Project Clean Water News

Stakeholders Meeting
The next South County Project Clean Water Stakeholders meeting will be Thursday, September 2nd from 4:00-5:30pm at the Watershed Resource Center, Arroyo Burro Beach Park.  The North County meeting will be Thursday, September 9th from 4:00-5:30pm at the Public Works Conference Room, 620 Foster Rd. in Santa Maria. The meetings will feature a summary of revisions to the County's grading ordinance and a presentation on recent source tracking investigations including natural sources from biofilms and their growth and prevalence in stormdrain systems.  For more information please see the agendas or contact Cathleen Garnand: 568-3561, cgarnan@cosbpw.net

Arroyo Hondo Docent Training
You are invited to join the next docent class beginning Monday, Sept. 13 from 1-4 at the Preserve.  The classes will meet each Monday afternoon through Oct. 25 with the graduation barbeque on Sunday Nov. 7 from noon-2. The classes will focus on the natural and cultural history of the Arroyo Hondo Preserve. If you are interested in an application or more information please email or phone 684-4405.

Creek Week
Creek Week is an annual community event celebrating our creeks and the ocean with many local groups sponsoring events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of Santa Barbara. This year’s 11th Annual Creek Week activities are scheduled for September 25 – October 3.  Creek Week will again kick-off with the 26th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. For a full description of this year’s events please visit www.sbcreekweek.com 

Operation Medicine Cabinet
In response to growing demand for a safe, convenient way to dispose of household medications, the County Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division has teamed up with the Sheriff’s Department to provide free drop-boxes at each of the Sheriff’s nine substations throughout the county.  Residents can bring all types of unwanted medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs. For details and a list of collection locations please visit the website.

Water Wise Gardening in Santa Barbara County
The County Water Agency has released "Water Wise Gardening in Santa Barbara County," an online tool the public can use to search for water wise plants, watering tips, virtual garden tours, and other sustainable gardening resources. The direct link to this guide can be found at: www.sb.watersavingplants.com/sb.php or on the home page of www.sbwater.org.

Watershed Resource Center Is Open!
The South Coast Watershed Resource Center at Arroyo Burro Beach is now open on Sundays from 10:00am-4:00pm. Community members can visit the WRC to learn about Santa Barbara's unique watersheds. One of the most eco-friendly buildings in the Santa Barbara area, the Watershed Resource Center is open for self-guided tours. Contact the WRC Manager, Lindsay Johnson, at 884-0459 ext. 16, education@artfromscrap.org

Recycling Resource Guide
The latest edition of the Recycling Resource Guide for Santa Barbara County is now available in hard copy and through the County recycling website  www.LessIsMore.org. To obtain a copy of the Guide, please contact the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division at (805) 882-3600 or send an e-mail message to sgallas@cosbpw.net 

Green Business Program
Green Business Santa Barbara County is a multi-jurisdictional effort to encourage businesses to implement actions to protect, preserve, and improve the environment above and beyond what is required by law. The program is voluntary and offers assistance and incentives, including an official Green Business certification upon completion of the recommended actions. The Green Business Program currently certifies qualifying hotels, restaurants, automotive, and office/retail businesses. Additional business sectors will be included in the certification process. Contact the Program Director for more information.

Green Gardener Certification Program
The Green Gardener Certification Program for Santa Barbara County educates local gardeners in resource efficient and pollutution prevention landscape maintenance practices. The Green Gardener Certification Program is a regional program designed to offer education, training, and promotion of participating gardeners and landscape maintenance contractors. Se habla espanol: 805-564-5460.