Our partners at Once Upon a Watershed have created an informative video telling the story of the Ventura River.
Once Upon a Watershed provides hands-on local watershed education, restoration and stewardship experience for Kindergarten, 4th, 5th and 6th grade students in the Ventura River Watershed.
The video shown here was created for their program for 6th grade students which focuses on the critically endangered indicator species, Southern Steelhead Trout, and the effects of the Matilija dam on beach erosion and spawning access.
...the presentation on beaches, sediment, and Matilija dam removal starts around 12:20
More info:
Once Upon a Watershed: Telling the Story of Our Watershed Through Exploration, Education, and Stewardship https://www.onceuponawatershed.org
Another dam has been removed in the Pacific Northwest. We have been watching and learning as our partners on the Matilija Dam project demonstrate success on other rivers.
The Middle Fork Nooksack River Fish Passage project is one of several case studies that has been examined as a strategy for modifying the Robles Diversion Dam downstream of Matilija Dam. Diversion dams can be particularly tricky as there is a need to not only pass the increased sediment expected with Matilija Dam removal, but also maintain water diversion and fish passage. In the Nooksack case, this is accomplished by moving water diversion intakes upstream and completely removing the existing diversion dam.
According to the City of Bellingham, the Nooksack River Fish Passage project will restore access to approximately 16 miles of pristine spawning and rearing habitat in the upper Middle Fork for three Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Puget Sound fish species: spring Chinook salmon, Steelhead and Bull Trout. Project elements and related benefits include moving the point of diversion just upstream of the existing location to eliminate the need for the dam; dam removal and channel restoration to restore habitat connectivity; and installation of fully compliant fish screens for fish protection.
Paul Jenkin is the Ventura Campaign Coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation, and founder of the Matilija Coalition. The Surfrider Foundation is an international environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world’s waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research, and education (CARE).
Since 1994, Paul has worked to restore the coast and watershed where he lives, in Ventura, California.
