Friday, April 28, 2017

Coastal Trail Award



Recognition for the Surfers' Point Managed Retreat Project at last week's California State Parks annual Trails and Greenways Conference.




Thursday, April 27, 2017

Matilija Dam Funding Plan


In March 2016, the Matilija Dam Design Oversight Group (DOG) reached consensus on an approach to dam removal that provides a cost-effective solution to sediment management.  Following this consensus, the Matilija Funding Subcommittee was formed with volunteers representing various stakeholder groups.  The Subcommittee has focused on developing a Funding Plan, while simultaneously pursuing funding opportunities for the Project.

This year, the VCWPD, with support from the Matilija Funding Subcommittee, has secured a $3.3 million California Department of Fish and Wildlife Proposition 1 Grant. This funding will advance the Project to the 65% design phase and complete the environmental and permitting requirements over the next 3 years.

The Funding Plan was developed to provide an overview of possible funding sources for the remaining design, permitting, and construction of the Project.  Cost estimates were developed based on an analysis of the project timeline and costs of the various project components.  The document may be downloaded here: Matilija Dam Removal and Ecosystem Restoration Funding Plan April 2017






The shorter timeline assumes sufficient funding is available to construct all downstream project components simultaneously, during 2021-2022, with dam removal complete by the end of 2024. This “best case scenario” also assumes no waiting period for dam removal following construction of orifices in the face of the dam (i.e., the required high storm event would occur immediately following the construction of the orifices). The longer timeline assumes the same planning schedule, but with sequential, not concurrent, construction of downstream infrastructure and includes a three-year waiting period for dam removal. In this case the dam is not removed until 2031, a 15-year project.




Total cost estimates shown were developed for "2017 dollars" as well as an escalated figure that includes inflation, and projected construction and management cost increases.  The proposed “Uncontrolled Orifices with Optional Gates” alternative project ($111M in 2017 dollars) is a more economically feasible and expeditious project than the congressionally authorized Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Alternative 4b project ($205.8M in 2017 dollars) that was previously contemplated for the Project.

These preliminary estimates also indicate that the overall cost of removing Matilija Dam will increase over time, and that a longer timeline will be subject to both inflation and increased program management costs. Therefore, there is an advantage to completing the project on a shorter timeline, although this would of course be dependent on the availability of funds.  Strong support from state agencies, (and unlikely federal appropriations to the original ACOE Project plan), provides a path forward for the less expensive local plan in a timely manner.


The report outlines a diverse array of current and potential state, federal, local, and private funding opportunities are potentially available to fully implement the project.  Moving quickly to access the immediately available funding options presented in this plan (particularly CDFW and Coastal Conservancy Prop 1 funding), leads to substantial cost savings over time. But, it’s also important to note that this approach brings the Project to a level of readiness for possible benefit from one of the evolving legislative opportunities. This includes a state water bond or local tax measure pass with provisions favorable to implementation of Project components. However, the County may only be able to apply for and access funding if preliminary design work and downstream components are complete. Having a “shovel ready” project is critical to take advantage of existing state funding and evolving legislative opportunities. If successful, this strategy will not only lead to dam removal sooner, but significantly reduce the overall cost of the Project.


Reference:

Matilija Dam Removal and Ecosystem Restoration Funding Plan April 2017



Thursday, April 20, 2017

Matilija Coalition receives award

Matilija Coalition Earth Day Award
L to R: Matt Stoecker, Diane Underhill, Kathy Bremer, Paul Jenkin, Supervisor Steve Bennett,
Hans Cole, and Candice Meneghin
 April 18, 2017: the Ventura County Board of Supervisors recognized the Matilija Coalition for "Excellence in Environmental Stewardship" as part of their Earth Day awards.




The Matilija Coalition is an alliance of community groups, businesses, and individuals committed to the environmental restoration of the Ventura River watershed. Since 2000, the Matilija Coalition has worked to achieve the following vision: a free-flowing Ventura River from the mountains to the sea; a thriving population of steelhead trout in its waters; a healthy, native ecosystem; a wide, sandy beach along the coast; and opportunities for public enjoyment, education, and recreation for current and future generations.

The Matilija Coalition and its members have played an integral role in the multiagency Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project, and the Matilija Coalition steadfastly advocates for an ecologically sensitive, cost effective, and timely removal of Matilija Dam. The Coalition has maintained an active role in the various technical working groups and, through many years of this work, helped achieve the 2016 consensus decision reached by stakeholder agencies around a preferred dam removal alternative. Since spring 2016, members of the Coalition have helped lead the effort to identify sources of funding for the Matilija project, and have been instrumental in seeing state and private funders commit to supporting the next phase of the project through California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Prop 1 Watershed Restoration Grants program and the new “Open Rivers Fund”, a project of the Hewlett Foundation and Resources Legacy Fund. 

On a watershed level, the Coalition has helped lead and maintain the Friends of the Ventura River group, which was responsible for development of a Ventura River Parkway vision and trail guide. The trail guide has become a popular resource locally, and is available in both English and Spanish. In 2014 Ventura River Parkway Trail was dedicated as a National Recreation Trail.   The Friends of the Ventura River website includes an archive of relevant technical and historical documents.  



Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Surfers Point stewardship days


Surfrider and the City of Ventura continue to sponsor volunteer work days at Surfers Point.  Spring weeding is an ongoing part of the ongoing dune restoration process.  The two events this year focused once again on the non-native plants "Sea Rocket" and "Ice Plant."

Over 20 volunteers came out for the morning on February 11, with over 50 on April 9.  The timing was perfect, with the opportunity to remove fresh sprouts in February and the remainder before seeds matured in April, so that next year we should see reduced re-sprouting.



Volunteers weeding Sea Rocket (foreground)
BEFORE - non-native Sea Rocket in foredunes (Photo Dave Hubbard)
AFTER - only native plants remain, with room to spread (Photo Dave Hubbard)
 

Careful removal of Sea Rocket amongst native flowering plants

These Cal Lutheran students removed a large growth of Ice Plant near the Ventura River levee