OUR MISSION
To protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds through science-based advocacy, education, fieldwork, enforcement, and community engagement.
OUR VISION
Channelkeeper’s vision is for clean water, healthy habitats, abundant wildlife, and thriving communities.
Our goals are to:
- Protect the community’s right to clean water by upholding environmental laws.
- Preserve the health and biodiversity of the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds by identifying and eliminating pollution sources.
- Prevent adverse impacts to the Santa Barbara Channel from commercialization by guiding policy development at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Build resilience to the impacts of climate change by advancing beneficial solutions and planning for a resilient future.
- Inspire community members to care for local waterways through environmental education, collaboration with partners, and volunteer opportunities.
OUR BOAT
Channelkeeper is the environmental watchdog for the Santa Barbara Channel, and we patrol the Santa Barbara Channel on our research vessel, the R/V Channelkeeper – a 31-foot JC lobster boat, which we purchased in 2008 thanks to generous donations from our community.
Having a boat and a regular presence on the water is a unique and critical tool we use to monitor water quality and the health of marine habitats, patrol the Santa Barbara Channel for pollution, and educate the public about the marine environment.
OUR HISTORY & IMPACT
The modern Waterkeeper movement started in New York in the 1960s, when a band of blue-collar fishermen decided to take a stand against the degradation of the Hudson River by a powerful force threatening their way of life: industrial pollution.
With boots on the ground, a boat on the water, a band of smart, passionate change-makers on our team, and the trust and support of our community, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper makes a big impact for a small organization.
Explore the links below to learn about some of our current issues.
THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL
The Santa Barbara Channel is nationally recognized as an incredibly diverse and biologically sensitive ecosystem.
The Channel extends from Point Conception to Point Mugu and is located in the Southern California Bight.
The four northern Channel Islands – San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa – border the Channel on the South.
OUR FINANCIALS
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is committed to transparency and accountability. We undergo a full audit every year (even though we are not required by law to do so), and are happy to share our annual audits and 990 tax returns below. We also have a Gold Seal of Transparency on GuideStar, which affirms our commitment to transparency.
Contact Us Today
If you have questions, or are interested in learning more,
please call us at (805) 563-3377, email us or use the contact form below.