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Once a year volunteers are allowed to do something that is only permitted on one special day. They can scuba dive to clean up trash and debris in the Avalon Harbor and Bay. Up to 500 divers are expected to attend the 34th Annual Avalon Underwater Cleanup on Saturday, February 21, 2015. Registration on site is $60. The event is sponsored by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Call Spencer Campbell at 562-437-8555 ext. 224 or catalinaconservancy.org

One of the oldest private (nonprofit) land trusts in Southern California is responsible for approx. 82% of Catalina Island including 62 miles of beaches and coves.  This unique island is home to 60 species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world! Two nature centers, Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and several other programs provide outreach to a portion of the one million annual tourists, students and researchers visiting Catalina gets each year.

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

• 1,852 federally endangered Catalina Island foxes — up from only 100 in 1999!
• 51 adult female bison received contraceptives to keep the herd at a sustainable level of 150 animals
• 16,873 registered hikers trekked the wildlands trails in a single year
• 25,000 volunteer hours clocked (annually) in programs ranging from docent tours to cleanups such as the annual Volunteer Dive