Santa Barbara Channel Keeper

THE ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL AND ITS WATERSHEDS THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, FIELD WORK AND ENFORCEMENT.

SANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS REACHED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON TO PREVENT AND CLEAN UP CHEMICAL POLLUTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORAGE OF PENTACHLOROPHENOL-TREATED UTILITY POLES IN WATERBODIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.RECOGNIZED A MILESTONE IN EFFORTS TO RESTORE FLOWS TO THE VENTURA RIVER WHEN THE CITY OF VENTURA CURTAILED ALL PUMPING AT ITS FOSTER PARK WELL FIELD AS FLOW LEVELS REACHED A SIGNIFICANTLY LOW LEVEL IN EARLY AUGUST, RESULTING IN A REBOUND OF WATER FLOW FOR THE LOWER REACH OF THE RIVER.CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AS THE SOLE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC TRUST RESOURCES IN THE VENTURA RIVER WATERSHED ADJUDICATION, A LEGAL PROCESS THAT WILL LIKELY ESTABLISH RULES FOR HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD REMAIN IN REACHES OF THE RIVER TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE AND RECREATIONAL USES. ENDED AN ILLEGAL CONTAMINATED AGRICULTURAL DISCHARGE TO THE CARPINTERIA SALT MARSH BY RESPONDING TO A COMMUNITY POLLUTION REPORT, CONDUCTING WATER QUALITY SAMPLING, AND ENGAGING WITH LOCAL WATER RESOURCE AGENCIES. REACHED 600 LOCAL STUDENTS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION LESSONS AND ON-THE-WATER ACTIVITIES. HOSTED OUR 18TH ANNUAL STUDENT ART SHOW, RECEIVING 150 SUBMITTED PIECES FROM STUDENTS AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.CONDUCTED 22 MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) WATCH SURVEYS IN NEARSHORE COASTAL AND CHANNEL ISLAND AREAS FROM OUR BOAT, THE R/V CHANNELKEEPER.TRAINED 90 NEW VOLUNTEERS, WHO ALONG WITH EXISTING VOLUNTEERS, CONDUCTED 845 SHORE-BASED SURVEYS AT THE CAMPUS POINT, KASHTAYIT AND NAPLES MARINE PROTECTED AREAS.MOBILIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN, TO REMOVE 40 DERELICT LOBSTER TRAPS FROM A ONE MILE STRETCH OF ELLWOOD BEACH IN GOLETA.ENGAGED 547 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS WHO REMOVED AT LEAST 7,684 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM 263 LOCATIONS (BEACHES, CREEKS, STREETS, TRAILS, ETC.) THROUGHOUT OUR LOCAL WATERSHEDS.CONDUCTED MONTHLY WATER QUALITY SAMPLING AT 22 SITES ACROSS 10 STREAMS IN THE GOLETA VALLEY AS PART OF OUR GOLETA STREAM TEAM COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROGRAM.