Celebrate Our Creeks, Watersheds & Ocean
The City of Goleta’s Environmental Services Division is thrilled to kick off another year of Creek Week festivities! This year’s celebration runs Saturday, September 20, through Saturday, September 27, with activities for all ages to connect with, learn about, and care for our local waterways.
From art and cleanups to guided tours and restoration projects, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few Goleta highlights:
Saturday, September 20
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Coastal Cleanup Day
Join millions worldwide for this annual event. Locally, help clean up Ellwood Bluffs & Beach and Haskell’s Beach (hosted by Explore Ecology). Register & view all sites: exploreecology.org/coastal-cleanup-day
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – San Pedro/Las Vegas Creeks Cleanup
Help the Environmental Defense Center and the City of Goleta restore healthy waterways. Meet at Covington Footbridge (6200 block of Covington Way). RSVP: btrautwein@environmentaldefensecenter.org.
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Beautify Goleta: Free Bulky Item Drop-Off
Safely dispose of unwanted items at Phelps Road between Cannon Green Dr. & Pacific Oaks Rd. Accepted items include: mattresses, box springs, furniture, wood pallets, tires. Please do not bring electronics, hazardous waste, or medications – these items will not be accepted.
Wednesday, September 24
4:00–5:30 p.m. – North San Jose Creek Walking Tour
Meeting Point: southeast corner of Cathedral Oaks Road and North Kellogg Avenue (note new location)
Step away from the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of San Jose Creek. Join City of Goleta Environmental Services Project Manager, Dan Rowell, Andrew Raaf, Santa Barbara County Flood Control Environmental Manager, and Brian Trautwein, Senior Analyst/Watershed Program Director for the Environmental Defense Center, for an afternoon exploring shaded oak and cottonwood groves, tranquil pools, and the wildlife that call this creek home.
Along the way, you’ll learn about the challenges facing creek health and the collaborative local efforts to protect and restore this important waterway—particularly for the endangered steelhead trout. San Jose Creek flows to the Goleta Slough and into the Pacific Ocean at Goleta Beach County Park, connecting our community’s uplands to the coast.
This year’s tour also highlights the County’s Beach Sediment Management and Resilience Tactics (BeachSMART) project, led by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District with support from the State Coastal Conservancy. BeachSMART focuses on watershed processes and nature-based solutions to build long-term resiliency for our beaches, creeks, and coastal communities. Learn more: www.beachsmart.org. Get involved: Visit the “Get Involved” tab to sign up for updates and take the community survey.
Reserve your spot: environmentalservices@cityofgoleta.org
Thursday, September 25
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Creek Week Art Contest Reception
Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue)
The Goleta Valley Library partnered with the City’s Environmental Services Division and Goleta Community Center on the 4th Annual Creek Week Art Contest this year. The community is invited to come check out the submissions from local artists at this event. The artwork will be on display at the GCC from September 12 through October 10. More info here.
Stay Updated
For a full list of South Coast Creek Week events, visit SBCreekWeek.com.
Let’s come together to celebrate and protect the creeks, watersheds, and ocean that make Goleta such a special place!