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Community Creek Stewardship Projects
In focused neighborhood efforts the City’s Creeks Division collaborates with community groups for creek clean-up and restoration projects throughout Santa Barbara.  For more information on Community Creek Stewardship Projects, click here.

Watershed Youth Education
The City of Santa Barbara offers a comprehensive water education program for all grade levels. Curriculum, classroom presentations, and field trips to creek restoration sites are free to local classrooms.  The City has a partnership with Art From Scrap who coordinates the Creek Kids Series and field trips to the Watershed Resource Center.  Each presentation is focused on a specific grade level and aligned with the State Content Standards.  For information or to schedule a presentation, contact Elise Stephens at (805) 897-2672.

New Pilot Youth Enrichment Programs!
The Creeks Division is piloting an after-school and community enrichment program, working with several organizations and individuals in the community, including the City’s Housing Authority and the Splash 2 Trash program, Youth CineMedia’s Clean Water Media Lab Project and Speak for the Creeks art and poetry program with local educator and poet Sojourner Rolle.

Creek Week
Creek Week is an annual series of events where the community can learn more about local creeks and watersheds, and the many ways to enjoy, restore and protect them. Creek Week takes place in October, and is jointly hosted by the Creeks Division and County Project Clean Water, with events planned by several community environmental organizations.

An impressive 500 people participated in the 2007 events! This is what was accomplished:
- Well over a ton of trash was removed from 11 local creeks and beaches.
- Over 300 native plants were planted at creek restoration sites.
- 150 youth celebrated Creek Week and learned more about local watersheds through creek clean-ups, photography, poetry, art, and educational events.

Community Forums
Each year, the Creeks Division sponsors an educational community forum.  At the 2007 Marine Debris Forum, community members learned that 80% of marine debris comes from land, primarily from runoff and storm drain systems. Residents saw a sample of ocean water filled with more plastic than plankton, and learned about what can be done to reduce the problem of plastics in the ocean. Past forum topics include Steelhead Trout recovery efforts, local watersheds and water quality goals, and bacteria and human health.

For Science Project ideas and resources, click here.

For information on Creek related Events and Outreach, contact Jill Sarick Santos at (805) 897-2606.

© Copyright 2003, City of Santa Barbara. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Send messages and inquiries to Liz Smith.