Ojai Quarry Amended Reclamation Plan and Sale

 On October 21, 2021, the Ventura County Planning Commission approved the Reclamation Plan Amendment (RPA; Case Number PL18-0136) prepared for the Ojai Quarry mining facility. This action by the Planning Commission became effective on November 2, 2021, since an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision was not filed within the 10-day appeal period specified by the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance. The decision to approve the RPA constitutes a final administrative action by the County of Ventura on the PL18-0136 application.

According to the Ojai Valley News, the Planning Commission;

approved changes to the plan requested by quarry owner Larry Mosler, and denied the appeal by environmental groups Los Padres ForestWatch, the Environmental Coalition and the Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition. Reclamation of mined lands is necessary to prevent or minimize adverse effects on the environment and to protect the public health and safety, and a plan for the process once mining operations have ceased is required by state law. In 2017, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors authorized mining operations at the quarry to continue until 2046. After operations cease, the site will be returned to open space. On June 25, Ventura County Planning Director Dave Ward approved changes to the quarry’s former plan, which would have required approximately 97,000 cubic yards of material to fill overexcavated areas at the quarry at 15558 Maricopa Highway. Under the amended reclamation plan, the existing ground surface in the overexcavated area will be allowed to constitute part of the final reclaimed surface, largely eliminating the need for backfill. On June 30, the appellants filed an appeal to Ward’s decision citing two grounds of appeal, the first stating the county’s decision was issued in error because ongoing violations of permit conditions exist regarding landscaping and viewshed protections along Highway 33.

 With this final regulatory hurdle removed, the quarry is now up for sale:

https://www.getdigsy.com/listing/1555-maricopa-hwy-ojai-ca-for-sale-454361/

In the news:

 County Planning Commission denies appeal of Ojai Quarry amended reclamation plan

Ojai officials oppose Ojai Quarry reclamation plan change

More:  Ojai Quarry

Reference:

Ojai Quarry Reclamation Plan Amendment - vcrma

Planning Commission meeting recording

Ojai Quarry update

Channelkeeper secured long-term habitat and water quality protections for North Fork Matilija Creek last month, when the Ventura County Planning Division adopted new conditions for the continued operation of the Ojai Quarry. Erosion and rock slides from the steep slopes at the Ojai Quarry have historically impacted critical habitat for endangered steelhead trout in the creek. In 2013, Channelkeeper and the Environmental Defense Center filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that inadequate stormwater management practices at the quarry were violating requirements of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. We reached a settlement in 2014, and the quarry agreed to implement a suite of new features and practices to prevent landslides and minimize erosion and impacts to water quality.

Channelkeeper coordinated extensively with the Ventura County Planning Division to ensure that these measures were incorporated into the quarry's recently updated Conditional Use Permit, so the County itself will now require these measures to protect habitat and water quality for the duration of the quarry's new 30-year permit. Channelkeeper's ongoing monitoring indicates that the new measures are working to protect the creek, and we will continue to monitor their implementation and effectiveness moving forward.

More:

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper - Ojai Quarry

On this blog:

 Ojai Quarry

Ojai Quarry lawsuit filed

According to Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper: 

On September 4, 2013 Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Environmental Defense Center filed a lawsuit in federal court against Gralar LLC, dba Mosler Rock Product, for violations of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act at its Mosler Rock Ojai Quarry.


Over the past several years, Channelkeeper and various regulatory agencies have documented significant pollution problems at the Ojai Quarry.  The Quarry is a 30-acre rock mine located on the banks of the Lower North Fork Matilija Creek, a major tributary of the Ventura River renowned for its pristine, free-flowing waters and excellent habitat for wildlife, including the endangered southern California steelhead trout.  Quarry operations are conducted on steep slopes directly above the creek, causing harmful sediment discharges and periodic landslides and rock fall into the creek.

Ojai Quarry - photo by SBCK

Channelkeeper has attempted to address the water quality and habitat degradation issues at the Ojai Quarry for years through cooperative approaches, including direct dialogue with the facility’s owner and repeated appeals to regulatory agencies for enforcement action.  Despite these efforts, however, the Quarry has failed to implement adequate erosion control and storm water management measures and regulatory agencies have neglected to enforce the law.  Therefore, Channelkeeper decided to team up with the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) to pursue legal citizen enforcement action as a last resort.

On October 31, 2012, Channelkeeper and EDC sent a Notice of Violations and Intent to File Suit against Gralar LLC, dba Mosler Rock Product, and owner/operator Larry Mosler. Our subsequent settlement negotiations with the owner failed to produce an acceptable solution, so Channelkeeper and EDC filed suit against the Ojai Quarry today. Our suit alleges numerous and ongoing violations of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act which pollute the water and degrade habitat for steelhead. Click here for a detailed fact sheet outlining the basis of our suit.

We hope our filing of the lawsuit will finally catalyze effective and enduring action to stop the pollution and habitat degradation caused by the Quarry. We will be re-initiating settlement negotiations with the owner shortly to that end.

More information from ChannelKeeper: http://www.sbck.org/news/channelkeeper-and-edc-file-suit-against-the-ojai-quarry/

In the news:
Pollution Lawsuit Filed Against Ojai Quarry The Santa Barbara ...
Environmental groups sue Ojai Quarry, alleging it pollutes » Ventura ...
Ojai Quarry cleared to operate until 2015 » Ventura County Star

On this blog: http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Ojai%20Quarry

Quarry appeal denied

On Thursday May 23 the Ventura County Planning Commission denied an appeal by Stop the Trucks! 

The question was whether the April 17 decision to approve the Ojai Quarry's Reclamation Plan and expanded operations was made without adequate environmental review.  

The commission heard several hours of testimony reasoning that "a significant change" had occurred since the quarry's original Conditional Use Permit was approved in 1995.  Evidence presented included the ChannelKeeper video illustrating the impact of fine sediment discharge from the quarry on steelhead spawning 'redds' directly downstream of the quarry.  In 1997 the Southern Steelhead was listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Ojai Stop the Trucks also provided an independent review of the quarry's amended Reclamation Plan, stating that the plan is flawed and inaccurate.

The hearing ran from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, at which time the County Planning Commissioners voted 4-1 that  the evidence submitted did not convince them that these impacts are "SIGNIFICANT" under CEQA law.

More info: 

Ventura County Planning Commission:  http://www.ventura.org/rma/planning/MA/pc.html

Blog archive:  Ojai Quarry

Stop the Trucks: http://www.ojaipost.com/tag/stop_the_trucks/

...

Ojai Quarry approved

On April 17, just a few days after an April 12 hearing, the Ventura County Planning Department approved the Ojai Quarry's operations.  This followed months of wrangling over repeated violations of the County's Conditional Use Permit and the State Mining and Reclamation Act.

The renewed permit approves the reclamation plan, expansion of the mining operations to include the use of a rock crusher, and expanded hours of operation.  The 1995 Environmental Impact Report was amended to accommodate these changes, stating that there is no impact to the endangered steelhead due to silt basins that have been installed as mitigation.  The southern steelhead was added to the endangered species list in 1997.

The County received comment letters from Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Casitas Municipal Water District (CMWD), the Environmental Coalition, and Ojai Stop the Trucks! Coalition.

Despite the relatively dry winter, Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper continues to document impacts to North Fork Matilija Creek.  These impacts are clearly illustrated in this video:







In the news:

November 18, 2010
Quarry owner fails to get violations overturned

April 11, 2011
Ojai Quarry owner drops appeal

October 27, 2011:      
County proposes to shut Ojai mine after owner refuses to pay up 

December 13, 2011:  
Mosler quarry heads for showdown before county Planning Commission

December 15, 2011:  
Ventura County Planning Commission delays decision on quarry near Ojai

January 10, 2012:      
State deals business blow to Ojai Quarry

February 20, 2012:  
 Regulators, quarry operator moving toward deal 

February 23, 2012:  
In Ojai, quarry owner expects to be back in business

April 12, 2012:
Ojai Quarry owner presents cleanup plans

More info:  http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Ojai%20Quarry
Stop the Trucks Coalition:  http://www.ojaipost.com/tag/stop_the_trucks/

Ojai Quarry expects to be back in business

At the Febuary 23 Planning Commission Hearing county regulators vowed to get the Ojai Quarry back up and running.  The commission continued the revocation hearing until May 24 while the state conducts its review and county staff tie up loose ends. According to the newspaper, Planning Director Kim Prillhart said "I couldn't be happier with that," and hugged Mosler after the hearing.

The California Office of Mine Reclamation (OMR) stepped in after the Ventura County Planning Commission had decided to wait until Febuary 23, 2012 to make a decision.  Although the County is giving Mosler two months to try to reach a compromise with County planners, the Ojai Quarry was removed from the state list of approved mines.  This put County projects on hold, as Matilija rock destined for Callegus Creek was deemed ineligible for public contract.

Meanwhile, steelhead and water quality continue to be impacted by runoff from the quarry.  Erosion of the steep slope during rain events delivers fine sediment to the creek, which settles out downstream.  During a recent survey, several inches of silt could be seen covering the gravel bottom.  Steelhead spawning 'redds' have been documented in this reach of North Fork Matilija Creek, and the influx of silt can smother eggs and alvein that rely upon the oxygen rich water flowing through the spawning gravel.

Steelhead spawning redd in North Fork Matilija Creek, March 21, 2012

Steelhead eggs,  North Fork Matilija Creek, March 21, 2012 

In the news: 

October 27, 2011:        County proposes to shut Ojai mine after owner refuses to pay up 

December 13, 2011:    Mosler quarry heads for showdown before county Planning Commission 

December 15, 2011:    Ventura County Planning Commission delays decision on quarry near Ojai

January 10, 2012:        State deals business blow to Ojai Quarry

February 20, 2012:     Regulators, quarry operator moving toward deal 

February 23, 2012:    In Ojai, quarry owner expects to be back in business  

More info:  http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Ojai%20Quarry
Stop the Trucks Coalition:  http://www.ojaipost.com/tag/stop_the_trucks/

Ojai Quarry to be shut down

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper has been documenting the impacts of the Ojai Quarry for many years.  Despite the intervention of numerous public agencies, the quarry continues to impact the endangered steelhead trout and  downstream water quality.

Now, according to the VCStar, "Ventura County officials are moving to shut down an Ojai quarry over what they say is the owner's refusal to follow an approved cleanup plan and provide a financial assurance payment that he says would cost close to $3 million."

A public hearing on the Ventura County Planning Department's "Notice of Revocation" of the Mosler Rock Ojai Quarry's Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.) has been postponed to December 15th.

According to the Ojai "Stop the Trucks" coalition, even as the State of California issues a "30 Day Notice to Delist" the Ojai Quarry as an acceptable supplier to government agencies and the Ventura County Planning Department files a "Notice of Revocation" of the quarry's Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.), another County agency, the Ventura County Watershed Protection District continues to not only receive deliveries of rock from the mine for a project in Camarillo, it has allegedly been accepting loads that far, far surpass the C.U.P.'s allowable daily loads. 

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Ojai Quarry was approved by Ventura County in 1995  under a 'statement of overriding considerations.' The document states that although the quarry will have significant environmental impacts, the Ventura County Flood Control District (now the 'Watershed Protection District') needs the rock for 'rip rap' levee construction.  Today the environmental impacts have been realized:


Impact to Scenic Highway - Highway 33 in the Los Padres National Forest is designated as a scenic highway.  The quarry impacts the viewshed along Highway 33, and the bare hillside is now visible for miles down the Ventura River valley.

Impact to Steelhead Trout - the Southern Steelhead was listed in 1997, two years after the EIR was certified.  The quarry sits above North Fork Matilija Creek, which is now critical habitat and the last remnant of headwater habitat for this endangered species.

• Fish Passage: Large boulders block fish passage, and will be an ongoing problem.  The existing creek needs to be restored for fish passage and to stabilize the slope to minimize future impacts.  Because Matilija Dam, Casitas Dam, and agriculture and urbanization block fish passage to the headwaters, N Fork is the only accessible tributary potentially available to the endangered steelhead.  With passage blocked at the quarry, and downstream habitat impacted by the quarry (see water quality below), steelhead viability is limited in the Ventura River.
• Water Quality:  Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper has documented impacts from fine sediment both to water quality during storm events, and to downstream habitat.  Fine sediment smothers spawning gravels, and can prevent fish eggs from hatching and kill fry, smolt, and juvenile steelhead.  

Impact to Water Supply:  Erosion of fine sediment also impacts water supply, as this sediment is diverted at Robles into Casitas Reservoir impacting storage capacity and water quality for municipal supplies.  In a recent news article, The New York Times listed the Mosler Rock Ojai Quarry as one of the top “toxic waters / polluters” in the Ojai Valley as part of a national review of compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Legacy Impact:  These impacts will continue without remediation and restoration of the site.  Without the bond for remediation, who will pay?  Does the taxpayer bear the burden for decades of impact?  

In the news:  http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/27/county-proposes-to-shut-ojai-mine-after-owner-to/

Stop the Trucks: http://www.ojaipost.com/tag/stop_the_trucks/
                           http://www.stoptruck.dalyroad.com/

More on Ojai Quarry: http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Ojai%20Quarry

The hearing before the Ventura County Planning Commission  in support of Ventura County Planning Department’s “Notice of Revocation” of the Mosler Rock Ojai Quarry’s Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.), is now scheduled for 8:30 am on December 15th, at the Government Center on Victoria Avenue in the Chamber of the Board of Supervisor’s on the ground floor.

The hearing is expect to last most of the morning, if not most of the day.  Please attend for at least part of the day to show your support of the move to revoke the quarry’s Conditional Use Permit.  

...

Ojai Quarry in the news

Owner Fails to Get Violations Overturned, Appeals to Supervisors

Quarry owner Larry Mosler lost his bid to get the county Planning Commission to overturn 14 violations assessed against his mine north of Ojai. Voting 4-0 with one commissioner absent, the panel sympathized with Mosler’s struggle to meet layers of federal, state and local rules. But commissioners concurred he was responsible for the violations cited by the county planning staff.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/nov/18/quarry-owner-fails-to-get-violations-overturned/

County planners have cited the Mosler Rock/Ojai Quarry for 14 violations, all of which were upheld Nov. 18 by the Ventura County Planning Commission. Planning Director Kim Prillhart has said she would like to settle as well but that Mosler needs to amend his permit if he wants to operate outside the conditions. A date has not yet been set for the hearing.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/nov/24/owner-of-ojai-quarry-appeals-decision-on-alleged/


Meanwhile, a new 'desilting basin' is being constructed in response to regulatory agencies concerns. A few large boulders were also removed this summer to help alleviate fish passage problems, although barriers exist throughout this reach of the creek. We will have to wait and see if these actions make a difference in water quality and fish passage.



More on this issue: http://www.venturariver.org/search/label/Ojai%20Quarry

Steelhead blocked at Ojai Quarry

Last week we noted the passage of two adult steelhead through the Robles Diversion Fish Passage.

On March 30, 2010, ecologist Matt Stoecker reported Adult Steelhead Below the Ojai Quarry Barriers on the North Fork of Matilija Creek.

These photos and text are excerpts from his report:

Following the recent good news and video of two adult steelhead migrating up the fish ladder at Robles Diversion Dam many local scientists and watershed groups immediately worried about the impacts of the Ojai Quarry migration barriers in the North Fork of Matilija Creek. Near the mouth of the North Fork several boulder jam barriers, caused by the discarding and accumulation of large boulders, occur at the Ojai Quarry.

On March 30, 2010, these concerns were realized as two large sea-run adult steelhead measuring between 22-25 inches in length were observed immediately downstream of the quarry barriers where they appeared to be prevented from being able to migrate into the several miles of excellent habitat upstream. The male had a damaged and dysfunctional right eye and highly scared head that was consistent with multiple unsuccessful jumps at the boulder quarry barrier immediately upstream.These images were taken of the larger (male) steelhead observed. The other, smaller adult immediately hid in a deep undercut and was unable to be photographed.





With a multi-million dollar fish passage facility at the Robles Diversion Dam passing steelhead upstream and Matilija Dam removal at least a few years away, providing effective upstream migration into the North Fork of Matilija Creek is critical. Almost the entire North Fork and several miles of high quality habitat are effectively blocked to steelhead migration by the continued operations and migration barriers at the Ojai Quarry.

Ojai Quarry landslide

Another rockslide in May, 2009.

This is an ongoing impact to the North Fork Matilija Creek.

More here

Silt impacts downstream of quarry

Last year Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper documented the impacts of the Ojai Quarry on the Ventura River. Last week we saw similar runoff, despite attempts by the operator to create silt traps and other "best management practices."

These photos of the creek were taken yesterday at the bridge downstream of the quarry. Although the water is now flowing clear, a thick layer of silt has blanketed the creek bottom.

Smothering the gravel impacts the endangered steelhead trout, as well as the other aquatic species which rely on a healthy river ecosystem.

Ojai Quarry April 2008

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.

Ojai Quarry After January storms

According to news reports, "With 9.51 inches of rain, the Matilija Dam area north of Ojai was the soggiest place in the county." A visit to the Ojai Quarry showed the power of water to move sediment downstream. We have been documenting impacts to the river since a landslide blocked the creek in 2006.



Flows on North Fork Matilija Creek peaked at around 800 cfs (cubic feet per second) on Jan 4th. Although much of the smaller debris from the slide moved downstream, obstacles still remain for migratory steelhead, and future storms will continue to cause further erosion into the stream.

Ojai Quarry Impacts the Ventura River

In March, 2006, rock mining operations at the Ojai Quarry on Highway 33 caused a landslide that blocked the North Fork of Matilija Creek with large boulders and debris. Despite newspaper articles and the involvement of numerous government agencies, the creek remains blocked as yet another winter steelhead migration season begins.






















As these photos show, sediment was pushed down the slope to cover the rock slide. As a result, runoff from the quarry discharges fine sediment into the creek during rain events.




Video shot on December 18, 2007 documents the impacts to the creek. The Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper turbidity meter was out of range downstream (>1100 NTU) , while we recorded average readings of 100NTU directly upstream of the quarry.





This is especially significant considering that in 2006 Casitas Municipal Water District counted 14 adult steelhead trout passing upstream through their new $8 million fish ladder. The fish ladder was constructed in 2004 to allow the endangered trout access to their upstream spawning grounds. Unfortunately, all this effort and expense appears to have been in vain, at least as one can determine from recent events along the North Fork of Matilija Creek.








View Larger Map

North Fork Matilija Creek has been identified as the highest quality steelhead trout habitat currently accessible within the entire Ventura River Watershed. And six years of water quality monitoring by the Ventura River Stream Team (a joint program run by Surfrider Ventura and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper) clearly demonstrate that this creek contains the most pristine water throughout the entire watershed. Until Matilija Dam is removed, this endangered species is restricted to five miles of spawning and rearing habitat in the North Fork of Matilija Creek. The blockage at the quarry reduces available stream habitat to less than one mile.

Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper research indicates that the quarry has constantly been out of compliance with the Conditional Use Permit issued by the County of Ventura since its approval in 1995. During environmental review at that time, public objections were brushed aside, citing “overriding considerations” that make this business necessary regardless of the impacts. (The quarry supplies rock for the Flood Control District's streambank hardening projects throughout the county.)

Meanwhile, Ventura County has been awarded of millions of dollars in state funding for “watershed restoration,” both for the removal of Matilija Dam and Integrated Regional Watershed Management. Yet the responsible agencies fail to enforce violations of the quarry's permit, as well as violations of the federal Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.