March 2011

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper News & Events

News & Events

Channelkeeper Takes Legal Action to Stop Sewage Spills in Santa Barbara EPA Releases First Report on Halaco Sampling Results Student Art Show Reception & Awards Ceremony - March 6th Blue Water Ball is March 19th! Stream Team-March 5th & 6th Become a Member

Channelkeeper Takes Legal Action to Stop Sewage Spills in Santa Barbara

On Thursday, February 24th, Channelkeeper served the City of Santa Barbara with a Notice of Violations and Intent to File Suit under the federal Clean Water Act to compel the city to address the serious problems causing excessive sewage spills in Santa Barbara. The City of Santa Barbara has the highest rate of sewage spills of the 20+ cities from Santa Cruz to Thousand Oaks with similarly sized sewage systems. In the last five years, there have been at least 171 sewage spills from the city's sewage collection system. Channelkeeper has been tracking this problem for nearly ten years, and we've worked hard through outreach, education and advocacy to persuade the city to address the problem, but sewage spills continue to occur. These spills are violations of the Clean Water Act, and Channelkeeper filed this legal action as a last resort to make sure that the sewage system finally gets fixed and the spills stop. Sewage spills should be prevented through proper inspection and maintenance of the sewage system, and upgrading it as needed. The City of Santa Barbara, however, has failed to make the investments needed to maintain a robust and reliable sewage collection system. As a result, the city's aging system, largely constructed between 1900-1960 and made mostly of vitrified clay pipe, is in a state of disrepair and is failing regularly. Channelkeeper hopes the legal issues are resolved quickly and city staff and engineers are rapidly deployed to implement the kind of comprehensive and proactive program needed to upgrade the city's sewer system and come into compliance with the Clean Water Act as soon as possible. Please click here to learn more about this problem and Channelkeeper's action to clean it up.

Did You Know?

Raw sewage carries human waste, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, as well as chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

EPA Releases First Report on Halaco Sampling Results

On February 23rd, EPA released the first in a series of reports summarizing the results of soil, sediment, and water testing conducted at the Halaco Superfund site in 2009-2010. This first report describes testing done on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) property adjacent to the Halaco waste pile. The sampling results demonstrate high levels of copper, lead, zinc, and other metals in soils and sediments on TNC property; lower but still elevated concentrations of metals extending

Direct exposure to sewagecontaminated waters can cause stomach flu, respiratory, ear, nose, throat and skin infections, and even life-threatening illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, and

severe gastroenteritis.

eastward across much of TNC property (most likely due to windblown erosion of wastes); and Halaco-affected soils in a ditch and pond immediately north and northeast of the waste pile. EPA plans to undertake additional testing in late spring or early summer to complete its evaluation of TNC property and determine where clean-up may be needed. After the testing is complete, EPA will work with TNC to develop a clean-up proposal for TNC property, and will then seek and consider public comments on its proposal. Similar reports for other sections of the Halaco property will follow as EPA moves forward with the Superfund clean-up process for the site. Please click here to read the report and learn more about EPA's actions related to the Halaco clean-up.

Student Art Show Reception & Awards Ceremony - March 6th

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is hosting our eighth annual ocean-inspired Student Art Show, "What the Channel Means to Me." Please join us for a public exhibit, reception and awards ceremony on Sunday, March 6th from 2-4 pm at the beautiful Kim Kieler Gallery at 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez #5 in Santa Barbara, where Assemblymember Das Williams will present our awards and prizes to the winning artists. The goal of the show, which is open to high school students from Carpinteria to Goleta, is to inspire local youth to create art that celebrates the natural beauty and diversity of the Santa Barbara Channel, and for their art to inspire others in our community. This year's show will be juried by Judy Larson, Director of the Westmont Museum of Art, and local artist Pamela Larsson-Toscher. From 2010 Art Show: "Cousins by The winners will receive cash prizes and awards the Sea" by Alexis Ireland, sponsored by Trillium Enterprises, Inc. that they San Marcos High School. can invest in their education. The entire show will remain on display at the gallery through March 18th, and the winning pieces will be featured at Channelkeeper's Blue Water Ball on March 19th.

Blue Water Ball is March 19th!

Channelkeeper's eleventh annual Blue Water Ball will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Santa Barbara Woman's Club (Rockwood). We are delighted to present world-renowned open-water swimmer and author Lynne Cox as our keynote speaker and honoree. Our gala will feature fine wines, live music by Mezcal Martini, a delicious dinner made from local and organic ingredients, an exciting auction, and a celebration of Channelkeeper's recent victories for clean water. Please call 805-563-3377 ext. 4 or email us to purchase tickets, become a sponsor, volunteer, donate auction items or find out more about this exciting event.

Stream Team - March 5th & 6th

Stream Team is Channelkeeper's volunteerbased water quality monitoring program. Every month, volunteers join Channelkeeper staff to test for common water quality parameters at numerous sites in the Ventura River and Goleta Slough watersheds. Come join us to help protect our local waterways. On March 5th the Ventura River Stream Team will be focusing its efforts on monitoring and documenting impacts of trash and garbage dump sites in the lower Ventura River. New volunteers are welcome to attend. Stream Team will meet at the same time and location. We will be sampling as usual in Goleta on Sunday, March 6th

at 10 am. For more information, visit our website, email us or call 805.563.3377 ext.0.

Become a Channelkeeper Member!

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, quarterly issues of Waterkeeper magazine. Sign up today by calling 805.563.3377 or emailing us.

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