ocean

Planting the Seeds of Environmental Stewardship Through Art

April 23, 2024 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

An interview with this year’s Student Art Show Juror, Kelly Clause

Every spring for the past twenty-one years, Channelkeeper’s Student Art Show has celebrated the connection between young people and the ocean. High school students from Carpinteria to Goleta are invited to create their interpretations of what the Santa Barbara Channel means to them. The artwork they produce is expressive, personal, and powerful.

Inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders is one of the show’s fundamental goals. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome artist Kelly Clause, who participated in Channelkeeper’s Student Art Show in 2005, as a high school student, as the show’s juror.

Kelly’s artwork is influenced by the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as the unique beauty of the California coast. She believes that connecting young people to the ocean through experiences like the Student Art Show helps plant the seeds of environmental stewardship—a connection with nature that can be nourished over time and can inspire a life-long sense of environmental responsibility and care.

In the interview that follows, Kelly shares her profound, personal connection to the ocean as well as her experience as a young participant in Channelkeeper’s Student Art Show and the positive impact that it had on her as an artist.

Channelkeeper (SBCK): As an artist, what draws you to paint the ocean and its creatures?

Kelly Clause (KC): The ocean and its creatures are the object of my never-ending curiosity, awe, and respect. The ocean is full of life, full of mystery, and will humble even the most confident of human beings. It feels so natural for me to paint the ocean because I was raised near it, in it, and with this constant hunger to understand it more. I love to surf, dive, paddle, and generally just spend time near the water. I feel really lucky to have been raised here in Santa Barbara and want to do my best to protect the unique beauty of our coast! I believe art has the potential to impact people to pause, appreciate, grow curious, and ultimately become better stewards of our environment.

SBCK: What was your first experience with Channelkeeper’s Student Art Show?

KC: I believe it was my sophomore or junior year of high school at Dos Pueblos High School, and my art teacher asked if she could enter me into a local art show that was all about the ocean. Naturally, I said yes, painted a big wave in acrylic, turned it in, and was completely shocked when they announced I had won an award for it. I really had no idea what Channelkeeper was at the time, but I vividly remember the kindness and enthusiasm in that room.

SBCK: What was the Student Art Show experience like as a student?

KC: It was fun! It was my first ever experience being a part of an art show, and Channelkeeper did such a great job at making us students feel important and honored for showing our work. It was a positive experience for me, and increased my confidence and helped me take chances and enter other art shows down the road.

SBCK: Why do you think it’s important to highlight the artwork of young people?

KC: Young people not only have artistic talent that should be celebrated and seen, but by investing in youth, we are investing in our future community and environment. Art can be a powerful voice to spark curiosity, prompt questions, increase emotional literacy, and promote beautiful causes. Encouraging young people to be vulnerable in expressing themselves through art as a means of communication is a worthy investment

SBCK: As you know, the theme of the show each year is “What the Channel Means to Me.” If you were going to create one piece of art that evoked what the Channel means to you, what would you create?

KC: It’s difficult to sum up what the Channel means to me in one piece of art, but I guess that’s the beauty of art. You don’t have to say it all! At this point in time, I would probably paint Giant kelp, because of its beauty and the unique ecosystem it creates in our Channel.

SBCK: Do you have a favorite ocean creature to represent in your artwork? Why?

KC: Humpbacks! To me, whales are completely majestic creatures. Their size alone is absolutely awe-inspiring and will make you feel humbled in a second if you are fortunate enough to get close to one. Their devotion to escorting their young thousands of miles home to safety, their acrobatic skills and playful nature, their singing, gentle but fierce demeanor…whales are incredible to me. My first watercolor was a whale, and it inspired the entire direction of my artistic journey.

The community is invited to join us in celebrating the artists at a reception on Thursday, May 2^nd from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm that will take place at the Jodi House Gallery at 625 Chapala Street in Santa Barbara.  Click here for more information.

The show is sponsored by Trillium Enterprise, Inc. and the City of Goleta Grant Program. 

Building Meaningful Careers: An Interview with MPA Watch Interns

March 27, 2024 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

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 3^rd-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

January 2, 2024 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

My 8^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 [email protected].

Welcome Aboard, Nate!

October 2, 2023 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Channelkeeper is pleased to welcome Nate Irwin to our team as a Policy Associate. In addition to his passion for environmental science and profound local knowledge, Nate brings extensive policy development and community organizing experience and ebullient positive energy. He will be leading the charge on many of Channelkeeper’s advocacy campaigns and environmental policy programs. We took a moment recently to learn more about Nate, his deep appreciation for the ocean, and what inspires his work to protect the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds.

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

I grew up on the Mesa and spent most of my time outside, either playing an organized sport, or surfing. My interests haven’t changed much since I was a kid. I have always felt a connection to the natural world, and luckily, I still feel the same today. There is no better teacher, healer or communicator than mother nature.

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

My dad taught me to surf when I was three in Cabo San Lucas, and I have been completely obsessed ever since. There has not been a bad day that couldn’t be cured by a jump in the ocean. Growing up so close to the beach has allowed me to become in tune with its natural rhythms, the tides going in and out, afternoon northwesterly winds, flat spells, big swells, and glassy mornings. I was extremely privileged to have a dad that felt the same way about surfing as I did, calling us both in sick when there were good days. I have a deep reverence for the ocean because of its enormity, complexity, beauty and importance to the health of the earth.

What inspires your work to protect coastal ecosystems?  

I am inspired to protect coastal ecosystems because of their interconnectedness with the health of the land. The Santa Barbara Channel is such a unique and important part of the world and keeping it healthy involves protecting both the watersheds that flow into it, and the ocean that receives this freshwater. Our coastal ecosystem is both beautiful and highly productive, making it incredibly important to ensure that we keep it healthy. I have spent the majority of my life in close proximity to the coast and feel a sense of responsibility to protect it in return for all it has done for me.

Do you have a personal hero? 

My parents are my heroes because they allowed me to grow up in Santa Barbara and taught me to have respect for nature. They are both educators in Santa Barbara and I was fortunate to have their guidance growing up. My mom influenced me to be aware of my surroundings and appreciate all living things and each moment we get to be on this planet. My dad taught me that it is important to be yourself and to use your creativity to express yourself.

You have experience in environmental advocacy and inspiring others to get involved in conservation. Tell us about Illuminate Conservation. 

In my final year of college at Antioch, Santa Barbara, I learned about Bradbury Dam/Lake Cachuma and its impact on the endangered Southern California steelhead. This species really got me interested in conservation and inspired me to get involved in helping to save them from extinction. I started an initiative to raise awareness about the importance of this species by using art, advocacy events, a petition and through writing about the species. My dad and I painted large scale steelhead inspired abstract art to highlight the conservation issue this species was facing. The fact that this species is disappearing is so alarming because they are the indicators of healthy watersheds. Illuminate Conservation is a platform that has raised over $16,000 to support NGO’s that work in watershed restoration, 48,000 signatures in support of the steelhead on the Santa Ynez River and taught local students about this issue using art as a catalyst for change and awareness.

What aspects of Channelkeeper’s work are you most excited to engage on? 

I am most excited to get involved in watershed protection projects and the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary designation. I feel that public awareness of the importance of healthy watersheds will guide policy towards a more sustainable future for our county and state. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary designation is a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve a section of the marine environment forever and for future generations to enjoy. This is a monumental moment because the sanctuary designation incorporates Indigenous voices and traditional ecological knowledge in the preservation of their lands that they have stewarded since time immemorial.

Any highlights so far?

My biggest highlight so far has been attending the “Rally at the Rock” organized by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council to advocate for the inclusion of Lisamu’ (Morro Rock) and its surrounding waters in the sanctuary proposal. It was an incredible day, and I was so honored to be a part of it.

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

I would be a dolphin off the coast of California because they are so graceful and look like they are having so much fun. They also seem to have such a close-knit family that they get to explore the ocean with.

New Report Outlines a Comprehensive Approach to Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution

February 2, 2022 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

[En Español]

How can we address the global issue of plastic waste? A new report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS), titled Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste, not only evaluates the United States’ contribution to plastic production and waste generation, it also offers recommendations for reducing the amount of plastic that makes its way to the ocean.

The NAS study, required by the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020, reports that the U.S. generated more plastic waste in 2016 than any country in the world—a total of 42 million metric tons (MMT) and estimates that in 2016 about 1 to 2 MMT of US-generated plastic waste entered the environment in the U.S. and abroad. Previous studies estimate that globally 8 MMT of plastic waste enters the world’s ocean each year.

The report found that the leading sources of ocean plastics include stormwater systems, wastewater discharges, atmospheric deposits, trash from boats and ships, beach waste, and transport from inland areas by rivers and streams.

These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced tracking and monitoring to gather comprehensive data and address knowledge gaps by employing technologies such as sensors, biochemical markers, and tracers, as well as the implementation of standardized measurements to collect meaningful data sets that are scientifically robust and comparable.

Recommended Interventions

What steps can the U.S. take to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean? The report recommends that a variety of interventions be implemented across various stages of plastic’s path from source to ocean.

As a fundamental step, the study suggests that the U.S. reduce overall plastic production to affect change throughout the waste stream. And, with system-wide solutions in mind, the report also recommends that the U.S. improve waste management infrastructure and accelerate innovations in material and product design to develop plastic substitutes that degrade more quickly or are easily recycled.

Physical interventions include frequent cleanups, improving the methods used to remove plastic waste from the environment such as extracting plastic waste from stormwater, and reducing the amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean directly from vessels via the establishment of waste disposal infrastructure, incentives for land-based disposal of fishing nets and gear, better tracking methods, and increased enforcement.

Ultimately, the report recommends the creation of a federal research and policy strategy that focuses on identifying and implementing interventions throughout the plastic life cycle.

The NAS report not only provides an informative assessment of the U.S.’s contribution to the global ocean plastic problem, but it also offers actionable recommendations that, if implemented, may position the US as a global leader in reducing plastic pollution and creating a more circular economy. In this sense, the report presents an opportunity to effect positive change and transform our nation’s approach to mitigating plastic pollution.

What Can We Do?

As an organization, Channelkeeper works to reduce the flow of plastic pollution to the ocean through an array of advocacy, monitoring, outreach, and education initiatives and as a lead community voice supporting the transition away from single-use plastics. We conduct cleanups, advocate for local ordinances to minimize distribution of these single-use plastic items by using less harmful alternatives, and we support a film plastic recycling program in partnership with Abblitt’s Fine Cleaners that converts plastic waste into pellets used for decking and other household materials.

On an individual level, each of us can take steps to reduce the flow of plastics into the environment. We can lessen the plastic used in our lives and choose products that come in minimal packaging. We can leverage our purchasing power to choose more sustainable options by purchasing secondhand items and products in bulk, and by reusing items rather than buying new ones. We can also simply recycle the plastic items that we use. Finally, we can support government policies that reduces plastic use. Support government initiatives at the city, county, state, and federal level to reduce the use of single-use plastics and hold businesses accountable for the packaging they produce.

In November of 2022, every Californian will have an opportunity to take action against plastic pollution by voting in support of the California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Initiative. If passed, the law would require the State to take steps to reduce plastic waste including requiring that single-use plastic packaging, containers, and utensils be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. It would also tax producers of single-use plastics and use the revenue to fund recycling and environmental programs.

We invite you to learn more about this upcoming ballot initiative and support federal legislation like the Federal Break Free from Plastic Act of 2020, which would hold plastic producers fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting their products after consumer use and would establish minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted.

Reducing the amount of plastic waste that finds its way into the environment will require the combined efforts of legislative action, producer responsibility, and consumer pressure. Channelkeeper is pleased to support the transition away from plastic and continues to take an active role in pollution reduction through ocean pollution monitoring and prevention, in addition to political advocacy and community education.