County ID: Ventura County

Ventura River Parkway Land Acquisitions and Community-Assisted Stewardship Planning

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This project facilitated the transfer of ownership of key wetland/riparian habitat within the Ventura River Parkway Plan area to the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy from willing private landowners, including acquisition costs, the development of restoration plans, and the implementation of community-assisted biological surveys, site clean-ups, and nature activities–partnering with local students, volunteers and resource professionals.

Ventura Harbor Community

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The project conducted non-native plant removal at wastewater treatment ponds located adjacent to the Santa Clara River Estuary to enhance habitat and promote community stewardship.

Ojai Creek Riparian Habitat

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The Ojai Valley Green Coalition eradicated non-native plants and restored the riparian ecosystem of the Ojai Creek riparian corridor within Libbey Park in Ojai, California. This project aimed to complement and complete a number of previous efforts to restore aspects of the Ojai Creek with a more thorough and self sustaining restoration within Libbey Park. … Continued

Carpinteria Salt Marsh Transitional Habitat

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This project 1) engaged diverse local communities in Salt Marsh restoration and maintenance through restoration days, educational field trips, advertisements, electronic media, and mailings; and 2) restored disparate patches of upland and transitional-to-upland vegetation communities, totaling 2 acres, through continued removal of invasives and installation of natives (infill planting).

Once Upon a Watershed

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This project targeted 4th, 5th and 6th graders for a watershed scale education and restoration program. Students learned about restoration and stewardship of local wetland and riparian habitat participated in a variety of on-the-ground (hands-on) restoration activities such as native planting, invasive plant removal and creek, estuary and beach cleanups within the Ventura River watershed.

Carpinteria Creek Mouth

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The project improved wetland habitat by increasing ecological diversity for native species by removing invasive non-native flora species and installing native flora along the banks at the mouth of Carpinteria Creek on State Parks property through the use volunteers.

Grimes Canyon Stream Restoration Project

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This project completed a stream bank stabilization and revegetation project in Grimes Canyon, a tributary to the Santa Clara River. The Santa Clara River is the largest river system in Southern California remaining in a relatively natural state. The Santa Clara River flows in a westerly direction for approximately 84 miles through Tie Canyon, Aliso … Continued

Ormond Beach Edison Acquisition

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This project acquired the privately owned portions of the Ormond Beach wetlands. In June 2002, the Coastal Conservancy acquired 265 acres formerly owned by Southern California Edison. In June 2006, the Nature Conservancy completed purchase of 275 acres from Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Future acquisition of 210 to 340 acres of adjacent agriculture property is … Continued

Hedrick Ranch Nature Area Restoration Project

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This project completed restoration and enhancement activities on the Hedrick Ranch, a 223-acre riparian preserve along the Santa Clara River. Approximately 94 acres of the site lies in the upper floodplain terrace and the balance of 129 acres lies in the river channel active over the past 10 years. The project implemented the recommendations of … Continued

Ventura River Arundo Removal Project

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This project removed invasive Arundo donax from a 5-acre parcel adjacent to the Ventura River and revegetated the acreage with native riparian species. Giant cane (Arundo donax), has displaced native riparian vegetation critical for wildlife habitat. Many special-status wildlife species, including the southern steelhead, occur in the watershed and benefit from the removal of giant … Continued

Matilija Dam Evaluation Project

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This project performed various studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing Matilija Dam on the Ventura River to restore natual water and sediment flows, and provide access to upstream steelhead trout habitat. Matilija Dam is responsible for a variety of adverse effects on stream ecology and wildlife. The sediment trapped by the dam has deprived … Continued

Matilija Dam Removal Feasibility Study

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This project prepared a feasibility study for removal of Matilija Dam on the Ventura River. Since a dam of this type and size has never before been decommissioned, many areas of study are required to ensure success. The first step is to establish a “baseline”, a detailed description of currently existing conditions in the watershed. … Continued