Creek Week is Almost Here!

By the City of Santa Barbara

Celebrate Santa Barbara’s 24th Annual Creek Week: September 23 – 30, 2023

The community is invited to join the City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division in celebrating Creek Week, taking place Saturday, September 23 through Saturday, September 30, 2023. Creek Week is an annual opportunity for community members to learn more about our local creeks, watersheds, and the ocean through a series of fun and educational events hosted by local governmental agencies, community groups, and environmental organizations.

Creek Week will kick off on Saturday, September 23 with Coastal Cleanup Day, when community members can join in and volunteer at over 25 beach and creek locations Countywide. Tours of facilities being offered throughout the week include the City of Santa Barbara’s El Estero Water Resource Center and the County of Santa Barbara’s ReSource Center on Wednesday, and the Household Hazardous Waste Center at UCSB on Friday.

Film screenings include a Tuesday evening showing of Bringing Back our Wetland: The UCSB North Campus Open Space at the Santa Barbara Public Library with UCSB’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity & Ecological Restoration and Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council. On Friday evening the County of Santa Barbara’s Project Clean Water will host an outdoor screening of Beaver Believers and The Octopus Garden at the Watershed Resource Center at Arroyo Burro County Beach Park.

Nearly 30 events are planned for the week including a variety walking tours, volunteer restoration efforts, bike rides, creek walks, a benefit concert at SOhO, an art reception at the Goleta Valley Library, and even take-home activities offered by the City of Carpinteria. “We are thrilled to offer such a wide variety of events this year,” said Cameron Benson, Creeks Restoration/Clean Water Manager at the City of Santa Barbara. “We hope that by participating in Creek Week and connecting with our local creeks, watersheds, and ocean community members will be inspired to care for our environment year-round.”

Visit SBCreekWeek.com or Facebook.com/SBCreekWeek to view the full schedule and event details.

By the City of Goleta

Participate in Creek Week beginning this Saturday, September 23 through September 30. Creek Week is an annual celebration of our creeks, watersheds, and the ocean, with events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria. Find out how you can participate by watching this video highlighting Creek Week activities in Goleta: https://youtu.be/J_iMqRqa83k. The video is also available in Spanish here: https://youtu.be/qqRMDxwJwVA.

You can participate throughout the Santa Barbara South Coast, but here is a look at Creek Week activities in Goleta:

Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 23, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The largest volunteer effort in California, Coastal Cleanup Day is our day to give back to the ocean, beaches, and creeks that make Santa Barbara County such a wonderful place to live. Get outside, enjoy nature, and remove marine debris from our beaches and waterways. Hosted by Explore Ecology, there are 31 locations to choose from, with three in Goleta: Ellwood Bluffs and Beach, Haskell’s Beach, and San Jose Creek. Each location has a site captain to provide necessary instructions and supplies. Learn more and sign up at https://exploreecology.org/coastal-cleanup-day/.
Beautify Goleta FREE Bulky Item Drop Off
Saturday, September 23, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Get rid of items you no longer want by disposing of them for free at the City’s Bulky Item Drop Off event. Bring your unwanted items to Phelps Road between Cannon Green Drive and Pacific Oaks Road. Acceptable items include, but are not limited to, mattresses and box springs; wood and metal furniture; plastic tables, desks, and chairs; and wood pallets and tires. Electronics, hazardous waste, and medications will not be accepted.

Devereux Creek Tour
Thursday, September 28, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
City of Goleta’s Parks and Open Space Manager George Thomson will lead a walking tour of Devereux Creek at Ellwood Mesa. Participants will learn about the Devereux Creek watershed, look up close at transitional wetland habitats, examine why some invasive plants are able to negatively impact biodiversity, decipher what monarch butterfly overwintering sites need to function, and more. Please bring drinking water, binoculars if you have them, and sturdy walking shoes. We will be walking through uneven terrain and covering approximately 1-2 miles. All ages are encouraged to attend. Meet at Santa Barbara Shores Drive and Sea Gull Drive. Please RSVP to gthomson@cityofgoleta.org to reserve your spot.

San Jose Creek Tour
Friday, September 29, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Join City of Goleta for a “Clean Creeks, Green Streets: San Jose Creek Tour.” Meet at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park (170 S. Kellogg Avenue) for a tour with City of Goleta’s Environmental Services Manager Melissa Nelson and Brian Trautwein of the Environmental Defense Center. See what is happening in the creek, learn about habitat restoration and water quality, and get your free stickers. Walk-ins are welcome, but it is recommended to reserve your space by emailing environmentalservices@cityofgoleta.org.

Creek Week Art Gallery & Reception

You can also head over to the Goleta Valley Library (500 N. Fairview Avenue) to check out the Creek Week Art Gallery. The Multipurpose room has been transformed with artwork submitted for the Second Annual Creek Week Art Contest, using the theme “Goleta the Goodland, Thriving Habitats.” The 57 submissions are available for the public to view through October 1.

Mayor Paula Perotte is judging the artwork and the winners will be announced at a reception at the library on September 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd place along with Honorable Mention will be awarded for each age category: adults (18 +), teens (7th-12th grade), and children (6th grade and below).

Creek Week is coordinated by the City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division, County of Santa Barbara Project Clean Water, City of Goleta, City of Carpinteria, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Explore Ecology. For more information on Creek Week, go to SBCreekWeek.com and follow Creek Week on social media at Facebook.com/SBCreekWeek.