https://caltrout.org/campaigns/matilija-dam |
Our friends at CalTrout have released a campaign to highlight the Top 5 California Dams to be taken out, including Matilija Dam "Infamous for the scissors painted on the dam by graffiti artists in 2011 that have become an iconic symbol for dam removal"
"In the 2022 Top 5 Dams Out report, CalTrout has identified 5 dams that are ripe for removal. The selection of these dams was informed by the review of past scientific studies, understanding of their impact on salmon and steelhead, awareness of their regulatory context, and sustained engagement with the communities in which of the dams are located. By strategically pursuing opportunities for dam removal where economic, social, and environmental interests strongly align, CalTrout offers a model for restoring the health of the state’s rivers for the benefit of fish and people."
Visit the Dams Out StoryMap for more information.
American Rivers is also rooting for dam removal nationwide, and includes Matilija Dam in their list of 25 Dams to Watch in 2022:
Both of these organizations are partners in the Matilija Coalition, an alliance of community groups, businesses, and individuals committed to the environmental restoration of the Ventura River watershed. Starting with the removal of Matilija Dam, we are working for the recovery of the bioregion to benefit the recovery of the Southern Steelhead trout and to restore the natural sediment supply to the beaches of Ventura.