SB Channel Keepers newsletter
Calm Seas,
Catherine French
Writer, mentor, naturalist
805.570.0432
We are given only so many days, make each one count.
Sent from my iPad Air
Begin forwarded message:
From: Santa Barbara Channelkeeper <info@xxxxxxxx>
Date: September 9, 2021 at 12:33:34 PM PDT
To: cfrench1366@xxxxxxx
Subject: September eNewsletter
Reply-To: info@xxxxxxxx
HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR THE VENTURA RIVER
Channelkeeper’s advocacy for Ventura River reached an important 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. Flows rebounded
within days.
The pause in pumping represents a significant achievement in Channelkeeper’s
ongoing efforts to protect the Ventura River from being overpumped and to
provide a lifeline for the many species that rely on the river's water to
survive.
After years of legal proceedings and negotiations, Channelkeeper and the City
of Ventura reached a partial settlement agreement in 2019 that established a
minimum river flow threshold that would trigger the cessation of pumping.
This summer, when flows reached those benchmarked levels, the City stopped
all pumping, marking a positive step forward for the health of the river, its
ecosystems, and the surrounding community.
Channelkeeper’s legal action is still pending as the City of Ventura carries
out an adjudication involving all water rights holders in the watershed to
allocate water supplies. Until the adjudication is finalized, we're pleased
to share that Channelkeeper’s settlement agreement will keep the Ventura
River flowing.
EXXONMOBILE'S OIL TRUCKING PROJECT HEADS TO THE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
After a year-long delay, the County of Santa Barbara has released its revised
environmental study of ExxonMobil’s proposal to use 70 tanker trucks per day,
7 days a week, to transport oil from its three offshore platforms that have
been shut in since the Plains All American Pipeline ruptured in 2015.
This project will be heard before the Santa Barbara Planning Commission on
September 29 and October 1. The County’s staff report and recommendations
will be released on September 10th.
Channelkeeper submitted comments on the draft environmental document
highlighting concerns with its failure to adequately address major issues
including the restarting of aging platforms, and the revised final
environmental document does not resolve these issues. We will be voicing our
opposition to the project at the Planning Commission hearing at the end of
the month and we urge you to do so as well. Stay tuned for talking points and
ways to voice your opinion about the dangerous impacts this project would
have if approved.
UCSB STUDY SHOWS THAT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ENHANCE
LOBSTER FISHERIES
Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are underwater parks that provide safe
havens for marine wildlife to reproduce, grow, and replenish. In 2012,
California completed the nation’s first statewide network of underwater parks
in an effort to cultivate stronger and more resilient marine ecosystems.
For a recent study, researchers from UCSB compared lobster populations and
catch records from waters off the coast of Santa Barbara and Goleta. The data
revealed that marine protected areas have benefitted the commercial spiny
lobster fishery in our area.
These findings underscore the importance of Channelkeeper’s work to build
stewardship in support of MPAs and educate the public about the benefits of
marine reserves.
Read our latest blog post about the effect of MPAs on local spiny lobster
fisheries.
Read Blog
A SUMMER OF MARINE EXPLORATION WITH LOCAL STUDENTS
Channelkeeper was happy to resume some of our in-person education programs
this summer and our team was thrilled to have youth from The Sea League and
Santa Barbara School of Squash join us.
While out on a Seafari, a marine conservation education cruise aboard our
research vessel, students cruised north from the Santa Barbara Harbor to
Mohawk Reef, where Channelkeeper staff divers put on dive gear and descended
into the kelp forest with a camera. Live-feed video, displayed on an onboard
monitor, allowed students to see and experience the kelp forest beneath them.
They learned about many creatures of the underwater world and what each of us
can do to protect them. They also took plankton samples, pulled marine debris
from the Channel (including several Mylar balloons), and took a pledge to do
their very best to protect the ocean.
Photo: Amber McEldowney
TWO SUCCESSFUL SANTA CRUZ ISLAND MARINE DEBRIS CLEANUPS
In early August and September, Channelkeeper staff traveled to Santa Cruz
Island with a team from NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary,
volunteers, and local commercial lobster fishermen to clean up marine debris.
In August, our joint effort removed 1,760 pounds of trash and marine debris
from a 1.5 mile-long stretch of shoreline along Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz
Island. Most of the debris recovered consisted of buoys, rope, and
miscellaneous plastics.
While we are still awaiting the total trash weight from the September
cleanup, we anticipate similar results.
The effort is part of an ongoing initiative called Goal: Clean Seas Channel
Islands, funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The
Channelkeeper crew is honored to be part of this cleanup effort!
WATERSHED BRIGADE'S MICROTRASH CHALLENGE
September 18th
We hope you'll join us for the Microtrash Challenge at West Beach on
Saturday, September 18th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm!
For this Coastal Cleanup Day event, we’ll meet in person to collect litter,
paying special attention to pieces of microtrash. Any litter smaller than a
golf ball can be considered microtrash, from tiny wrappers to water bottle
caps, styrofoam bits, and discarded pieces of packaging and plastic.
Volunteers of all ages can join in the fun and there will be Rori's Ice Cream
for 20 lucky participants! Visit the Watershed Brigade's Microtrash Challenge
event page to find more information and please sign up below.
We encourage volunteers to bring their own gloves, buckets, kitchen strainers
(for collecting microtrash), but we will also have cleanup supplies available
at the event.
Don't forget to share your cleanup data using our convenient Google Form or
on Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade FB Group Page.
Sign Up
CREEK WEEK
September 18-25th
Creek Week is an annual community event celebrating our local creeks and
ocean, with many groups sponsoring events throughout the week to help build
awareness and stewardship of the natural riparian treasures of the South
Coast. Creek Week is hosted by the Santa Barbara City Creeks Division,
Project Clean Water, and the cities of Carpinteria and Goleta.
The fun begins on Saturday, September 18th with Coastal Cleanup Day and there
are opportunities throughout the week to join in restoration project tours,
beach and creek cleanups, and much more! There’s even a watershed tour on the
Land Shark! With a week of outdoor events and virtual talks, there is
something for everyone!
Creek Week Schedule
WORLD RIVERS DAY
September 26
World Rivers Day provides an opportunity to celebrate our beloved waterways,
recognize their value, and advance the stewardship of rivers. Rivers
everywhere face an array of threats today and our very own Ventura River is
in peril.
Channelkeeper advocates on the Ventura River’s behalf to end over-pumping,
restore flows, and ensure the river’s health and ecological richness in the
years ahead. Learn more about Channelkeeper’s involvement in restoring flows
to the Ventura River and how you can support these efforts.
Learn More
JOIN OUR TEAM!
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is looking for a Development Director. This
individual will serve as the organization’s principal fundraising strategist
and will be responsible for planning, managing, and implementing all
fundraising programs, including the annual fund, major gifts, planned giving,
fundraising events, institutional grants, and capital/special gifts
campaigns. Candidates should be passionate about the mission and work of
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, enthusiastic about fundraising, and experienced
in asking for financial support from a diversity of sources.
Find the full job description and application guidelines here.
Your support for Channelkeeper's efforts
is needed now more than ever.
Become a member of the Channelkeeper crew today with your tax-deductible
donation. You'll be investing in clean water and healthy communities along
the Santa Barbara Channel today and for future generations.
With your membership, you will receive our regular newsletters, news updates
and action alerts, invitations to special Channelkeeper events and fun
volunteer opportunities, and a free Channelkeeper sticker. All new donors
contributing $50 or more can also receive a Channelkeeper t-shirt, and for
donations of $250 or more, bi-annual issues of Waterkeeper magazine. Become a
member today!
Including Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in your estate planning will provide
the funds needed to protect water quality, fight pollution, and educate our
community about the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds for years to
come. Contact us to learn more.
CONNECT WITH US
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper | 714 Bond Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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