Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

On July 20, from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. PT, our friends at the Community Environmental Council (CEC) will present a free #ClimateAction webinar about the plastic pollution crisis, focusing on ways in which adopting a circular economic model can mitigate pollution while promoting economic growth. Local business leaders will discuss the transition to a borrow-use-return model that designs waste out of the equation and ensures that products and materials are reused. As they outline this circular vision, they will share how they are successfully growing their businesses while reducing impact. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/2T4cAE6

From production to distribution, and to waste that oftentimes impacts the most vulnerable communities, the #PlasticProblem requires systemic change, like phasing out #SingleUsePlastics, ending harmful fossil fuel subsidies and holding companies accountable. Check out this powerful 4-minute video to learn more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU #plasticfreejuly... #plasticpollution#plastic #breakfreefromplastic#Plasticfreeseas #corporateresponsibility #environmentalaction #SBChannelkeeper #plasticfree #reducereuserecycle #waterkeeper #swimdrinkfish

It's #PlasticFreeJuly Action Day Today’s the day to ask companies to help change the system! #ChooseToRefuse #SingleUsePlastic. We invite you to reach out to three companies whose products you buy to request that they use less plastic packaging. You can find a handy email template to use as a reference here: https://www.awastefreeworld.com//email-template-for-compan . .... #PlasticPollution #BeTheChange #CommunityAction #ReduceReuseRecycle #Waterkeeper #EnvironmentalAction #PlasticFreeSeas #Plastic #Litter #singleuseplastic #Plasticfree #corporateresponsibility #breakfreefromplastic See more

Ever wonder how much plastic is hiding in your cupboards, lurking in your bathroom, and cluttering up your life? Do a plastic audit! It’s the best way to identify opportunities to swap out plastic products for more sustainable options and reduce your plastic dependence. Check out our latest blog post for helpful tips and share your favorite plastic reduction strategies in the comments! https://www.sbck.org/knowledge-is-power-for-meaningful-pla/ #Plasticfreejuly2021 #plasticpollution #Plasticfreeseas #Plasticreduction #Reducereuserecycle #PlasticAudit #environmentalaction #sbchannelkeeper #ecofriendly #singleuseplastic #choosetorefuse #SkipTheStuff #plasticfreejuly

The future's in our hands and it's time to take action! Here are a few simple steps that each of us can take to reduce the flow of microplastics into the environment: 1. Refuse and reduce plastic use in your life. The most effective action that each of us can take is to eliminate single-use plastics like bags, bottles, straws, and cups from our everyday activities. Choose products that come in minimal packaging, and that are not made of plastic. 2. Spread the word. Talk to yo...ur family, friends, and neighbors and invite them to make small changes. 3. Support policy that reduces plastic use. Do your research and 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. #plasticfreejuly #plasticfreejuly2021 #plasticpollution #PlasticFreeSeas #reducereuserecycle #litterfree #marinelife #ocean #bethechange #environmentalaction #Sbchannelkeeper #Waterkeeper #Swimdrinkfish

JULY 5th Cleanup Challenge! Our beaches hosted a lot of wonderful celebrations over the July 4th holiday. Let's clean them up today. Channelkeeper will give away gift bundles from Humboldt Distillery to two lucky people who conduct a cleanup on July 5th. Pick up litter, snap a photo, and tag us (@SBChannelkeeper, #WatershedBrigade, @HumboldtDistillery) to be entered in the drawing! Drawing #1: (21+): Humboldt Distillery Vodka, stickers, insulated thermos. Drawing #2: (under ...21): T-shirt, socks, frisbee, stickers, stainless steel pint cup #july4th #beachlife #santabarbara #litterfree #plasticpollution #Plasticfreeseas #sbchannelkeeper #july4thweekend #4thofjuly2021 #5thofJuly #Beachcleanup #Litter

We hope that your holiday is filled with festive fun AND that you'll join our JULY 5th Cleanup Challenge! Beaches along our coast see a lot of activity over the July 4th holiday. Let's make sure that they're clean! Channelkeeper will give away gift bundles from Humboldt Distillery to two lucky people who conduct a cleanup on July 5th. Pick up litter, snap a photo, and tag us (@SBChannelkeeper, #WatershedBrigade, @HumboldtDistillery) to be entered in the drawing! Drawing #1: (...21+): Humboldt Distillery Vodka, stickers, insulated thermos. Drawing #2: (under 21): T-shirt, socks, frisbee, stickers, stainless steel pint cup #july4th #beachlife #santabarbara #litterfree #plasticpollution #Plasticfreeseas #sbchannelkeeper #july4thweekend #4thofjuly2021

Planning on watching fireworks over the weekend? Sometimes the ocean puts on a fireworks display of its own! Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. Light is produced by energy released from chemical reactions that take place inside these organisms. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi and microorganisms, including bacteria. While its function varies, bioluminescence is often us...ed to warn or evade predators, to lure or detect prey, and for communication between members of the same species. . . #marinelife #fourthofjuly #cleanbeaches #oceanlife #swimdrinkfish #marinebiology #sbchannelkeeper#SantaBarbara #cacoast #bioluminescence #4thofJuly #4thofjuly2021 See more

Celebrate Clean Beaches Week with a cleanup! July 1-7 is a great time to focus on keeping our coastal areas litter-free. Beaches along our coast see a lot of activity, especially over the July 4th holiday. Let's make sure that they're clean and healthy! There are prizes!!Channelkeeper will give away gift bundles from Humboldt Distillery to two lucky people who conduct a cleanup on July 5th. Pick up litter, snap a photo, and tag us (@SBChannelkeeper, #WatershedBrigade, Hum...boldt Distillery) to be entered in the drawing! Drawing #1: (21+): Humboldt Distillery Vodka, stickers, insulated thermos. Drawing #2: (under 21): T-shirt, socks, frisbee, stickers, stainless steel pint cup. #cleanbeaches #CleanBeachesWeek #plasticpollution #litterfree #sbchannelkeeper #santabarbara #BeachLife

Sea stars are beautiful marine animals found in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. These amazing sea creaturespart of a group of animals known as echinodermstravel using their tube feet and can regenerate lost limbs. Sea stars prey on bivalves like mussels and clams as well as small fish, snails, and barnacles. When it catches its food, the sea star will wrap its arms around the animal's shell and pull it open just slightly. Then it does something amazing: the sea sta...r pushes its stomach through its mouth and into the bivalve's shell. It then digests the animal and slides its stomach back into its own body. Wow! Did you know that sea stars have an eyespot at the end of each arm? That means that a five-armed sea star has five eyes, while the 40-armed sun star has 40 eyes! Amazing! . . . #WildlifeWednesday #echinoderm #sealife #intertidal #tidepools #marinelife #marineconservation #sbchannelkeeper #seacreatures #swimdrinkfish #cleanwater #tidepoollife

#PlasticFreeJuly is a global movement that empowers each of us to create a future with cleaner communities and oceans by refusing single-use plastics. Please join Channelkeeper, the Community Environmental Council @cec_sb, and partners around the world in the challenge to 'Choose to Refuse' single-use plastic during the month of July. The challenge is simple, and you can choose from different levels of participation. Pick one disposable plastic item to avoid using for the ...month; Refuse the big 4: plastic bags, water bottles, takeaway coffee cups, and straws; or Commit to avoid ALL single-use plastic. Follow this link to take the pledge: http://ow.ly/uP3850Ajd8Z What level of commitment are you going to make this year?

Climate change and drought are threatening California’s rivers and communities. Fortunately, recycled water projects can provide a more resilient water future. We’re joining the California Coastkeeper Alliance in asking Governor Newsom and state legislators to increase funding for water recycling research and projects in the budget. Today, $750 million dollars is needed in California’s final drought package to make real change for the future of the state's water supply. @Rendon63rd @ToniAtkins @CAGovernor & #CALeg #drought @CCKA #recycledwater #waterreuse #conservation #ClimateChange #California

Single-use foodware is a huge and growing portion of the waste stream entering landfills and incinerators, and polluting city streets and waterways. In the US, 561 billion disposable food service items are used every year, resulting in 4.9 million tons of waste. Many restaurants provide these accessories for take-out meals even if the customer doesn’t need them. In California, Assembly Bill 1276, has been introduced to make accessory items available upon request. The bill rec...ently passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate for consideration. Let your state senators know that you support this bill! Follow the link below to sign the petition and show Senator Monique Limón that you support AB 1276. And remember to Skip the Stuff next time you order take out! https://actionnetwork.org//tell-legislators-to-support-cal& #SkipTheStuff #AB1276 #CASenate #Plastic #Pollution #singleuseplastic #PlasticFreeSeas

Want to take a virtual dive through our local underwater marine parks? Join Channelkeeper this Underwater Parks Day, January 16th, as we lead a lunchtime virtual dive from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Underwater Parks Day is an annual festival celebrating marine protected areas (MPAs), the underwater parks that help preserve the biodiversity and abundance of ocean life. Join us this year for a series of virtual events hosted on Zoom. Enjoy fascinating films, activities, underwater ex...periences, and art projects. To attend any or all of the free events, you only need one Zoom link, which will let you hop on and off from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: https://sbnature.org//lunch-and-learn-dive-into-local-unde Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Rincon Brewery-Carpinteria Rincon Brewery-Santa Barbara Rincon Brewery-Ventura

Breaking Blue News! Over 50 countries have committed to protect 30% of the planet, including land and sea, over the decade in efforts to halt species extinction and address climate change issues. This piece of #OceanOptimism reminds us that in the process of pandemic recovery, we have the opportunity to develop science-based policies, revive our economies that are inextricably linked to the health of our natural world, and build resilience within our societies and ecosystems.... While this change comes from the top down, the momentum must also be built from the bottom up. From conducting a beach cleanup, to using your voice towards environmental sustainability in local politics, it's more important than ever that we build this wave of change together. Get involved today: www.sbck.org #SBChannelkeeper #ThinkGlobalActLocal

Each month, Channelkeeper's eNewsletter reaches out to thousands of you with the latest clean water news in our community, and beyond. From action alerts, to volunteer and local advocacy opportunities, to critical environmental news affecting the health of our local watersheds and coastline, our monthly eNews provides timely, science-based content to keep our community well-informed. Subscribe today: https://www.sbck.org/subscribe-to-enews/ #SBChannelkeeper

Deployable sensors and data loggers, pressure transducers and conductivity sensors, for Channelkeeper, these are just a few scientific tools we employ to uncover powerful data insights and affect environmental change. This science-based approach is one that helps us keep local waters clean and that also distinguishes us as a data-driven water quality organization. Check it out in our latest blog post on how science supports every aspect of our clean water work: https://bit.ly/2L65NFJ #SBChannelkeeper #Science

"Over the last 36 years, a third of the United States' rivers have changed color, shifting from shades of blue to yellow and green. The change in hue raises a red flag for the health of #waterways nationwide..." - Smithsonian Magazine LiveScience At Channelkeeper, we know that the health of the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds continues to face growing challenges. Our work to serve as a vigilant clean water advocate for our community reaches from the smallest of our l...ocal waterways to the vase richness of our coastal waters. Through science-based data, we take the pulse of these critical ecosystems and use that as a foundation for sound environmental protection. You can count on Channelkeeper to #KeepWatchForCleanWater. #Waterkeeper #SBChannelkeeper #CleanWater https://www.smithsonianmag.com//one-third-united-states-r/

Looking to make a difference in our local community and help keep our ocean, beaches and creeks clean? Channelkeeper is looking for volunteers for the Watershed Brigade to clean up in preparation for the first big rainstorm of the season, the 1st and 3rd weekends of November. Head to our stories and visit https://www.sbck.org/brigade for more information!... #sbchannelkeeper #santabarbara #ventura #goleta #ocean #cleanbeach #beachcleanup #cleanup #protectwhatyoulove See more

Wishing everyone well this election day! Staying focused here on caring for our precious Channel and watersheds

How can you help solve the world’s microplastic pollution problem? Here are a few simple steps that each of us can take to reduce the flow of microplastics into the environment: 1. Refuse and reduce plastic use in your life. The most effective action that each of us can take is to eliminate single-use plastics like bags, bottles, straws, and cups from our everyday activities. Choose products that come in minimal packaging, and that are not made of plastic. 2. Spread the word.... Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors and invite them to make small changes. 3. Support policy that reduces plastic use. Do your research and 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. #plasticfree #microplastic #SBChannelkeeper #ocean #SantaBarbara #Ventura #Goleta #California #CleanBeaches #reducereuserecyle See more

Did you know that we are currently at a key moment in deciding the future of our local water policy, and that you can play a role in informing the City's Water Vision plan? From the risks and challenges facing our water supply, to where the City of Santa Barbara gets its water from, a rigorous technical process is underway to evaluate future water supply alternatives for the City of Santa Barbara. Read the feature in our Fall 2020 Newsletter on "Water for Tomorrow": https...://www.sbck.org//2/10/SBCK-Fall-2020-Newsletter-1.pdf #SantaBarbara #SBChannelkeeper #Water #Sustainability #SustainableWaterManagement See more

You have one more week to cast your ballot in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. The results of this election will have lasting impacts on the future of our communities, our wellbeing and our environment, and every vote counts. For people and for the planet. #vote #voteclimate #elections2020 #votefortheplanet

Farming is an essential aspect of California’s economy and way of life, but did you know it’s also the #1 source of pollution, affecting groundwater supplies and many of our rivers, streams and wetlands? Currently, farms discharge nitrogen at levels 10x higher than levels that are safe for drinker water and protective of the environment. That is why in 2013, Channelkeeper joined a coalition of 5 nonprofits and an elderly resident who couldn’t drink water from her tap because ...of agricultural pollution in an important lawsuit against the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Learn more about the critical work to protect public health and the environment from agricultural pollution in our Fall 2020 newsletter: https://www.sbck.org//2/10/SBCK-Fall-2020-Newsletter-1.pdf #sbchannelkeeper #california #centralcoast #agriculture #pollution #agriculturalpollution #publichealth #environmentaljustice

Thousands of Mylar balloons find their way into the ocean, and one local high school student has decided to do something about it. Head to our stories or visit mylarmistake.com to read all about the #MylarMistake project and take the pledge to be Mylar free! ... #ocean #pollution #sollutiontopollution #santabarbara #sbchannelkeeper See more

Curious about keeping our watersheds alive and flowing? About California's #1 source of pollution and what is being done to fight it? Or the growing force of local citizens who are becoming a part of the solution to pollution? Channelkeeper's Fall 2020 Newsletter is now available online, where you can read all about our ongoing work to keep watch for clean water. Stay tuned for some newsletter features and highlights this week and next on social media. Link in bio. ... #sbchannelkeeper #california #water #ocean #marineprotectedareas #plasticpollution #sustainablewater #citizenscience #santabarbara #ventura #cleanwaterhealthybeaches See more

Nautilus Live is currently on a deep dive off our very own coastline on their latest Channel Islands NMS & Santa Lucia Bank Expedition. The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has been explored at shallow depths, but scientists on this expedition will be exploring deeper areas in need of immediate management decisions. The team will also explore an area west of Santa Lucia Bank, which is a proposed location in a nominated Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Tune... in LIVE - Viewers on all platforms will be able to type in questions for the presenters live: https://nautiluslive.org #nautiluslive #channelislands #oceanexploration

Do you like long walks on the beach and protecting critical marine habitats? Join us for our fall MPA Watch Volunteer Training Workshop virtually on Thursday, October 22nd at 5:30pm. Channelkeeper’s MPA Watch program monitors the MPAs at Campus Point (UCSB/IV), Naples, and Gaviota (Kashtayit). Every MPA Watch volunteer that completes 10 surveys will receive a free Channelkeeper t-shirt and an additional treat! Visit the link to learn more and to RSVP. https://www.sbck.org/our-work/field-work/mpa-watch/

We’re excited to share that the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, owned and operated by Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), is back in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary again from October 12-15th. Be sure to tune in for the live video feeds as they explore deep-sea coral communities in our own backyard! https://nautiluslive.org/ photo credit: "OET Nautilus Live"

Thanks to everyone who participated in our September Watershed Brigade Challenge! We are so impressed with the amazing dedication of our community! Over the month of September, 14 individuals conducted 10 cleanups and removed over 36 bags of trash from our beaches, creeks, and trails before it entered our waterways and ocean! We also raffled off our first prize, an AWESOME Harbor Fun Paddle 2-hr. Kayaking Tour for 2, donated by our good friends Santa Barbara Adventure Company. Congratulations to Kerri L.! Stay tuned for our November Watershed Brigade Challenge!

On recent MPA Watch surveys at the Channel Islands our team found a record number of #Mylar #balloons in the Channel and at the islands. Help us reduce the Mylar debris in our oceans and waterways by visiting www.MylarMistake.com and taking the pledge to be Mylar-free.

The Ventura River was once a vital source of recreation and sustenance for the surrounding community. It remains so today. Popular swimming holes like this one at Foster Park have attracted visitors for generations. Learn how Channelkeeper is working to keep the river alive at link below. https://www.sbck.org/our-work/advocacy/ventura-river/