Operation Clean Sweep planned for SB Harbor, May 3

SANTA BARBARA – The public is invited to help spring clean the Santa Barbara Harbor during the 2014 Operation Clean Sweep scheduled for May 3.

Divers and volunteers will help to rid the bay of accumulated junk on the harbor floor during the eighth annual event held in the bay. Volunteers and staff will concentrate on fingers M through P in Marina 1 from 8 a.m. to noon.

“Operation Clean Sweep is a cornerstone of our Clean Marina Program,” said Mick Kronman, Harbor Operations manager. “Removing debris from the harbor—like collecting litter from the roadside—is about as basic as it gets. We anticipate another successful event this year.”

Dozens of dock workers will help cart off what divers retrieve from the sea floor. They will be joined by safety boats capable of lifting heavy objects.

In past years, everything from bicycles to steering wheels, wire traps, bow pulpits, barbecues and boat liners were pulled from the water. To date, the program has removed 14.4 tons of debris from Santa Barbara Harbor.

The city of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront Department joins Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Surfrider Foundation, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, harbor dive businesses, and local volunteers in this effort.

For more information contact Harbor Operations manager Mick Kronman at (805) 897-2587.

 –Ambrosia Brody