Volunteers will be picking up trash from around South Coast creeks as part of spring cleaning effort

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A spring cleaning effort from Gaviota to Ventura County will make our creek areas cleaner, safer and more environmentally solid.

The nonprofit group, ChannelKeeper, is coordinating the effort.

The Beach Clean-up this weekend from March 20 to 21 will take place in honor of World Water Day.

ChannelKeeper has what is called a "Watershed Brigade."

Volunteers are being sought to help clean up creeks and many other related areas to get the trash out.

ChannelKeeper said in a statement, "Brigade members remove trash from trails, creeks, rivers, urban areas, and beaches, act as environmental stewards, and collect litter data used to help reduce pollution at its source. "

Clean-up coordinators have created a sign-up form to make sure they get to all the beaches.

The volunteer outreach will be conducted in line with COVID-19 safety rules.

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper Interim Executive Director Ben Pitterle
walked on West Beach Wednesday and in a few steps said, "here's a little bit right here. Some wrapper. Some beaches are more heavily used beaches obviously,  it's easier to find trash."

He produced a handful of small items and said, "these are the things that are going to get into the food chain and are really detrimental."

Pitterle said the cleanup site you chose could be at the beach or elsewhere in the watershed. "And that could mean your favorite beach, but it can also mean your favorite creek or front country trail or maybe  your own neighborhood."

  During the COVID stay at home orders, those out recreating did increase the amount of items left behind.

"We saw more  and more people accessing out watershed  our back country trails,  swimming holes and with that visitation came a huge increase in liter," said Pitterle.

He also says those who participate in these outreach efforts often end up doing cleanups on their own throughout the year.

For more information or to sign up for a beach, visit ChannelKeeper online.