Volunteers Haul 2,200 Pounds of Debris from Santa Barbara Harbor in 17th Annual Clean Sweep

A team of volunteer divers and dockside helpers pulled 2,200 pounds of junk from beneath Marina 4 on Saturday, May 2, during Santa Barbara Harbor’s 17th annual Operation Clean Sweep.

The seafloor cleanup ran from 8:00 a.m. to noon, staging at the Harbor Launch Ramp parking lot in front of Marina 4. Divers located debris underwater while close to 30 volunteer dock workers hauled it to the surface, continuing a community-led effort to keep the harbor clear of lost and discarded items.

The City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department led the event with support from Salty Dog Dive Service, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, SB Channelkeeper, SB Maritime Museum, SB Sail and Power Squadron, and Tidy Seas.

Volunteers kicked off the morning with a safety briefing over coffee and pastries and wrapped up with lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Operation Clean Sweep has removed more than 26 tons of debris from the harbor since its inception.

Past recoveries have ranged from bicycles, barbeques, plastic barrels, and boat propellers to wire cages, outboard engines, phones, computers, and the occasional marine battery.

This year’s haul underscores the ongoing need for seafloor cleanups in busy working harbors and the role volunteers play in protecting local marine environments. The recovered items were sorted and removed from the waterfront following the event.