Volunteer to help clean up pollution before it gets into our creeks and the ocean or get involved with creek restoration.

Project Clean Water organizes beach and creek cleanups and volunteer water quality monitoring. To get involved, call (805) 568-3546 or send an e-mail.

The Beach/Creek Cleanup Program offered by the Santa Barbara County Parks Department gives community and school groups the opportunity to plan their own cleanups. Groups with 20 or more participants can earn $250 for holding a cleanup day. Call Richard Lindley at (805) 681-5653 for details.

2006 Creek Week creek cleanup along Hospital Creek

The City of Santa Barbara's Creeks Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Division holds creek cleanups and community work days at some creek restoration sites. Visit www.sbcreeks.com or call the Creeks Division at (805) 897-2658 for more information.

Land Trust for Santa Barbara County is looking for volunteers for habitat restoration projects, trail maintenance and to lead interpretive hikes.

For more information on community groups that are working to protect environmental health in Santa Barbara County, call the Community Environmental Council at (805) 963-0583.

Through the California Coastal Commission's Adopt-A-Beach program, community groups can make a commitment to cleaning up a local beach.

The Isla Vista Recreation and Park District coordinates an Adopt-A-Block program. Join the effort to clean up the streets in Isla Vista and prevent trash from reaching the ocean.

For more ideas, see the page on educational activities.

Numerous community activities are typically planned every year in conjunction with Earth Day in April and Creek Week in October. Check your local newspaper for events during those months.