The Watershed Brigade was formed in 2020 as a grassroots effort to clean up local watersheds. It’s a community program that provides hands-on volunteer opportunities in combination with education and advocacy initiatives that encourage collective action to address trash and marine debris pollution issues that threaten our water resources, wildlife, and the health of our communities.
1,911 Volunteers ֍ 43,530 Pounds of Trash ֍ 1,775 Cleanups
Upcoming Cleanups
Isla Vista Cleanup
Sunday February 23, 2025
11:00 am
Pelican Park
Join our UCSB interns to clean up the area surrounding Pelican Park in Isla Vista. Watershed Brigade volunteers will meet at Pelican Park and spread out to clean up the Isla Vista streets.
Channelkeeper will provide cleanup supplies and snacks!
We hope you can join us!
Sign up here!
Westside Neighborhood Cleanup
Saturday March 8th
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
524 W Canon Perdido
This month, Channelkeeper is collaborating with The Turner Foundation for a cleanup. The Turner Foundation’s mission is to create innovative programs and services to lift people up! They focus on five key demographics: youth, families, seniors, those with special needs, and those in need of financial support.
Join us Saturday March 8th at 10:00 am to clean up a Westside Neighborhood. Channelkeeper and The Turner Foundation will provide supplies, snacks, and pizza for volunteers after the cleanup!
We hope you can join us!
Sign up here!
Help Keep Our Community Litter-Free!
Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade is a community of volunteers dedicated to keeping our local watersheds and beaches clean. Brigade members remove trash from trails, creeks, rivers, urban areas, and beaches, act as environmental stewards, and collect trash data used to help reduce pollution at its source. And it’s fun! Volunteers earn points that make them eligible for perks and prizes.
Beaches, creeks, trails, and rivers along the South Coast are experiencing more visitation than ever before, and a lot of trash is left behind in these fragile environments, damaging their ecosystems and polluting waterways.
We formed the Watershed Brigade in 2020 as a grassroots community effort to fight litter and keep our local watersheds and beaches clean. Members work together to clean up trash and debris from local trails, creeks, rivers, urban areas, and beaches and we also work as environmental stewards to encourage responsible exploration of our local watersheds.
Volunteering is super fun!
- Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter!
- Volunteer for Community Service Credit
- Inquire about a Hosted Group Cleanup
Sign the Waiver / Exención.
Read the Safety + Outreach Guidelines
Léa las Reglas de Seguridad en Español.
Watershed Brigade Cumulative Cleanup Map:
Here’s How to Get Started!
- Complete the Waiver / Exención
- Pick a Location – Choose an area to clean up. You can pick up litter from anywhere – your neighborhood, a local park, a local trail, a creek bed, highway turnouts … anywhere! Join Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade Facebook Group or Email us for location suggestions!
- Grab a Clean-up Kit – Your Clean-Up Kit should include trash bags and latex safety gloves. Use your own or request a kit.
- Read the SAFETY & OUTREACH GUIDELINES. / Léa las REGLAS DE SEGURIDAD en Español
- Clean up! – After reading the safety & outreach guidelines, get out there and start your clean-up!
- Report Back – Recording your volunteer effort is important – and super easy!
In order to earn points, share your info by
either:
- Posting to our Facebook group: Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade
- Completing this quick info sheet.
Please include:
- Date of Clean-up/Time/Location
- Hours/Volunteer Time
- Weight Of Litter
- Photos Of Litter Collected And Participants
Litter is one of the most pervasive water quality problems affecting the planet and our local waterways. Thank you for helping keep our local watersheds clean and healthy!
