Get Involved

Volunteer to help clean up pollution before it gets into our creeks and the ocean. Project Clean Water organizes beach and creek cleanups and volunteer water quality monitoring. To get involved, email or call (805) 568-3546.

The Beach Clean-Up Program offered by the Santa Barbara County Parks Department gives community and school groups the opportunity to plan their own cleanups. Contact Jessica Opland at (805) 568-2467 for details.

Hospital Creek Cleanup

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 and Coal Oil Point Reserve are looking for volunteers for habitat restoration projects, trail maintenance and to lead interpretive hikes.

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.

Download a copy of the Erase the Waste Neighborhood Action Kit, a how-to guide to help you develop pollution prevention activities in your community. 

For more ideas, visit our educational programs page.

Numerous community activities are planned every year in conjunction with Earth Day in April and Creek Week and Coastal Cleanup Day in the fall. Check your local newspaper or our homepage for events during those months.

Group Activities 

Because each one of us lives in a watershed, we all share the responsibility of protecting water quality in our creeks and the ocean. Below are some ideas for activities that school groups, community groups and families can do to improve water quality and raise awareness about water pollution and watershed health.

Plan a creek cleanup
Help remove trash from creeks before it makes its way to the ocean. To join a planned cleanup effort or for help in planning your own cleanup event, email or call (805) 568-3546.

Devereux Creek Clean Up

Monitor water quality
Measure and record indicators of water quality in your local creek. To obtain a water testing kit and instruction on how to use it, email or call (805) 568-3546. School groups may be eligible to receive a kit and instruction as part of the Creek Kids series.

Read stories and watch videos about water pollution
Illustrated books and videos on water pollution topics are available on loan from Project Clean Water at (805) 568-3546 and Art From Scrap at (805) 884-4059 ext. 16.

Read and distribute water pollution prevention information
Read Project Clean Water brochures like The Ocean Begins on Your Street, Creekside Concerns, A Dog Owner's Duty, and Gardener's Guide to Clean Water. To hear more about available materials and to obtain free copies of brochures for your group, email or call (805) 568-3546.

Attend community events
Festivals focused on environmental health are held in Santa Barbara County at various times throughout the year. The Earth Day festival is held in April, and Creek Week occurs in the fall. In September, volunteers are needed for California Coastal Cleanup Day. Check our homepage for upcoming Santa Barbara County community events.

Earth Day