Fall 2014 Newsletter - Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

NEWSLE T TER OF SANTA BARBAR A CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014
Keeping watch for clean water
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Helm
page 2
Keeping Our Waterways Clean
page 2
ADVOCACY
Lawsuit Settled with Ojai Quarry
page 3
Keeping the “River” in the Ventura River page 3
Banning the Bag
page 4
Tracking Fracking
page 4
Is Desalination the Answer?
page 5
IN THE FIELD
Seafaris Getting Kids on the Water
page 6
Waterkeeper Swim Guide
page 6
MPAs: Not Just for Fish
page 7
Volunteer for MPA Watch
page 7
HAPPENINGS
2014 Blue Water Ball
page 8
Thank You to Our Donors
page 10
Changes to Our Team
page 11
CA Businesses Unite for Clean Water
page 11
Events
page 12
FROM THE HELM
Our mission is to protect and restore the
Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds
through science-based advocacy,
education, field work and enforcement
714 Bond Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
tel 805.563.3377
fax 805.687.5635
[email protected]
www.sbck.org
@sbchannelkeeper
Board of Directors
Advisory Council
Tim Robinson
President
Julie Ringler
Vice President
Kalia Rork
Treasurer
Robert Warner
Secretary
Michael S. Brown
President
Andy Heller
Sherry Madsen
Bett y Noling
Jeff Phillips
Bruce Reitherman
Josh Simmons
Daniel Waldman
Mike Wondolowski
David Anderson
Michael Crooke
Dan Emmett
Rae Emmett
Ken Falstrom
Steven Gaines
Susan Jordan
Holly Sherwin
Jack Stapelmann
Paul Junger Witt
Staff
Kira Redmond
Executive Director
Morgan Coffey
Development Director
Penny Owens
Education & Community Outreach Director
Ben Pitterle
Watershed & Marine Program Director
Jenna Driscoll
Watershed & Marine Program Associate
Ted Barthell
Communications Coordinator
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CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014 NEWSLET TER
Water, water nowhere, and not a drop
to spare. We are in the midst of one
of the worst droughts in memory, and
governments, businesses and citizens
across California are in crisis mode. As
we should be. But our memories are
short; drought is not uncommon in
California. And with the onslaught of climate change, scientific projections say
drought could be the new normal here.
What the current drought is doing, or
should do, is provide a much-needed
wake-up call. We are living beyond our
water means, and we need to change
KIR A REDMOND | Executive Director
our ways. And “we” means everybody
–me, you, industry, agriculture, municipalities – we’re all in this together. Desalinating seawater at the expense of billions
of fish and more global warming is not a sustainable solution. Neither is overdrafting our aquifers or draining our rivers to the point that they can no longer support
fish and other life. We need to find creative and innovative ways to do more with
less. There are huge water savings to be gained by increased conservation and water
use efficiency at every level, in every sector. And there are even more savings - not
to mention environmental benefits - to be gained by expanding the production and
use of recycled water, investing in green infrastructure to capture, store and re-use
stormwater, and protecting and recharging our precious groundwater aquifers.
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is working hard to promote these environmentally beneficial solutions to the drought, through research, monitoring, outreach, education,
advocacy and enforcement. We’re also working to combat inefficient, unreasonable
and environmentally damaging uses and contamination of our vital water resources.
And we’re not just pushing for more sustainable, long-term solutions to water management here on the South Coast, but also throughout California in coordination with
our California Coastkeeper Alliance partners. Please join us – we’re all in this together,
and every drop counts.
KEEPING OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN!
In addition to Coastal Clean-up
Day on September 20th, Channelkeeper hosts numerous cleanup events throughout the year
to keep trash out of the Santa
Barbara Channel. With help from
247 dedicated volunteers, we
removed 750 pounds of trash
from local creeks and beaches at
15 clean-ups in 2013. Channelkeeper also partners with many other groups to support larger scale clean-up
efforts, including Ventura Hillsides Conservancy on the lower Ventura River,
Santa Barbara Adventure Company and others at Santa Cruz Island, and the
Santa Barbara Waterfront Department on the Operation Clean Sweep harbor
clean-up. Many thanks to all who pitch in to help keep our waterways clean!
ENFORCEMENT
Channelkeeper and EDC Settle Lawsuit against Ojai Quarry
last remaining spawning habitat for
the endangered steelhead trout in
southern California, and also serves as
a primary source of drinking water for
residents of Ojai and Ventura.
Channelkeeper attempted to address
the water quality and habitat
degradation issues at the Ojai Quarry
for years through cooperative
approaches, including direct dialogue
with the facility’s owner and repeated
appeals to regulatory agencies for
enforcement action. Unfortunately,
these efforts failed to compel
compliance or enforcement of the
CWA and ESA, so Channelkeeper
teamed up with EDC to file a lawsuit
against the Quarry in 2013. The owner
of the Quarry worked cooperatively
with us thereafter to negotiate a
settlement agreement.
Stheanta
Barbara Channelkeeper and
Environmental Defense Center
(EDC) have entered into an agreement
with the owner of the Ojai Quarry to
settle the lawsuit we filed last year to
address violations of the federal Clean
Water Act (CWA) and the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) at the Quarry.
Channelkeeper has been monitoring
water quality at the Quarry since
2007, documenting high levels of
pollutants—in particular sediment—
being discharged from the facility into
North Fork Matilija Creek. A pristine
upstream tributary of the Ventura
River, this creek contains some of the
Under the agreement, the Quarry has
committed to implement a host of
best management practices to control
erosion and runoff and prevent
blockages to steelhead migration
from the facility, which will reduce
pollution and benefit water quality
and fish habitat in the Lower North
Fork of Matilija Creek and Ventura
River. In addition, the Quarry has
agreed to donate $60,000 of rock
product to South Coast Habitat
Restoration for steelhead passage
projects in three local creeks.
Keeping the “River” in the Ventura River
A
clean, free-flowing river that
provides healthy habitat for steelhead
and other wildlife, nourishes local
crops we eat, supports a variety of
productive industries, supplies water
for various domestic and municipal
needs, and provides recreation for
the community. That is Santa Barbara
Channelkeeper’s vision for the Ventura River. Unfortunately, that vision is
far from the reality today.
Recent years have been tough on the
Ventura River. Although flows are
known to disappear from the river’s
upper reach during dry periods, the
hydrology of the lower river, also
known as the “Live Reach,” typically
recharges flows with resurfacing
groundwater, providing continuous
aquatic habitat year-round. Today,
the lack of rainfall coupled with
continuous pumping from the river’s
sub-surface aquifers have resulted in
extended stretches of the Live Reach
that are completely dry.
Nowhere is this more evident than
at the City of Ventura’s well field at
Foster Park in the lower river. Foster
Park is an ideal location for a well field
because of underlying geologic formations and man-made barriers that
collect and store water in the river’s
continued on page 9
CHANNELKEEPER FAL L 2014 NE WSL E T T ER
3
ADVOCACY
Banning the Bag
In May, Santa Barbara’s disposable
bag ordinance became effective at
large grocery stores and pharmacies
in Santa Barbara. These stores can no
longer distribute single-use plastic carryout bags, and must charge 10 cents
for recyclable paper bags. The bag
ban will go into effect in November at
smaller pharmacies and convenience
stores that sell groceries.
This ordinance was a six-year labor
of love for Channelkeeper, so we are
thrilled that Santa Barbara has joined
Santa Barbara has
joined the 123 other
municipalities across
California that have
banned plastic bags.
the 123 other municipalities across
California that have banned plastic
bags.
Several other local municipalities
have also taken steps toward banning plastic bags over the past year,
including Santa Barbara County and
Painting by Leslie Herman
both the City and County of Ventura.
Channelkeeper has been working to
build awareness and support for a bag
ban in Goleta through outreach and
education to both city councilmembers as well as the wider community,
free reusable bag giveaways, and PSAs
in Goleta movie theaters.
However, these municipalities put
their ordinance development processes on hold pending the outcome of a
state-wide bag ban bill. After trying
for six years in a row, the California
Legislature finally passed a bag ban
bill, which now awaits the Governor’s
signature. Assuming he signs it, the
bill would ban plastic carryout bags
statewide at large grocery stores in
July 2015 and at pharmacies and liquor stores in 2016, and require those
stores to charge at least 10 cents for
paper bags, durable reusable bags,
and compostable bags. Channelkeeper
will work with local municipalities
to prepare stores and citizens for
implementation - after we’re done
celebrating this enormous victory for
our ocean!
Tracking Fracking
Channelkeeper is keeping tabs on
the potential expansion of fracking
activities and other “high intensity
petroleum operations” along our
coast. We have signed on in support
of Measure P, an initiative on this
November’s ballot that would ban future expansion of such activities, including fracking, acidizing, and steam
injection, in Santa Barbara County.
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CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014 NEWSLET TER
These high intensity operations have
not undergone scientific review, have
the potential to contaminate groundwater, and use a significant amount
of water. Channelkeeper supports
this initiative to take a precautionary
approach and protect our sensitive resources by preventing the expansion of
these poorly-studied, risky techniques
within our county.
Channelkeeper is also tracking
fracking at the State level to protect
groundwater supplies. We’re weighing
in on the development of new regulations to promote stronger monitoring
and reporting for projects that use
fracking and other similar well stimulation techniques.
ADVOCACY
Is Desalination the Answer to our Water Woes?
In response to the drought, the City
of Santa Barbara is moving to reactivate its mothballed desalination plant,
which was built in response to the
drought of 1986-91 and was completed in 1992 at a cost of $34 million. The
desal plant was used for a mere three
months before the drought ended
and it was put into “long-term storage
mode.” The City estimates that the
cost to get the desal plant back online
would be approximately $30 million,
though it will likely be significantly
more. Once in operation, the plant
would cost $5 million to produce
3,125 acre-feet of water per year. At
$1,600 per acre-foot, desalination
would be the most expensive source
of water in the City’s water supply
portfolio.
In addition to its high cost, seawater
desalination has significant adverse
environmental impacts. For one, it
is the most energy intensive water
supply option available. The process
of sucking in billions of gallons of seawater, removing the salt, and dumping
the brine waste back into the ocean
requires massive amounts of energy
and thus generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. Second, many
desal plants, including Santa Barbara’s,
suck in seawater through open intake
pipes in the ocean, killing billions of
fish and other marine organisms that
get impinged on the intake screens;
organisms small enough to pass
through the screens, such as plankton,
fish eggs, and larvae - the basis of the
marine food chain - are entrained and
killed during the processing of the
salt water. Third, desalination also
produces concentrated brine, which
is dumped back into the ocean and is
toxic to marine life.
There are, however, several operational, design, and technological
measures available to reduce the
marine impacts of desalination. In
particular, subsurface intakes can
virtually eliminate impingement and
entrainment, as they extract seawater
from beneath the seafloor or beach.
The sand acts as a natural filter, providing a level of pre-filtration that can
reduce chemical and energy use and
long-term operating costs. In addition,
the use of brine diffusers and pre-discharge dilution with wastewater can
help to minimize the negative impacts
of concentrated brine discharges to
the ocean.
Unfortunately, the City seems intent
on proceeding down the desal path
and on using its environmentally damaging open ocean intake instead of
using a more fish-friendly subsurface
intake. The City has already expended
nearly $2 million on contracts with an
engineering firm to start the reactivation process, and with legal firms to
lobby the Coastal Commission and
other agencies to try to loosen the environmental permitting requirements
the City will have to comply with.
The City is also aggressively lobbying
against statewide standards currently
being developed by the State Water
Board to minimize the environmental
harms of desalination. In 2011, the
Board adopted similar regulations for
coastal power plants that use oncethrough cooling due to the massive
toll that open ocean intakes have on
marine life.
Channelkeeper is the only environmental group that has stood up to
testify before City Council about
the serious environmental concerns
related to desal. We have and will
continue to advocate for other, less
expensive water supply alternatives
that actually benefit the environment
such as increased conservation and
efficiency, greater use of recycled
water, and stormwater capture and
re-use. If the City does decide it must
resort to desal, we will urge them
to use the best available design and
technologies to minimize the damage
it will cause to marine life.
CHANNELKEEPER FAL L 2014 NE WSL E T T ER
5
IN THE FIELD
Seafari Educational Tours
Getting Kids Out on the Water
S
ince today’s youth are the leaders
of tomorrow, one of Channelkeeper’s primary goals is to inspire ocean
stewardship in the younger generation. There is no better way to
share the unique and extraordinary
wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel than by getting people out on
the water to experience it first-hand.
That’s why we recently launched
Seafaris - an exciting new experiential education program that provides
educational tours of the Channel on
our boat, the RV Channelkeeper.
On a Seafari, Channelkeeper takes
a group of up to six students on a
free, 1-2 hour cruise along the Santa
Barbara coast, where they learn
about marine conservation, Marine
Protected Areas, and the incredible
biodiversity of the Santa Barbara
Channel. A Channelkeeper diver
provides passengers with a unique
live tour of the wonders below the
surface by using an underwater video camera connected to a monitor
onboard, while our on-deck scientist
tells them what they are seeing.
Our target audience for these tours
is underserved youth groups and
families who may lack the means or
opportunity to get out on the Channel, and we’re working with community groups, churches, schools
and after-school programs to help
spread the word and get people to
take advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Have a group in mind for a Seafari?
Contact Penny Owens at penny@
sbck.org or 805.563.3377 ext. 4.
Before your next surf or swim, use the Waterkeeper Swim Guide app (download it at
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www.sbck.org) to check the water quality at your favorite
beach. This free smartphone
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app provides up-to-date information about water quality
conditions at 5,000 beaches,
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coves, lakes and creeks across North America.
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CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014 NEWSLET TER
IN THE FIELD
MPAs: Not Just for Fish
W
ith one of the largest networks
of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in
California, the Santa Barbara Channel
is a focal point for marine conservation. MPAs protect and restore marine
ecosystems, but they can also bolster
local economies and enrich people’s
lives as well.
Over 25,000 local jobs rely on coastal
tourism and recreation in Santa Barbara County, and approximately 60,000
people visit the Channel Islands each
year for aquatic recreation. The Santa
Barbara Channel boasts a whopping
18 MPAs, and these underwater parks
offer untapped marketing potential as
attractive destinations for eco-tourism. A strong eco-tourism economy
also fosters ocean stewardship.
Underwater parks
offer untapped
marketing potential
as attractive
destinations for
eco-tourism.
That’s why Channelkeeper is partnering with local businesses to help develop a new local market for MPA ecotourism. From paddlers to snorkelers
to SCUBA divers, we are promoting
MPA visitation through outreach and
marketing and by providing subsidies
to encourage local outfitters to start
offering low-cost recreational tours
that showcase our local MPAs. We’re
even working to get fishermen out to
explore our MPAs to raise awareness
and foster a sense of appreciation for
what MPAs have to offer (followed by
fishing in legal areas elsewhere along
the coastline). Visit www.sbck.org/
MPA to find out about the wide variety of opportunities to explore and
enjoy your local MPAs!
Photo by Stacey Janik on a Naples dive
trip subsidized by Channelkeeper
Volunteers Needed for MPA Watch
Are you into marine conservation
AND long walks on the beach? Learn
how to collect valuable data on our
local MPAs while walking along the
beautiful beaches of Campus Point,
Naples and Gaviota by volunteering for Channelkeeper’s MPA Watch
program.
MPA Watch is a citizen science initiative that engages volunteers to collect
data about human uses of our coastal
MPAs. Our data will help government
agencies and scientists interpret how
successful our MPAs are at rebuilding
fish populations, while also helping to
identify the social and economic benefits that result from MPAs (i.e. from
increased recreation and tourism)
and to inform MPA management and
enforcement.
Our next MPA Watch volunteer training workshop will take place on October 14th at 6:30 pm at UCSB. Email
[email protected] for more information and future training opportunities.
CHANNELKEEPER FAL L 2014 NE WSL E T T ER
7
HAPPENINGS
2014 Blue Water Ball
C
hannelkeeper’s 14th annual Blue Water Ball fundraising gala was our best
ever, raising more than $120,000 for our work to protect and restore the Santa
Barbara Channel and its watersheds!
At the event, which took place on April 5th at the Montecito Country Club, a
record 250 guests celebrated Channelkeeper’s recent victories for clean water,
shopped at our extensive silent auction, danced to live music by the Doublewide Kings, enjoyed a new video featuring a variety of personal testimonials
about the impact of Channelkeeper’s work, and joined us in honoring Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols for his pioneering work to protect our oceans.
Dr. Nichols gave an inspiring keynote speech, highlighting the emotional and
cognitive benefits of healthy waterways and oceans, and shared with each of
us the gift of a blue marble with the simple message of gratitude and love for
our blue planet. Dr. Nichols also gave our guests a special sneak preview of his
new book, Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In,
On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and
Better at What You Do, which was released this summer.
Many thanks to our gracious guests, sponsors, auction donors, and volunteers
who made our event such a smashing success!
Dr. Wallace J. Nichols
THREE CHEERS FOR OUR
EVENT VOLUNTEERS!
BLUE WATER BALL COMMITTEE
Carla Tomson (Co-Chair)
Julie Ringler (Co-Chair)
Melinda Goodman
Andy Heller
Nancy Hussey
Terry Kleid
Betty Noling
VOLUNTEERS
Clockwise from top left: Jeff Divine, Una Baker, Shaun & Carla Tomson; silent auction shoppers; Gina
Carbajal, Peter Schuyler, Dan Emmett, Salud Carbajal & Rick Ridgeway; John Melack, Mike & Bett y
Noling & Jack Overall; Nancy Even, Deb Tice, Terry Kleid & Tom Mageean; The Doublewide Kings and
dancers.
8
CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014 NEWSLET TER
Wallace J. Nichols - Honoree &
Keynote Speaker
Geoff Green - Master of Ceremonies
Noah Boivie
Jay Brewer
Dondra
Will Freeland
Maressa Garner
Alex Grant
Chris Harlin
Steve Huynh
Ivette Ibarra
Lexi Journey
Sharon Kantanen
Joylyn Kovacevich
Paul Kovacevich
Erika Michelotti
Kaia-Joye Moyer
Lindsey Peavy
Tanya Reutimann
Hilary Walecka
Catherine Wastweet
Katie Westfall
HAPPENINGS
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
EVENT SPONSORS
WATERSHED STEWARD
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Foundation
BEACH PROTECTORS
Coastal Fund
Forester Media
MarBorg Industries
Patagonia, Inc.
STREAM SUPPORTERS
David Anderson
Environment Now
Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood
Mission Wealth Management
Montecito Bank & Trust
Rabobank
Randy & Roxanna Solakian
Robert Kemp Real Estate
Terry Ryken Realty
University of California, Santa Barbara
UNDERWRITERS
Tom Adler
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
Beckmen Vineyards
Steven Bellesisle
Boone Graphics
Buttonwood Winery
Coquelicot Estate Vineyards
Deep Sea Wines
Fairview Car Wash
First American Title
Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery
Melinda Goodman
Grassini Family Vineyards
Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood
Imagine Wine
Island Brewing Co.
JenRenee Photography
David Kagel & Pati Kern
Margerum Wine Company
Melville Winery
Montecito Bank & Trust
Oreana Winery
Santa Barbara Bar
Santa Barbara Magazine
Santa Barbara Winery
Connie Smith
Summerland Winery
Surfer’s Journal
Tercero Wines
Union Bank of California
Village Gardener
Waxing Poetic
OUR GENEROUS BLUE WATER BALL AUCTION DONORS
33 Jewels Jewelry Store
A Frame Surf Shop
Above All Aviation
Alchemy Arts
Aldo’s Ristorante
Alexander Sack
Allen Allen
Allison Coleman
Andy Heller
Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquasports
Au Bon Climat
Aveda Corporation
Beach House
Beachbreak Cafe
Bee Natural
Betty Noling
Bikini Factory
Billabong
Blenders in the Grass
Bliss Bodyworks
Blush + Lashes
Bragg Live Food
Products / Bragg
Health Institute
Brasil Arts Café
Breakaway Tours
The Brewhouse
Brophy Brothers
Restaurant
Bucatini
Calla Gold Jewelry
Camerata Pacifica
Captain Jack Tours
Caribbean Coffee
Carlyle Salon & Style Bar
Cashmir Beauty Lounge
Channel Islands
Outfitters
Channel Islands Surf
Chapala & Parker
Chaucer’s Books
Chocolats du
CaliBressan
Chris Potter
Cloud Nine Spa
Treatments
Coffee Cat
Cold Spring Tavern
Condor Express
Cottonwood Canyon
Winery & Vineyard
Crimson Day Spa
Boutique
Crushcakes
Cynthia Cendreda &
Danny Hoy
Dan Merkel
Daniel Gehrs Wines
Daniel Gibbings Jewelry
David Anderson
Disneyland
Dolce Salon and Spa
Drishti
El Capitan Canyon
El Encanto
Elocquinn
Encanto
Ensemble Theater
Enterprise Fish Co.
Figueroa Mountain
Brewing Co.
Firestone Brewery
Fletcher Chouinard
Designs
Float Luxury Spa
Four Seasons Biltmore
Fresco Café
Granada Theater
Grassini Family
Vineyards
Green Star Coffee
Gregory Mountain
Products
Halper Fine Art
Hearst Castle & National
Geographic Theater
Holdren’s Steaks &
Seafood
Hollister Brewing Co.
Horny Toad
Hotel Corque
Hudson & Grace
Imagine Wine
Isla Vista Bicycle
Island Seed & Feed
Island Packers
Jaffurs Winery
Jeremy Harper
Jo & Mark Shields
Julia Laraway
Julie Ringler
Kaena Wine Co.
Kahuna Grill
Karen Bezuidenhuit
Karen & Jackson
Frischman
Ken Brown Wines
Keith Zandona
La Arcada Courtyard
La Playa Pilates
Land & Sea Tours
Lark Restaurant
Local Harvest Delivery
Lole
Los Agaves Restaurant
Los Arroyos Restaurant
Louie’s California Bistro
Love Bird
Lynda.com
Maison K
Mammoth Mountain
Meredith Abbott
Metropolitan Theatres
Michael Antrim
Montecito Athletic Club
Montecito Family YMCA
Montgomery Vineyards
Mosby Winery &
Vineyards
Municipal Winemakers
Music Academy of the
West
Natural Café
Newf Surf
Oakley
Olio e Limone
O’Neill
Pacifica Hotels
Patagonia Great Pacific
Ironworks
Paul Green
Peet’s Coffee
Pierre La Fond
PrAna
Quiksilver
Qupe
Rancho Oso Guest
Ranch & Stables
Real Cheap Sports
Red Studio
Reed Floors
Refugio Ranch
REI
Relais de Paris
Root 246
Rusack Vineyards
Samy’s Camera
San Ysidro Ranch
Santa Barbara
Adventure Co.
Santa Barbara
Symphony Assoc.
Santa Barbara Rock Gym
Santa Barbara Yoga
Center
Santa Barbara Zoo
Sarah Hammett
Savoy Cafe & Deli
Sea Landing
Sea Spa
Setenay O
Seven Bar & Kitchen
Shaun & Carla Tomson
Sherry & Craig Madsen
Shine Blow Dry Bar
Simpson House Inn
Skin Resolutions
Skydive Santa Barbara
Sly’s
Soho Restaurant &
Music Club
Sonos
Spitfire Aviation
Studio S Salon
Summerland Beach Cafe
Sunset Kidd Sailing
Susan Shapiro
Sustainable Vine Wine
Tours
SY Kitchen
Telegraph Brewing Co.
Tim Robinson
Tre Lune
UCSB Arts & Lectures
UCSB Department of
Recreation
Upright Sports
Via Maestra 42
Wallace J. Nichols
Waxing Poetic
Waypoint Outdoor
Zaca Mesa Winery
Zodo’s Bowling &
Beyond
Zookers
Zotovich Cellars
Keeping the “River” in the Ventura River
continued from page 3
aquifer. When the aquifer is
full, water springs to the surface, and the river gains flow.
However, when the aquifer is
pumped at a rate faster than it
is recharged, the river loses flow.
When surface flows from upstream are not present to fill the
void, the river goes dry. Such
has been the condition at Foster
Park during the recent drought.
The City has acknowledged
the sensitivity of the river
and stated its best intentions
with regard to protecting the
resource. It even commissioned
its own studies which identified
pumping at low flows as a threat
to habitat and water quality.
Despite this, it has continued
to pump through persistent
low-flow periods and even
long after the river has gone
totally dry, resulting in further
elimination of critical habitat
and impairment of downstream water quality.
Under state law, the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB) is required to prevent
the waste and unreasonable
use of the state’s waters, and
to protect those waters as
public trust resources. Unfortunately, the SWRCB has failed
to fulfill this duty in the case
of the Ventura River. There-
fore, on September 19, Channelkeeper filed a lawsuit to
compel the SWRCB to conduct
a reasonable use analysis of
the City of Ventura’s water
rights on the Ventura River.
Our hope is that analysis will
ultimately result in a better
balance between the City’s
pumping to meet municipal
and domestic needs and the
need to preserve in-stream
flows for nature, fish and recreation. Our goal is to protect
the essence of what makes the
Ventura River a river. Keeping
it alive and flowing, for fish, for
wildlife, and for future generations.
CHANNELKEEPER FAL L 2014 NE WSL E T T ER
9
OUR SUPPORTERS
Thank You to Our Donors
August 2013 - August 2014
BLUE WHALE
$10,000 & UP
David & Lyn Anderson
Yvon & Malinda Chouinard
City of Goleta
Environment Now
Keith Campbell Foundation
Blaine & Valerie Lando
Marisla Foundation
Patagonia Inc.
Resources Legacy Fund
Foundation
Santa Barbara Foundation
Jack & Judy Stapelmann
Walter & Holly Thomson
Union Bank of California
DOLPHIN
$5,000-$9,999
Clif Bar Family Foundation
Coastal Fund
Crawford Idema Family
Foundation
George Diskant
James Frank
Andy & Anne Heller
Sean & Dorie Hutchinson
Terry Kleid
LOSSON Strategic, LLC*
Hank Mitchel
Tony & Kyra Rogers
Santa Barbara Museum of
Natural History
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Indians Foundation
Surf Industry Manufacturers
Association (SIMA)
Southern California Edison
SEA LION
$1,000-$4,999
Tom Adler*
Ann Jackson Family
Foundation
Anonymous
Una Baker
Ashish & Leslie Bhutani
Maria & Stephen Black
Derek Carlson & Theresa
Borgatello-Carlson
Melissa Bower
Wendel Bruss
Teresa Burgess & Dennis Clegg
Patrick & Ramona Carroll
Citrix Online
Jim & Ann Collins
Curt Cruthirds
Dancing Tides Foundation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Denison Family Foundation
Dan & Rae Emmett
Nancy Even & Joel Ohlgren
Fairview In & Out Carwash
Kenneth Falstrom & Kerry
Shaughnessy
Forester Media
Dennis & Jackie Fox
Nancy & Ken Goldsholl
Melinda Goodman
Geoff & Seraphim Green
Sarah Hammett
Clay & Kristina Holdren
Marty Ingraham
Robert Kemp
Marvel Kirby
Dorothy Largay
MarBorg Industries
10
Mission Wealth Management
Montecito Bank & Trust
National Marine Fisheries
Service
Mike & Bett y Noling
Sheri & Jack Overall
Jeff & Mandy Phillips
Julien Phillips & Susan
Stoddard-Phillips
Rabobank
Larry & Laura Ragan
REI
Melissa Riparetti-Stepien
Tim Robinson
Eric & Amy Ryan
Christine Ryerson
Terrence Ryken
Sangham Foundation
Rick & Joan Schmidt
Peter Schuyler & Lisa Stratton
Peter & Nini Seaman
Holly & Lanny Sherwin
Patti Pagliei & John Simpson
Single Point FM
Connie Smith
Judith & Gregory Smith
Randall & Roxanna Solakian
Linda Starkman
Teva
Shaun & Carla Tomson
Lila Trachtenberg & George
Handler
Sam & Sandra Tyler
US Environmental Protection
Agency
Monique Parsons & David
Wecker
Paul Junger Witt & Susan
Harris
Mike & Diane Wondolowski
Jules Zimmer
SEA OTTER
$500-$999
Aris Alexander
Anonymous
Anonymous
BEI Sensors
Vera & Donald Bensen
Mark Brzezinski & Margaret
O’Brien
Katherine Cantu
Carpinteria Unified School
District
Virginia Castagnola-Hunter
David Cowan & Jennifer
LeMay
Michael Crooke & Amy Dozier
Brian Dempsey
First American Title Company
Steven Gaines & Peggy
Lubchenco
William Gould
Johnson Ohana Charitable
Foundation
Joseph Kennedy
David Kagel & Patti Kern
Gordon & Sharon Krischer
Cecile Lyons
Jim Hodgson & Sharyn Main
Ginger & Brett Matthews
Ron & Donna Melville
James & Sara Munro
Peter & Anne Pitterle
Kira & Justin Redmond
Richard Powell & Julie Ringler
James & Claudette Roehrig
Kalia Rork
CHANNELKEEPER FALL 2014 NEWSLET TER
Richard & Lisa Ross
Rotary Club of Montecito
John & Cynthia Sanger
Jean Schuyler
Alec Sherwin
Patrick Smiley
Deb & Greg Tice
Victoria Ward
Theresa & Julian Weissglass
Ed Van Wingerden
Janet Wolf
GREAT BLUE HERON
$250-$499
Satie Airame & Jeff Chemnik
Ron Atinsky
Tim & Glenda Behunin
Laurel Bliss
Mary Bucholtz & Jon
McCammond
Salud Carbajal
Darlene & Sam Chirman
Santa Barbara City College
Margaret Connell
Nicola Selley & Kim Croyle
Steven Dahlberg
Lars Davenport
Dondra
Sally & Terry Eagle
Figueroa Mountain Brewing
Co.
Gary & Peggy Finefrock
Brian Frons
Teri & Eric Gabrielsen
Randall & Jana Greer
Bruce Reitherman & Erika Hill
Francesca Hunter
Palmer Jackson
Talli Larrick
Morgan Coffey & Scott Leon
Craig & Sherry Madsen
Thomas Mageaen
John Melack & Sally MacIntyre
National Marine Sanctuary
Foundation
Paul Petrich, Jr.
Jennifer Plana
John & Cindy Ray
Susan Ringler
Stephen & Susan Robeck
Brian & Gena Robinson
Robert & Tomika Sollen
Peter Sperling
StormwateRx
Carl & Nola Stucky
David & Cathie Tilman
Evan Turpin
University of California, Santa
Barbara
Steve & Robin Ward
Robert Warner & Isabel
Downs
Sharon Keigher & Libe
Washburn
Dean White
Gail Osherenko & Oran Young
Alex & Elsbeth Ziegler
STEELHEAD
$100-$249
Peter & Lynne Abbey
Duncan & Meredith Abbott
Lee Appleton
Brooke Ashworth
Virginia Baker
Kathleen Bank
Mary Pat Barry
Judith Bennett & Stephen
Schweitzer
Barbara Bonadeo
Kyle Brace
Daniel Emmett & Henri Bristol
Michael Brown & Laura
Malakoff
Tara Brown
Bob & Patt y Bryant
Steven & Laura Burge
Columbine Culberg
Joann Cunningham
Eric Dodson
Claire & Lars Fackler
Bob Field
William Fletcher
John & Marie Foley
Jill Forman
Wendy Foster
Vincent Stanley & Nora
Gallagher
Deborah Wilson & Bill
Giordano
Vesper Gray
David & Ruth Green
Erik & Sandy Gregersen
Lacey Grevious
Leslie Griffin
Katharyn & Sven Hagen
Katherine & John Hancock
Candace Humber
Nancy & Tom Hussey
Jodie Ireland
Marian Jones
Gayle Knaak
Jonathan Koehn
Linda Krop & Leslie Harvey
Wendie & Jeff Kruthers
John Kuizenga
William Lannan
Julia & Peter Laraway
Winifred Lennihan
Al Leydecker & Valerie Ellis
Anna Lin
MacFarlane, Faletti & Co. LLP
Patrick Marr & Michelle
Rainville
John & Carolyn McCoy
Anne McGarry
Mitchell Morehart
Lee Neuenschwander
Newf Surfboard Net
Christina Okpysh
John Olson
Valerie & Donley Olson
Debbi Pearson
Valerie & David Powdrell
Ralphs Grocery Company
Delia Rangel
George Relles & BL Borovay
Ted Rhodes
Jens & Laura Riege
Thomas Rollerson
Barbara & Gerry Rubin
Michel Saint-Sulpice
Barbara & Brooke Sawyer Jr.
John & Thelma Schmidhauser
Ingrid Schmitz
Michael & Lisa Sheehy
Evely Laser Shlensky & Rabbi
Ira Youdovin
Joshua Simmons
Sharon McAlexander & Liz
Simpson
Margaret Staton
Nancy Steele
Casey Stevens
Beverly Schwartzberg & David
Stone
Seth Streeter
Steven Trainoff & Gretchen
Beckert
Natalie Tupper
John & Jan Vallee
Steve Wages
Judy Weisman
Wildcat Lounge Inc.
Lynda Wilkinson
Herold Williams
John Wingate
Jeff & Jana Young
SNOWY PLOVER
$50-$99
Anonymous
Jeff & Alexa Avila
Donna Barranco Fisher
Kevin Barrett
Nancy & Ed Barthell
Susan & Jarold Bartz
Eliesa Bollinger
Tom & Laura Brooks
Roland & Joyce Bryan
Patricia Bryant
Mona & William Chapin
Tony Chapman
Emily Chase
Rachel Couch
Jeffrey Doornbos
Joe Doyle
Tom Evans
Garold & Joyce Faber
Richard & Miriam Flacks
Judith Foreman
LeeAnne French
Thomas Fusek
Andrew & Konnie Gault
Patrick & Darlene Gorey
Douglas Hall
Lois Hamilton
Sarah Hearon
Bett y Helton & Alex Weinstein
Kathryn Henry
Jean Barrows Holmes
Richard & Nina Hunt
Island Seed & Feed Inc.
Sharon Kantanen
William & Shellye Kingsbury
Albert & Barbara Lindemann
Jim Little
Liza Jane MacNaughton
Megan & Kevin Marble
Andreya Marks
John Maulhardt
Bruce & Kathleen Micheel
Steve & Fermina Murray
Carla Frisk & Jeff Newton
Carl Nielsen
Brian Hall & Penny Owens
Bill & Carol Palladini
David Parker
Adam Pearlman & Patricia
Malone
Marsha & Al Roberson
Joseph & Sue Skenderian
Miriam Slater
James Smith
Larry Yuva & Carol Smith
Frank Stapelmann
Lynne Elisabeth Stark
Vincent Tubiolo & Nancy
Smith-Tubiolo
Mark Srednicki & Eloise
Uranga
Wendy Varnals
Arthur & Helen Walker
Leslie Von Wiesenberger
Bilo Zarif
GARIBALDI
$49 & UNDER
Hilary Andrews
Anonymous
Deborah Atkinson
Bank of America Charitable
Foundation
Ted Barthell
Marc & Leslie Beauchamp
Sharon & John Broberg
Lois Capps
Marianne & Fred Caston
Bett y Chackel
Paul & Anne Chesnut
Beverly & Nelson Clark
Selma Cornet
Julian Cutts
Andrew & Adrianne Davis
Jerome & Donna Dayton
Taylor Debevec
Adelle Demko
Gary Denny
Courtney Dietz
John & Debbie Dutton
Neil Elliott
Sharon Engel
Hyla Fetler & Tracy Fernandez
Linda Kay Fisher
Steven Gaulin
Gildas Halle
Steven Huynh
Elaine Jacobs
Barbara Janelle
Mart Keefe
Ann Kidson
Robert & Claudia Kirby
Ann Bromfield & Lyndal
Laughrin
Marion Leeman
Erika Lindemann
Nancy Lucas
C.Y. & L.E. Lyon
Ria Marsh
Nancy Martin
Pamela Massey
Christine Mazanec
Meredith McMinn
Cal & Peggy Meuser
Lisa & Mitch Myers
Brad & Jeanne Nelson
Steve Nelson
James & Marilyn Nollan
Danielle Peters
David & Cris Prichard
LIa Roberts
Sara Rosenblatt
Frank Schmidt
Patricia Schwartzkopf
Ralph Zitnik & Mary-Louise
Scully
Lucinda Setnicka
Donald & Maida Smith
Michael Szele
Ted Tedesco
Tidelines
Penelope Tinker
Brian Trautwein
John Warner
Scott Waters
Priscilla Whittaker
Paul Wilson
Kevin Young
* In-kind donation
HAPPENINGS
California Businesses Unite for Clean Water
I
n July, California Coastkeeper Alliance, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
and the other 11 California Waterkeepers launched the Blue Business
Council, a network of California businesses working to protect the State’s
most valuable and threatened natural
capital – the coast, ocean, bays, rivers,
and streams that power our economy.
The Council’s founding members
are a diverse group of like-minded
businesses spanning the entire state Patagonia, New Belgium Brewing, Clif
Bar, REI, Pura Vida Bracelets, Sunski
Sunglasses, Pro SUP Shop, Shelter
Co., Humboldt Bay Oyster & Tourism,
Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel, and Santa
Barbara’s own Channel Island Outfitters and Santa Barbara Adventure
Company.
Blue Business Council members understand that businesses depend on
clean water, and that the economic
and social benefits from clean and
plentiful water and a healthy coast
should be recognized and accounted
for in decisions that impact our state.
Council members take the Clean
Water Pledge to support policies and
practices that make our state’s coast
and waters clean and safe to enjoy
and that protect our scarce water
resources. They may take action on
issues of importance to their businesses and communities by voicing
support for needed reforms and
connecting employees and customers with tools and local events to
promote clean water.
In 2014-2015, Waterkeepers are leveraging our Blue Business Council partners to focus on three priority threats
to California’s waters – the drought,
trash, and polluted runoff.
If you are affiliated with or know of a
California business that shares a clean
water ethic and is interested in joining the Blue Business Council, please
email [email protected].
Changes to the Channelkeeper Team
Channelkeeper is thrilled to announce that Mike Wondolowski has joined our Board of Directors. Mike has a long
history as an active advocate for local environmental issues, including as a founding Board member of Save Ellwood Shores, as President of Citizens for Goleta Valley, and as current President of the Carpinteria Valley Association’s Board. In his day job, Mike works as an electrical engineer at Zebra Technologies. He is also an accomplished
photographer and writes a monthly column in Carpinteria’s Coastal View News. Welcome aboard, Mike!
We would like also like to recognize James Munro and Darryl Yin, who recently stepped down from our Board of
Directors. Many thanks to James and Darryl for their years of service and the positive energy they brought to our
Board and Finance Committee!
Mike Wondolowski
James Munro
Darryl Yin
CHANNELKEEPER FAL L 2014 NE WSL E T T ER
11
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SANTA BARBARA,
CA
PERMIT #800
714 Bond Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
UPCOMING EVENTS
Stream Team
MPA SPLASH! Event
Stream Team is Channelkeeper’s volunteer-
Join Channelkeeper for our second annual
MPA Surf, Paddle, Learn And Swim Hangout
(SPLASH) event on Saturday, October 25th
from 11am-2pm at the park above Devereux
Beach. We’ll spend the morning celebrating
our MPA at Campus Point/IV Reef, exploring its recreational potential, and doing a
group paddle-out and photo-op. Bring your
water gear of choice (surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, or snorkels) and paddle out
with us as we stage an awesome MPA aerial
photo. SB Adventure Co. and Channel Islands
Outf itters will be providing kayaks and SUPs.
Celebrate with us afterwards on the bluff
with live music and free food for paddle-out
participants. To RSVP or for more information, contact us at [email protected] or
805.563.3377 ext. 5.
based 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 Valley watersheds. Come join us to
help monitor and protect our local
waterways; we will be sampling in Ventura on
2015 SB Triathlon Beneficiary
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is one of ten
non-profit organizations selected by Montecito Bank & Trust to vie for the privilege of
becoming the beneficiary of the 2015 Santa
Barbara Triathlon. If Channelkeeper gets the
most votes, we win $50,000, so we need your
vote!
Please visit our website at www.sbck.org and
click on “WHAT’S NEW” to cast your vote for
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper before September 30! If we win, you can win too – all who
vote for Channelkeeper will be entered into a
drawing to win a $250 gift card to Patagonia
or REI (winner’s choice). Thank you!
YOUR VOTE
MAT TERS!
Saturdays at 9 am and in Goleta on Sundays
at 10 am. Upcoming dates are October 4 & 5,
November 1 & 2, December 6 & 7, and January 10 & 11. Email [email protected] or call
805.563.3377 ext. 5 for more information.
Help raise $50,000 for clean water by voting for
Channelkeeper to be the 2015 SB Triathlon beneficiary
Visit sbck.org to vote before September 30!