Isla Vista Surfrider: Concert for the Coast
By Ben Preston

The fifth annual Concert for the Coast was Saturday afternoon in Anisq’ Oyo’ Park in Isla Vista, hosted by the I.V. Chapter of Surfrider. Held to promote awareness of coastal issues and raise money for the Naples Coalition, the concert featured six reggae and rock bands, and a beer garden.

Dedicated members of I.V. Surfrider, the Naples Coalition, and the UCSB Environmental Affairs Board tabled outside of the concert. Along with recruitment, their aim was to spread information about coastal preservation issues. New Belgium Brewery, of Fort Collins, CO donated the beer garden, giving proceeds from alcohol sales to The Naples Coalition.

The main draw of the concert was, of course, the bands. A good-sized crowd showed up to enjoy music in the warmth of a sunny Saturday afternoon. The event began on a mellow note and crescendoed in intensity as the final two bands—Iration and Blue Turtle Seduction—took the stage.

After the show’s conclusion, I.V. Surfrider members and a few other volunteers made sure all the trash was picked up. As the sun went down, the scene was a spotless Anisq’ Oyo’ Park and a throng of satisfied concertgoers who are now, hopefully, more aware of coastal preservation issues than they were before.

Environmental Defense Center
By Cameron Benson

The Environmental Defense Center (EDC), a nonprofit environmental law firm, was founded in 1977 to assist community groups in efforts to protect our health and environment. EDC has represented local residents on a range of issues including protection for open space & wildlife, our coast & ocean, and human & environmental health.

EDC continues to lead the fight against oil drilling off the coast of Santa Barbara. But now there is a new threat. As oil supplies around the world dry up, industry giants are looking to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as their next profit center.

One proposal is coming from a mining company called BHP Billiton. The proposed “Cabrillo Port” project has a lot of problems – massive air and water pollution, marine mammal impacts, and public safety concerns to name a few.

The project would be the worst air polluter in the region – by far! The American Lung Association recently released its “State of the Air Report for 2006,” finding that California is home to 14 of the top 20 most polluted counties in the country. We need to find cleaner ways to get our energy.

To find out more, contact 963-1622, or check out our website at www.edcnet.org.

Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute
By Karen Flagg

Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation located in Santa Barbara County. We are a group of individuals committed to restoring California’s native plants and habitats. We work regionally, and believe in educating the community about the importance and value of ecological restoration. Through hands on educational experiences, grassroots restoration, and the propagation of site-specific native plants, we involve the community in actively restoring our local habitats, including our creeks and wetlands. The overall health and function of our wetlands and riparian areas is paramount to the health of our Ocean.

Growing Solutions has participated in numerous restoration projects since 1999 and is currently involved in several local projects throughout the greater Santa Barbara area including the Summerland Greenwell Preserve, the Goleta Slough, and the County Campus Restoration and Sustainability Project. We also operate five local nurseries, with a sixth under construction on Santa Cruz Island. We welcome volunteers or anyone interested in learning more. For information visit our website www.growingsolutions.org or contact us by phone (805) 452-7561.

Project Clean Water
By Cathleen Garnand

What does “clean water” mean to you? Safe for surfing and swimming? A healthy environment for dolphins and kelp? To the County of Santa Barbara, it means all of this and more. Our program is Project Clean Water. Our mission is to protect public health and enhance environmental quality in County watersheds and beaches. We do this by educating the public, finding and stopping pollution, and complying with state and federal laws.

The Federal Clean Water Act and the State Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act guide our role in protecting and improving water quality. These laws address how the County uses “Best Management Practices” to reduce pollution and are fundamental to the County’s Storm Water Management Plan.

Because Project Clean Water staff consists of only four individuals, a lot of clean water success is up to you. Keep your home or business free from green waste debris, your trashcans covered, and your pet’s waste picked up. Take your vehicle to a carwash instead of washing it in the street. Avoid over-watering landscaping, and think about where the products you purchase may end up. The bottom line: if you don’t want to drink it or surf in it, keep it out of the storm drains.

If you see anything going into a storm drain that shouldn’t be, call the Project Clean Water Hotline: 1-877-OUR-OCEAN. To find out more visit http://www.countyofsb.org/project_cleanwater.
Ventura Coastkeeper

The Ventura Coastkeeper is a non-profit organization devoted to protecting, preserving and restoring Ventura County's marine habitat, coastal waters, and watershed. The Ventura Coastkeeper was officially launched in November of 2000 in Ventura Harbor with the 22-foot long patrol boat, Tomol. At this time, the Ventura Coastkeeper became the 54th member of the international Waterkeeper alliance, an organization headed by Robert Kennedy Jr. The Tomol patrols the Ventura coastline and responds to calls about water pollution. Executive Director Mati Waiya and the rest of the Ventura Keepers are continually working to maintain a healthy environment for a diverse community through education, advocacy, enforcement, and citizen action.

A recent Monitoring Program has been implemented in the Calleguas Creek Watershed because it drains into one of the few remaining wetlands in Southern California, Mugu Lagoon. The area is one of Special Biological Significance (ASBS), as it is home to several endangered species and registered as a Chumash Native American archeological site. With the help of the California State University, Channel Islands Environmental Science Department, Ventura College, and the general public, Ventura Coastkeeper has begun training a citizen volunteer team organized to collect water samples at key sites along the Calleguas Creek and Revolon Slough

If you are interested in training with the Creek Stream Team, please contact Paul Westefer at paul@wishtoyo.org. For more information visit www.wishtoyo.org.