Non-Profit of the Week: Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper was founded as a grassroots organization in 1999 as a part of the Environmental Defense Center, but broke off and became an independent non-profit in 2002. The mission of the Channelkeeper is to protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds through science-based advocacy, education, field work and enforcement.

As a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, a coalition of 200 grassroots groups on six continents collectively patrolling and protecting more than 1.5 million square miles of watersheds as  well as defending their communities’ right to clean water, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is also a member of the California Coastkeeper Alliance. This coalition of all 12 California Waterkeepers works to strengthen water quality and marine habitat protections at the state level.

The Channelkeeper has fought tirelessly against offshore fracking and has won a case against the Trump Administration, who attempted to dismiss a case brought forth by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) and Channelkeeper. The Administration aimed to prevent the court from addressing the merit of the lawsuit initiated by The Channelkeeper and the EDC, which pointed out the failure of the federal government to analyze and disclose the potential risks and impacts caused by fracking and acidizing from offshore oil platforms. 

Recently, a local woman named Rachel Horn has pledged to swim the Santa Barbara Channel in effort to raise awareness on ocean pollution and support clean water. The proceeds of her fundraiser will go to the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Find out more about that here.

In addition to fighting for our Channel and the right to clean water, the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper also holds numerous fundraising events, such as the Annual Blue Water Ball as well as discounted trips to Naples State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and Campus Point SMCA.

To read more about the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, you can visit their website.