Dog Waste Bio-Bag Partnership

Heal the Ocean’s philosophy is that the ocean can no longer be used as a dumping ground for trash. Executive Director Hillary Hauser said properly disposing of dog waste helps prevent dog feces from being introduced into the ocean and other waterways. “The partnership with County Parks is a great example of preventing ocean pollution and its success depends on the hard work of our Junior Council volunteers,” Hauser said.

Heal the Ocean recently formed its Junior Council to provide younger ocean activists as representatives in their communities and schools. The partnership to maintain and stock the dog waste bag dispensers is their first major initiative. Initially, 16 teen volunteers will be involved, with each one being responsible for one or more dog waste bag dispensers at county parks and beaches.

Several of the teen volunteers from Heal the Ocean’s Junior Council will join supervisors, Heal the Ocean Executive Director Hillary Hauser, Junior Council parent steering committee members Kim Busch, Paula Stussy and Stacy Pulice, and County Parks officials at a ceremony announcing the partnership.

First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal and 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, Board Chair, will hold a special press event announcing a collaborative partnership with Heal the Ocean’s Junior Council to provide dog waste bags and dispensers at many of south Santa Barbara County’s parks, open spaces, and beaches. The ceremony is scheduled for 11:15 a.m., Wednesday, June 16, at the county’s Butterfly Beach access stairs at Channel Drive and Butterfly Lane in Montecito. Butterfly Beach is one of the 14 parks, open spaces, and beaches that will be serviced as part of the public-private partnership with Heal the Ocean. (See below for complete list.)

“We salute Heal the Ocean and especially their Junior Council for taking on this important responsibility,” Carbajal said. “Budget cuts forced County Parks to seek new ways to pay for these bags, and we’re very pleased that the Junior Council youth have stepped up to help.”

“We’re delighted to begin this partnership with Heal the Ocean’s Junior Council,” Wolf said. “Helping to pay for the dog waste bags is a valuable service that will help protect the environment and provide a valuable service to the community.”

“Each dog waste bag costs about six cents, and that cost really adds up,” Parks Department Director Daniel Hernandez said. “County Parks was no longer able to underwrite this existing amenity at our parks, but the collaboration with Heal the Ocean’s Junior Council is a great example of working with the community to maintain a high level of service for park visitors and being good stewards of the environment.”

County Parks in 2009 also created a partnership with San Roque Pet Hospital to contribute $3,000 per year toward the cost of supplying dog waste bags at the county’s most popular canine destination, Arroyo Burro Beach County Park. This partnership, together with the 14 additional sites serviced by the Junior Council, means County Parks will be able to devote about $12,000 per year to other park improvements. The partnership with San Roque Pet Hospital is much appreciated by the county and the community.

List of County Parks, Beaches, and Open Spaces in New “BioBag” Partnership with Heal the Ocean

In addition to Butterfly Beach, the other county parks, beaches and open space areas included in the new partnership are:

First District Locations:

o Lookout Park in Summerland

o Oceanview Park in Summerland

o Manning Park in Montecito

o Rocky Nook Park in Santa Barbara

o Loon Point in Summerland

o Posillipo Lane Beach Access in Montecito

o Toro Canyon Park in Montecito

o Butterfly Beach in Montecito

Second District Locations:

o Goleta Beach

o Tucker’s Grove Park in Goleta

o Tabano Hollow Open Space in Goleta

o Tarragona Open Space in Goleta

o University Circle Open Space in Goleta

o Patterson Open Space in Goleta

The county also wishes to give special thanks to Heal the Ocean’s Junior Council volunteers, including: Andy Busch, Max deGruy, Caleigh Hernandez, McKenna Hogue, Hannah Koper, Rose Koper, Ben Kwock, Monica Lodato, Austin Lokre, Remy Pulice, Cecily Sanchez, Elise Scheurmann, Penn Stussy, Charlie Taylor, Danielle Zola, and Jordan Zola.

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Other partnership opportunities are available at some other South County locations and at most locations in North County. Potential sponsors are encouraged to contact South County Deputy Parks Director Erik Axelson at (805) 681-5651 or email at axelson@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.