Ventura River Ecosystem

Ventura Adopts "Green Streets" Policy

2008-07-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2008 - Ventura City Council Meeting

Late last night Ventura City Council took a significant step in the RIGHT direction. Recognizing that stormwater is an issue for which the time has come, council approved policy for Green Street Elements and Demonstration Project.

This policy would effectively follow two of the recommendations made by the Surfrider Foundation in Solving the Urban Runoff Problem, A Vision for the Urban Watershed, Ventura, California:

3. Develop a green streets program and implement pilot projects
5. Promote and develop incentives for community-based action (i.e. Ocean Friendly Gardens)

In my public testimony, I reminded listeners that a 'green streets' strategy is the best way of dealing with the 'concrete jungle' that is impacting the health of our oceans. I also presented City Council with a hard copy of our document published earlier this year and the Ocean Friendly Gardens brochure.

With this new policy, the city will earmark 20% of the street paving fund to begin incorporating 'Green Street elements' into repaving projects on a citywide basis. The city will also design and construct a pilot project on South Catalina Street to include:

...widening the west parkway from 3-feet to 7-feet, installing permeable concrete in the parking lane on the west side, planting 36-inch box trees on both sides, constructing "bulb-outs" along the east side along with stormwater detention and percolation curb inlets.

The Staff Report also provides an excellent review of types of stormwater improvements, and a matrix of their cost and effectiveness. The report may be downloaded from the city's website here: http://www.cityofventura.net/bridge/public_meetings/councilagendas.asp

In a later agenda item, council became the first city in the state to endorse the California Ocean Protection Council's "Low Impact Development Resolution."

After our watershed tour earlier this year, and the city's proactive approach to stormwater, we are hopeful that more funding will come available to implement a watershed-based study and pilot projects based upon Surfrider recommendations.

County found liable for flood damage

2008-07-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

July 7, 2008 According to the Ventura County Star,
"the county could end up paying millions of dollars to residents after a judge ruled Monday that four projects built by the county diverted high water flows from the Ventura River that slammed onto the bottom of the Monte Vista bluff, causing erosion and damaging houses...The lawsuit, triggered after a January 2005 storm, was filed by 28 plaintiffs who reside in 13 houses on the bluff in Oak View."

Studies done for the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project identified this reach of the river as a problem area. See Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Sediment Studies for the Meiners Oaks and Live Oak Levees - DRAFT Report (July 2007). The Matilija Dam project will widen the Santa Ana bridge and reconstruct the levee, which was also damaged in 2005 storms.

These flood maps clearly show the constriction in the river's floodplain formed by the Live Oak Levee and the 'pinch point' at the Santa Ana Rd bridge. The lawsuit alleges that the combination of four projects caused erosion of the toe of the bluff across from the levee. From 1974 to 2000 the county has constructed the Santa Ana Boulevard bridge, the riprap/levee that protected Live Oaks Acres, a riverside dike and the 2000 Live Oak Creek diversion project. In 2005, Watershed Protection District constructed rock 'vanes' to deflect flows away from the bluff. And surely more engineering is in the future.

This case clearly illustrates the 'no-win' situation when trying to control a river within its floodplain. The resulting cascade of public works projects are an ever increased burden on the taxpayer, both in construction/maintenance and damage claims. Costs escalate even further as government agencies squabble over degraded water quality and loss of habitat as dictated by the federal Endangered Species and Clean Water laws.

Opinion Page: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jul/14/ob7fclet14-fc/

Related: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jul/06/neglecting-our-levees/

Matilija Dam - Arundo project Public Meeting #2

2008-07-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday July 1, 2008 - 7pm

Around 20 people showed up at the Chaparral Auditorium in Ojai to hear the latest on the Arundo eradication efforts in the Ventura River watershed. This first on-the-ground action in preparation for the removal of Matilija Dam has caused some concern among local residents, who had numerous questions about the safety of herbicide application. County staff said that they have used approximately 1200 lbs of glyphosate per month since last September. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the common weed killer 'Roundup.') According to the County, none of the water sampling during the spraying has detected any of the chemical. Some commented that the chemical may be toxic at levels below the laboratory threshold, and others said that they had felt ill from exposure to overspray.

The presentation included aerial photos that showed the historic spread of invasive Arundo in Matilija Canyon. Illustrations posted inside the auditorium displayed the areas that have been treated. The 'best management practices' for herbicide application were described, which include maintaining a buffer zone away from from water, residences, and orchards. The complete project plan is here: http://matilijadam.org/reports.htm

As this photo illustrates, the giant reed often resprouts from the roots after initial treatment. The project managers also outlined a schedule for 're-treatment' of the 1100 acre project area. Followup crews will scour the canyon and treat resprouts quarterly for the next 5 years, after which, hopefully, there will be very little Arundo donax remaining. Without diligent followup, all that herbicide would be for nought.

The photos below illustrate the progress - wow, there's a creek up there!

Sea Level Awareness Project - Ventura

2008-07-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Last week a group of middle school kids led by Alec Loorz installed several signs along the promenade in Ventura. Part of a project called Sea Level Awareness Project (SLAP), the signs mark a sea level 23 feet above the current height, with "You will be UNDERWATER here." The signs also list local infrastructure that will be underwater: Mandalay Power Station, 101 Freeway, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pierpont Community, and the Pier.

Their intent is to "wake up Ventura to the danger of sea level rise." What will the state of our coast be when 12 million gallons of sewage a day are discharged untreated into the ocean, and the seawalls that protect the freeway are submerged? Who is really thinking about this and planning ahead?

Kudo's to Alec and his friends who are doing their part to raise the alarm!

Surfrider's projects are one step in the right direction: we need to develop integrated coastal and watershed management to formulate sustainable solutions for the future in the context of climate change.

Matilija Dam - slurry disposal alternatives

2008-06-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Slurry Disposal to undergo Alternatives Analysis and CEQA review

Over the past few months, the Matilija Coalition, CalTrout, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, and CA Dept of Fish and Game have all expressed concerns about the Slurry Disposal component of the Matilija Dam project. This issue was summarized here: http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2008/05/moda-its-back.html

It seems our collective voice has been heard. Firstly, the $4.5M Coastal Conservancy grant funding approved on June 5 does not include money that was intended for acquisition of an easement or right to deposit the silt on property adjacent to the Ventura River Preserve. (This grant will fund acquisition of floodplain property below the dam and design for Camino Cielo and Santa Ana bridges.) Secondly, there will now be a comprehensive alternatives analysis and CEQA review of all the sites outlined in the Feasibility Report. This comes in response to our concerns that adequate review had not been completed to make a final decision for land acquisition for the slurry disposal. The Corps of Engineers has hired a consultant to perform this review and CEQA document.

Surfers' Point - Funding 2008

2008-06-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

On June 5th the California Coastal Conservancy dedicated $1.5 million to the Surfers' Point Managed Retreat Project. This makes for a total so far of $3,172,500 for project construction. Originally scheduled for construction beginning October 2008, the project is awaiting additional funding for construction to begin in the fall of 2009.

PROJECT FINANCING: (2008)

Coastal Conservancy $1,500,000

Fed SAFETEA-LU $1,500,000

City of Ventura $172,500

OPC (requested) $500,000

Other sources TBD $3,383,500

Total Project Cost $7,056,000

On June 20, 2008, the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation held a big event for International Surfing Day. The focus of the event was a beach cleanup at 'the Point' in recognition of the urgent need to raise over $3M for project construction. See recent story in the Ventura County Star. According to the article 'Some have suggested trying to find an angel donor or auctioning naming rights to help offset the gap.'

MODA - It's back!

2008-05-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

ISSUE: Slurry Disposal Site(s) for the Matilija Dam project

2 million cubic yards of fine sediments from Matilija reservoir are to be removed by slurry pipeline and deposited within the floodplain downstream. It was intended that these disposal sites would be temporary and would erode downstream into the ocean during future floods.

These sites were selected and presented to the public as the preferred alternative in the Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Report. This was an alternative approach to the plan originally proposed by the Corps of Engineers to deposit the fines below the trailhead to the recently acquired Ventura River Preserve. After months of rumors, this 'Plan A' has been reborn as MODA - Meiners Oaks Disposal Area. Originally estimated to be 90 acres, 15 feet deep, this has been reduced to 70 acres, over 20 feet deep. The Corps of Engineers cites cost savings of $5M as the reason for reverting back to this alternative.

This is a fundamental change from the several smaller temporary disposal sites presented in the Feasibility Report, to a single more permanent site. This site would require careful design and restoration to ensure revegetation, prevent flooding from upland tributaries, and integrate with the Meiners Oaks levee design. This site also has significant impacts to recreation, since it is below the primary trailhead for the Ventura River/El Nido Preserve, one of the only highly utilized public access points within the entire watershed.

What is a Watershed? - Ojai Green Coalition presentation

2008-05-23T08:27:00.001-07:00

On Thursday evening, May 22, over 40 people attended the "What is a Watershed?" presentation in Ojai to learn about where our water comes from and how the health of the river is affected by our lifestyles and land use.

The presentation included discussion of Ecosystem-based management for the Ventura River, Water Supply, Land Use, Water Quality, Integrated Solutions, and What You Can Do.

Although most Ojai residents have some idea of where their water comes from, this presentation is intended to enhance community awareness of the interactions between land use and water quantity and quality. Hopefully those who attended will have a better understanding of the interconnections between everything we do on a daily basis and the health of the river and watershed.

Surfers Point restoration - funding update

2008-05-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Final Design for the Surfers' Point Managed Retreat Project in Ventura, CA is almost complete, and construction could potentially begin in Fall 2008. Fundraising for construction is underway, but we are still looking at a $3.4 million shortfall. There may be opportunities to phase the project. Summary of the current status is below:

PROJECT FINANCING: (2008)
Coastal Conservancy (pending) $1,500,000
Fed SAFETEA-LU $1,500,000
City of Ventura $172,500
OPC (pending) $500,000
Other sources TBD $3,383,500
Total Project Cost $7,056,000

Coastal Conservancy June 5th meeting - funding request for $1.5M for Surfers Point project

Ventura City Council June 9th meeting - approval of the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Fair Board for the operations and maintenance of the project. According to city staff there were no concerns with the latest minor changes requested by the Fair Board. The MOU is in line with the deal points approved by the City Council in April 2007. City of Ventura will also be amending the project EIR and Coastal Development Permit to allow the City to begin bringing recycled asphalt from road work to the Fairground to begin covering up the dirt parking area as requested by the Fair Board in the MOU.

Ocean Protection Council meeting September 11 - Bay Area

more information at www.surferspoint.org

Ventura River Rats and Tortilla Flats mural

2008-05-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

The "Tortilla Flats" mural is almost completed under the Hwy 101 bridge on Figueroa St in Ventura. Tortilla Flats is the name of the neighborhood that once existed by the fairgrounds and river - it was removed through emminent domain when the freeway went in 1969...

My favorite is this image of the Ventura River Rats. This video gives some of the history...

The "Tortilla Flats Archives" includes interviews from over 25 oral history subjects. Quotes from those 'old timers' include: "I don't know who tagged us, but we were 'River Rats' if we swam in the Ventura River... I got beautiful childhood memories of the Ventura River, the fairgrounds, Seaside Park... we used to go surf fishing at the foot of Figueroa... we looked forward to getting out of school to go to the river, and we'd be there for hours and hours..."

The freeway and levee changed things forever...

There will be a dedication ceremony and celebration for the Tortilla Flats mural from 11am to 2pm on May 31st, 2008

Land Conservancy hosts Matilija Dam lecture and tour

2008-04-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to show people around and explain the complex project to remove Matilija Dam. This past weekend the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy hosted an evening presentation and morning field tour...

(video courtesy of Rich Reid)

Friday, April 25th at 7pm Healthy River, Healthy Community - Part I
Presentation by: Paul Jenkin of the Matilija Coalition, Nica Katherine Nite, Cal Trout Program Manager
The river runs through us, has so much to teach us as well. Learn more about the Ventura River watershed, including the Matilija Dam removal; steelhead trout in the Ventura River; how the OVLC is working to enhance the health of the Ventura River and how property owners on the river can help protect the river and their property.

Saturday, April 26th from 9am till noon Healthy River, Healthy Community - Part II
Vehicle tour : Take driving tour with Stevie Adams, OVLC restoration project manager, including stops at the Matilija Dam, the arundo removal project, and the OVLC’s Ventura River restoration projects. Meet at the Riverview trailhead of the VRP on Rice Road.

Surfrider Staff Meeting and Open House

2008-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

April 22-24, 2008

Surfrider Foundation all-staff meeting included summary presentations from all the headquarters and field staff. Apart from getting a "heads up" on what's going on around the country, we did all get to spend some "quality time" at the beach (although the surf could have been better)

On April 24, I watched as the finishing touches to the new office's entry was installed, just before the first guests arrived to tour the LEED-certified "green" building.

Ventura LID Workshop "sells out"

2008-04-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Monday April 21 - Perhaps it was well advertised, or a timely topic, but over 190 people registered for the first large-scale Low Impact Development workshop in Ventura. Over 80% of the attendees were staff from local government agencies.

The agenda included a welcome from Brian Brennan, City of Ventura followed by:

Resource-Based Land Use Planning
The big picture: Linking land use to water quality, and how LID can help improve the health of our watersheds. - Jack Gregg, California Coastal Commission, Water Quality Unit

Low Impact Development – the How's and the Why's
Implementation of soil-based LID systems in stormwater management, and effect on flooding, in-stream erosion, maintaining the water balance, and pollutant removal.
- Timothy Lawrence, Center for Water and Land Use, UC Davis Extension
see presentation here: http://mapucde.ucdavis.edu/sheet/ReRain2.html

LID Retrofit of Existing Infrastructure
Taking a watershed approach to LID retrofit, using the San Jon Barranca as a model
- Paul Jenkin, Surfrider Foundation

A Perspective on Regulatory Approaches to LID in Southern California
History, evolution, and future directions for LID in the Southern California region.
- Xavier Swamikannu, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board

Sustainable Urbanism – Watershed-based Planning Strategies for Ventura County
Combining green infrastructure and community design to protect water resources.
- Clark Anderson, Local Government Commission

Afternoon sessions presented pervious paving technologies for infiltrating stormwater in parking lots and other paved areas.

All of the powerpoint presentations may be downloaded from the web here

Hopefully this information will sink in and become a part of land use planning in Ventura County.

Ojai Quarry April 2008

2008-04-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

Got lots of calls on this one. Landmark bedrock boulder jackhammered out, legacy sycamore torn up and shredded on site... all on scenic highway 33, and the last real trout steam in the watershed.

Ocean Friendly Garden on Midtown Ventura Tour

2008-04-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 19, 2008: This year's Ventura Earth Day event included an Expo at the City Lot on Sanjon Road and a Green Home and Garden Tour sponsored by the Midtown Community Council. The Expo included a large array of educational and environmental groups to explain simple and more complex steps you might want to consider to help you be a better steward of this little planet of ours. Surfrider Ventura Chapter representatives hosted a table at the Expo with information about the work we have been doing for the past 16 years.

The Midtown Green Home and Garden Tour allowed residents to see what their neighbors have already done in their homes and gardens. The Surfrider Foundation presented an "Ocean Friendly Garden" example to demonstrate the concepts of "CPR: Conservation, Permeability, and Retention." Throughout the day over 100 people visited the garden.

The home tour included a printed guide book with descriptions of the environmental aspects of the dozen homes. This page was published in the guide to provide an overview of the "Ocean Friendly" concept.

DNA and social networks

2008-03-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

In 2005 I visited Japan as a 'dam removal ambassador' to transmit knowledge gained from the Matilija Dam project. My gracious hosts from River Policy Network provided many opportunities to meet others and speak about ecosystem restoration.

Toward the end of the trip, one of my new friends said he had a gift for me. But first he had to explain. Since I understand no Japanese whatsoever, and his English is limited, he started drawing on a napkin. After much hand waving I recognized his sketch as a virus, and understood him to be describing viral replication, which involves synthesis of viral DNA. Hmmmm.

He then handed me this. He went on to tell me that on his trip to Matilija Dam the previous year he had collected a piece of concrete from the crumbling structure. The 'virus' in the test tube was created using this 'DNA.' Recognizing Matilija Dam to be one of the world's first large dam removal efforts, he has made many of these to present to each of the dam removal activists he encounters.

WOW. Dam removal DNA. A disease? Or an idea to be replicated?

Social scientists have developed tools to describe this. A social network map shows the connections that exist between people and/or organizations (nodes.) Network maps are a way of making visible and understanding relationships that are often otherwise invisible. The maps can show important features of the network that can be acted upon to leverage the network to produce better outcomes in the community.

At a West Coast Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) Network meeting this year, a social network diagram was presented based upon an on-line survey that each participant had completed. Looking at the beginnings of a social network model for EBM I could envision my connections within the small community of awareness that is evolving within the Ventura River watershed, and the growing network of links that literally reach around the world.

Jim Moriarty often speaks of DNA. And this idea was wonderfully communicated in What the BLEEP Do We Know

Here's one way of viewing it: as each of us 'infects' others with this 'DNA' we begin to build a critical mass. This increase in social awareness is the bare minimum that will be required to implement real-world changes to restore the global ecosystems upon which we depend for survival.

As my gift from Japan demonstrates, despite cultural and language barriers, our DNA, our social network, reaches around the globe.

Human impacts and Ecosystem-based management

2008-03-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Map detailing human's impact on the ocean reveals surprising data:

The March 22 article in the Ventura County Star summarizes a recent report that analysed human impacts on the world ocean. Turns out, there's not much we are not impacting, perhaps only 4%. And looking at the maps it is evident that human impacts are most intense in areas of high population density and industrial activity, including fishing.

In 2005, the Joint Ocean Commission formally recognized the broad extent of human impact on the ocean, and made recommendations for the United States to take leadership action on the ocean crisis. The fundamental message is that current policy and governance is not working, and we need to adopt an Ecosystem-based approach to management decisions at every level of our society.

Meanwhile, local folks around the world are working at the community level to implement change. It is clear that those who use and enjoy the ocean, its diversity of life, and the wilderness that begins at the shoreline, are willing to dedicate their time and energy. Surfrider Foundation activists embody this spirit, and are getting organized on the west coast.

With programs in Washington, Oregon, and California, we have been working to develop community-led examples of Ecosystem-based Management. Each of these projects is very different, ranging from marine/fisheries management to watershed restoration.

In Ventura, CA, our program includes coastal restoration, large dam removal, watershed management, and urban renewal. We recognize that each of these programs is integrally connected to the other, and the health of the oceans and our community depends upon finding solutions to undo past mistakes and create a sustainable future. We invite everyone to get involved in their watershed through our events and programs.

Dam Removal at SRF 2008

2008-03-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

On March 5-8, 2008, the Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) hosted their annual meeting in Lodi, California. This years conference included talks about the central valley of California, where water diversions have left many once-great rivers bone dry, and the once-vast wetlands of the San Francisco Bay-Delta are on the brink of ecological collapse. Most of the dams here are destined to stay in place for the forseeable future, and complex work-arounds are being considered to restore water where there is none, without removing the existing infrastructure.

As a speaker in the dam removal panel, however, I felt privileged to learn of the latest developments on the cutting edge of a new era in river restoration. To anyone who has played with water as a kid (or adult), there is nothing more alluring than the concept of removing a dam. Large or small, it's something we can all relate to - a river is either free-flowing or it's not. But the actual transition from a river blocked by a dam and decades worth of sediment, to one that runs free, is a technical and scientific frontier. This has been done only a handful of times, and at relatively small scales.

The crux of the issue in removing a dam is not concrete demolition. It's sediment management. The nature of that sediment, and more importantly how we have treated the river downstream, dictate how a dam may be removed.

MECHANICAL TRANSPORT: If the material trapped behind a dam is contaminated, in the case of a mine for instance, it may not be released downstream, but rather must be removed by mechanical means. Think trucks. Lots of trucks, or perhaps a conveyor.

STABILIZE IN PLACE: In cases where development has encroached on the downstream floodplain, and mechanical transport may be cost prohibitive or infeasible due to the sheer volume, or lack of roads, creating a channel and stabilizing the sediment upstream may make sense.

NATURAL TRANSPORT is the method that really tweaks the imagination. "Blow and Go" makes sense when there is no downstream risk, but until recently this has not been done on a very large scale.

The panel of experts presented cases in which each of these methods has been used, or is being planned. But the highlight of the discussion at SRF was a presentation by Gordon Grant on Marmot Dam. Last October, this 50 foot dam on the Sandy River in Oregon was removed. A coffer dam was placed upstream to temporarily divert the river while the concrete was being blasted, then the river was allowed to do the work.

Watch and learn.

No one predicted the power of the river to restore itself. Flowing water arranged the sediment nicely downstream, and fish returned almost immediately to the Sandy River. See the documentary and more videos here

Ocean Protection Council watershed tour

2008-03-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

On Thursday February 28, 2008, the California Ocean Protection Council toured the Ventura River Watershed. The tour began at the Ventura County Government Center where the Watershed Protection District gave a short presentation describing the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration project. The council members were then treated to a helicopter flight over the watershed, offering aerial views of the river and Matilija Dam. Vans transported other participants to the dam, where short presentations were given over a picnic lunch. Matilija Dam is slated for removal in 2013, and the project has been endorsed by the Ocean Protection Council and largely funded by the California Coastal Conservancy. The tour gave an opportunity for these policy makers to experience the dam and river for themselves.

The next stop was the beach at the mouth of the river, where Ventura City Councilman Brian Brennan gave an overview of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat project. The final design for this project is almost complete, and with funding construction could begin this year.

Finally, the group took a look at the Sanjon outfall at San Buenaventura State Beach. This site has been identified as an impairment to coastal water quality, a problem that we believe can be solved. Surfrider's proposal for wetlands and urban watershed restoration at this site was met with great interest, as it provides an integrated approach to stormwater management.

Tour participants were also invited to an after-hours reception at Jonathan's in downtown Ventura. We hope our guests learned the reasons we love this area, and why we are dedicated to protecting and restoring our coast and watershed.

Ojai Valley Green Coalition - Watershed Committee

2008-02-08T07:45:00.001-08:00

The mission of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition is to bring together community organizations, government, schools, businesses, and people of all ages to make the Ojai Valley a model green and sustainable community.

Formed in 2007, motivated by Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, the OVGC has organized committees to work as a community toward a sustainable future. These include

The watershed committee was originally called the "Water and Land Use" committee, but after several meetings the consensus was to rename it according to the primary goal of enhancing the awareness of the interconnectivity of everything within the "drainage basin" that defines the Ventura River WATERSHED.

OVGC WATERSHED COMMITTEE Mission Statement:

... to balance and integrate people and living systems through a healthy sustainable watershed.

As the committee gets organized, initial goals and project ideas include the following:

Education and Information Projects :
(Our target audiences will be the general public, policy makers and schools.)

a) Present an evening program to educate the coalition about the watershed
b) Develop a document about the watershed to include a vision for the watershed
c) Get existing videos about the watershed on local cable
d) Compile and distribute BASIC Water Conservation information

Policy issues:

a) Draft ideas to present to Ojai City Council – i.e. IMPLEMENT Magney Urban Creeks Plan
b) Draft ideas for the Ventura River Watershed Council
c) Stakeholder Watershed Plan

Direct action:

a) Create Watershed Map – put on internet – Google Maps(?)
b) Install Watershed signs when one enters the area or to identify waterways in the area
c) Support policies of Ojai Trees, regenerating the urban forest through citizen action
d) Create a watershed website
e) Promote legislation to outlaw invasive plants like Arundo
f) Demonstrate the use of swales and private ocean friendly/drought-tolerant gardens in Ojai
g) Presentations to homeowners groups/institutions

To get involved, Watershed Committee meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at either the Chaparral Auditorium or Ojai School District Board Room. Check the OVGC website for upcoming dates: Ojai Valley Green Coalition

Steelhead take advantage of wet winter

2008-02-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Steelhead in the news...

more info here: http://ojaivalleynews.blogspot.com/2008/02/three-steelhead-seen-climbing-fish.html

This is the press release from Casitas Water District:

Endangered Steelhead Swim Up Casitas’ Fish Ladder

February 1, 2008 - Recent rains have enticed endangered steelhead trout to make a spawning run up the Ventura River. On Thursday January 31, 2008 the first adult steelhead of the year was detected by new camera’s installed at Casitas’ Robles Fish Passage Facility, a fish ladder completed in December of 2004 to allow steelhead to swim upstream on the Ventura River.

Scott Lewis, Casitas’ Fisheries Biologist, said, “Preliminary results indicate the first adult steelhead swam past our fish counter at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. The fish was estimated to be about 21 inches long.” Lewis determined that this fish is likely a steelhead by reviewing photos taken of the fish, as it passed through the Robles Fish Passage Facility, and comparing characteristics known to be associated with adult steelhead. “This is exciting news that we have been able to identify steelhead utilizing our fish ladder,” stated Lewis. A second adult steelhead was spotted at 2:45 a.m. this Friday and was estimated to be approximately 25 inches long. Casitas will continuously be monitoring the fish passage for any additional steelhead migration occurring on the Ventura River. A 13-inch rainbow trout was also recorded at about 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning.

Steelhead are rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean to grow much larger from abundant ocean food sources and return to freshwater to spawn. After spending one to two years in freshwater, the juvenile fish migrate downstream to the ocean were they spend 1-2 years growing to adults. The rainbow trout, on the other hand, will spend their entire lives in fresh water and spawn when they become adults.

This video is from 2005 and shows how the Vaki Riverwatcher fish counter detects migrating adults. The scale in the background is used to approximate the size of any fish passing through.

This is an aerial view of the diversion dam and fish passage facility following the high flows of the 2005 storms. Robles diverts water into Lake Casitas from the Ventura River when enough flow is present. Historically, the facility also diverted steelhead smolt into the lake, while blocking upstream migration of adult fish. The fish passage facility was designed to solve these problems by screening diverted water and providing an artificial "ladder" over the diversion dam. Migrating fish can now swim upstream as far as Matilija Dam and the Ojai Quarry.

The diagram below was published by Casitas Water District while the facility was being constructed in 2003, and includes a description of the steelhead lifecycle and diversion operations. More information from the water district is available here. And more news here: http://ojaivalleynews.blogspot.com/2008/02/three-steelhead-seen-climbing-fish.html

Urban Watershed Planning - Ventura CA

2008-01-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt from our document, "Solving the Urban Runoff Problem: A Vision for the Urban Watershed - Ventura, California"

Over the past year, the Surfrider Foundation has been working on developing a vision for solving the urban runoff problem in the city of Ventura. We have used GIS to map the existing storm drain infrastructure and analyze aerial photos to identify potential opportunities within the watershed. Following site visits, we identified several areas in this subwatershed with potential for stormwater projects.

This image shows opportunities for "low impact development" (LID) retrofit within the Sanjon drainage. First, there are several large parking areas (purple) that connect directly to the storm drain system. LID retrofit of these impervious areas could be achieved, effectively reducing a significant percentage of the urban runoff entering the system.

Secondly, there are two large irrigated recreational areas (green); Cemetery Park and Cabrillo Middle School. In researching projects elsewhere, we found examples that demonstrate the feasibility of using storage cisterns to capture stormwater for later use on landscape irrigation. These open spaces also provide opportunity for constructed bioswales or infiltration trenches, landscaped with either native trees and shrubs, or grassy swales. These may be engineered to provide storage, retention and filtration for a specified design storm capacity, typically a one inch rainfall event.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we have outlined an opportunity for Coastal Wetlands and Urban Creek Restoration within the lower Sanjon drainage. Coastal wetlands serve a well-documented function in the coastal zone. Ecosystem benefits include wildlife and fisheries habitat, as well as water quality enhancement in the final stages before discharge to receiving waters. In the case of Sanjon barranca, this function has been entirely eliminated through concrete infrastructure.

Restoring the historic creeks and wetlands at this site would provide significant benefits. The process of “daylighting” creeks has been achieved elsewhere, and wetland creation and restoration has become a proven means of achieving water quality objectives.

This vision is intended to provide a conceptual starting point for an urban watershed plan. The purpose is to illustrate the many opportunities that exist, and provoke a community dialog on how to achieve the city vision, which states:

Our goal is to be a model for other communities of environmental responsibility, living in balance with our natural setting of coastline, rivers, and hillside ecosystems.
- City of Ventura General Plan 2005

Matilija Dam in the News

2008-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

News story from March 2007

Ventura River Stream Team

2008-01-25T07:56:00.000-08:00

Every month since January 2001, volunteers have taken the time to visit designated monitoring sites within the Ventura River watershed to collect important water quality information. This successful program is the joint effort of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. The data is used by State and local government agencies as part of an ongoing effort to identify and solve water quality problems in the watershed.

Why Stream Team? Watch this video to learn more.

Below is a summary of what we've found. All seven years of data is available on the web at www.stream-team.org Our events are the first Saturday of each month - get involved!

Restoring Urban Watersheds

2008-01-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

It seems one of the toughest hurdles in organizing watershed restoration efforts is identifying the goals and types of projects that need to be done. Many initiatives seem to get bogged down by the sheer volume of issues and differing perspectives, making it hard to organize and prioritize goals and objectives.

The Center for Watershed Protection recently announced that it is making its first two manuals of the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series available permanently for free
download.

Here are a couple of excepts from Manual 1, An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds, which examines the basic concepts and techniques of urban watershed restoration, and sets forth the overall framework used to evaluate subwatershed restoration potential.

This is a good starting point for anyone interested in working to protect and restore the ecological integrity of their watershed.