organic material will improve the fertility, soil structure, and water-holding capacity of your landscape. Planting a cover crop is another way to support healthy soil since plants can help hold soil prevent runoff during heavy rains, protect soil from evaporation during droughts, and capture nutrients to prevent nutrient loss in runoff.  

Be Water Wise

Long periods of drought followed by heavy rains make it increasingly important for each of us to manage and use water wisely. Collecting water from your roof in rain barrels, a cistern, or storage tanks can help you to retain water for future use.  

It’s also a good idea to consider the permeability of your landscape and make the most of downpours by diverting stormwater to designated areas in your yard where it can infiltrate and recharge groundwater resources.  

When irrigation is necessary, drip systems tend to waste less water to evaporation and runoff than conventional sprinklers. Mulching around the base of plants can also help prevent moisture loss while nourishing the soil. 

Use People Power

Reduce your yard’s greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the gas-powered equipment you use to maintain it. Lawn and garden equipment like lawnmowers and leaf blowers account for up five percent of total air pollution in the United States. In fact, according to the EPA, one gas mower spews 88 lbs. of greenhouse gas CO2, and 34 lbs. of other pollutants into the air every year. For a climate-smart alternative, choose hand tools like reel mowers, shovels, and brooms. 

Resources: 

Santa Barbara County 
 
WaterWise Santa Barbara Landscape Rebate Program 

Green Gardener Program 

WaterWise Garden Contest 

Ventura County 

Ventura Water Turf Replacement Rebate 

Ventura Water Conservation Resources 

Drip Irrigation Retrofit Program 

Leveraging the Law to Protect Ocean Environments from the Effects of Finfish Aquaculture 

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Channelkeeper recently joined the Center for Food Safety, other environmental organizations, fishing groups, and the Quinault Indian Nation in suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its issuance of Nationwide Permit 56, which authorizes the development of finfish farming structures in state and federal waters. We are challenging that the Nationwide Permit was approved without a thorough analysis of its potential detrimental impacts on our ocean ecosystems, water quality, public health, fishing communities, and endangered and threatened species. 

Nationwide Permit 56 allows the installation of cages, net pens, anchors, floats, buoys, and other structures in marine and estuarine waters over the outer continental shelf. It’s the primary program that will be used to permit all future finfish aquaculture development in federal waters throughout the United States. However, the groups who have filed the legal action are concerned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers skirted mandatory environmental review processes when it issued this permit.  We claim that the agency failed to consult, as required by law, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, as about potential effects on threatened and endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act, nor consult on the impacts to Essential Fish Habitat under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Further, the Army Corps lacks the legal authority to take this step in the first place without new authority from Congress, which it has not gotten. 

The Nationwide Permit 56 originated from a Trump-era executive order promoting the rapid expansion of industrial marine aquaculture facilities under the guise of addressing pandemic-related food insecurity. Federal officials have begun identifying locations as potential sites for commercial aquaculture operations. The Santa Barbara Channel—along with areas in the Gulf of Mexico and waters off Marina del Rey, California—was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as one of the first areas to assess for future aquaculture development. The Santa Barbara Channel currently has two active aquaculture projects along the coastline.  

Certain types of aquaculture projects, such as those for shellfish and seaweed, generally may have benefits that outweigh the drawbacks. However, offshore aquaculture operations for finfish (such as tuna or tilapia) present significant risks to the environment. These include, but are not limited to: 

  • water quality impairment from dead fish, fecal waste, and antibiotics; 
  •  spread of disease that can impact populations of wild fish caught by commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishermen; 
  • escape of farmed fish into the natural environment, risking the genetic integrity of wild populations; and 
  • depletion of small fish populations that are used as feed for farmed fish and thus, less available for wild fish, birds, and marine life. 

In addition, there is currently no regulatory program in place to adequately oversee aquaculture operations in federal waters or strong standards to protect the marine environment from the impacts of finfish aquaculture.  

By signing on to this lawsuit, Channelkeeper hopes to ensure that all appropriate precautions and measures are in place to protect the Santa Barbara Channel from the potentially destructive impacts of industrial, offshore finfish aquaculture.   

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