Don't doubt the trout

On Saturday, March 1, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy hosted an evening of music, film, and conversation at the historic Ventura River Steelhead Preserve.  The night began with a live performance by Par Avion, led by CalTrout Ambassadors Rebecca Ramirez and Bernard Yin, and a screening of Don't Doubt the Trout (directed by Ojai’s Isabela Zawistowska), which follows Rebecca and Bernard’s journey to understand Southern California’s endangered steelhead and how the experience deepens their connection to nature. The evening concluded with an outstanding panel of local conservation experts discussing fish, rivers, watersheds, and dam removal. 

PANELISTS 

Mark Capelli is with the National Marine Fisheries Service, where he is responsible for coordinating the development of recovery plans for the threatened and endangered steelhead trout of central and southern California (from Monterey to the U.S. Mexican border). He is the lead author of the "Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan" and the most recent "2023 5-Year Review of Southern California Steelhead."

Rosi Dagit is Principal Conservation Biologist for the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. She has initiated and coordinated numerous research, restoration and monitoring projects throughout the Santa Monica Mountains, starting with studies of Malibu Lagoon, Leo Carrillo State Beach, and moving inland to watershed level analysis and sensitive species monitoring. She recently led efforts to rescue tidewater gobies and steelhead trout in the Palisades Fire burn scar. Currently, Rosi leads the Topanga Creek Stream Team.

Paul Jenkin is the Ventura Campaign Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation, and founder of the Matilija Coalition. He serves on the Surfers Point Working Group, a multi-agency task force working to solve beach erosion problems near the mouth of the Ventura River. Paul has also served on the various technical work groups within the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, and acts as the coordinator of the non-government efforts to remove Matilija Dam and restore the Ventura River watershed.

Russell Marlow is a CalTrout Senior Project Manager for the South Coast Region, leading the Ventura office. Russell previously worked for USFWS and the NPS as a biologist focused on native and endangered aquatic species before completing his graduate studies at South Dakota School of Mines studying aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Russell’s project focus in the Ventura Office is on reconnecting critical habitat for the endangered southern steelhead through passage barrier removal or remediation.

Bernard Yin and Rebecca Ramirez serve as ambassadors for CalTrout, Patagonia Fly Fishing, conservation co-chairs for the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers Club, and perform music with their band, Par Avion.

More:

https://wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/film/dont-doubt-the-trout/

OFG at Ventura County Fair

The Ventura Chapter's Ocean Friendly Gardens crew's hard work paid off again!

Their display at the Ventura County Fair is an award winner!

The Chapter's 'OFG' committee saw a display at the annual fair's 'Home and Gardens' section as a way to provide an example, and not just handouts, of the simplicity, beauty and savings of Ocean Friendly Gardens.  The design on the exterior of one of the Fairgrounds buildings utilized the existing downspout: it looks like it was meant to be there!

The Fair started on Wednesday, and chapter volunteers will be on site during the next two weekends to explain Ocean Friendly Gardens to the thousands of visitors that will pass by the exhibit. During the week, there's a box in which ofg brochures are available for the taking, and there's a flipbook describing the display's elements.

The best part - the display utilized re-purposed or reclaimed materials so that the entire project cost only $8!

Surfrider West Coast Summit

Bringing together Surfrider's best of the best from Texas, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Canada, and Argentina the 2012 West Coast Chapter Summit was by far the most epic gathering of the West Coast Chapter activists.... EVER.   We kicked off early Saturday morning with Santa Barbara Chapter Chair, Sandy Lejeune who shared a video trailer of "The Twenty," highlighting the 20 years of dedicated work done by 20 men to preserve the last 20 miles of the Gaviota Coast.   Their Kickstarter campaign begins Oct 15th.   Keynote speaker Marcus Eriksen from 5 Gyres shared inspirational and shocking tales from his voyages through the plastic gyres, including displays of actual Tsunami debris recovered from the Pacific.   The State of the State presentation by CEO Jim Moriarty emphasized the message of SHARE, LEARN, APPLY to build a powerful activist network and broaden our reach.

Surfrider West Coast activists gathered for the 2012 Summit in Ventura 

Activists received the latest news from staff and activists on Surfrider's Top Advocacy issues including Coastal Preservation, Ocean Ecosystems, and Rise Above Plastics.   We heard about work being done to address the Tsunami Debris coming from Japan, and were given the latest updates on our Blue Water Task Force Program.  Some ventured outside for field trips to see the restoration efforts at Surfer's Point, and an Ocean Friendly Garden bioswale and curb cut demonstration.

Saturday night allowed activists time to eat, drink and connect with fellow activists while Ojai-based singer-songwriter Todd Hannigan played along, creating a memorable soundtrack for the evening.

The Sunday morning training sessions were very well attended and, most notably, most were run jointly between activists and Surfrider Foundation staff.    This was extremely helpful and we received a lot of positive feedback from Chapters who were thrilled to meet staff and have a better understanding of what staff does and how we provide support back out to Chapters.

A very sincere THANK YOU to everyone who attended, and to all those who contributed to making this year's West Coast Chapter Summit a complete success!   Presentations, hand-outs, and photos from the 2012 Summit will be uploaded to the Summit website and ChapterNet in the coming week.

(...above text from SoCal Chapter Coordinator Nancy Hastings, who organized the event.  Thanks Nancy!)

http://www.surfrider.org/

Ventura River Parkway presentation

Wednesday July 18 - About 100 people attended an afternoon meeting at the Ventura County Government Center sponsored by Supervisor Steve Bennett and the Friends of the Ventura River.  Presentations described the Ventura River parkway vision plan, and the growing movement to rejuvenate the river.

In the news:

 Meeting presents vision for Ventura River  The 16-mile river, with one end at the Pacific Ocean and another near Matilija Dam, "remains one of the few wild rivers mostly untouched by concrete channels," she said. "The opportunities that you have are astonishing to make this a showpiece of Southern California."       - vcstar.com

Plans For Proposed New Park, Ventura River Parkway, To Be Unveiled Today - a project is underway to try to take some publicly owned land along the river, add to it, and develop recreational facilities like hiking trails to create a Ventura River Parkway. The efforts of a coalition of groups working on the parkway concept will be unveiled this afternoon at a public meeting in Ventura. - KCLU’s Lance Orozco has the story.

Ventura River Parkway - Members of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy say the seed has been planted to create a recreational area along the Ventura River - KEYT TV

Ventura River parkway plan aims to develop area - The Ventura River isn't much of a destination spot these days. Not only is it polluted and overgrown, it's a haven for the homeless. All of that may soon change. The Friends of the Ventura River organization detailed a plan Wednesday that promises to transform the area. VENTURA, Calif. (KABC TV)

Ventura River Parkway event

Perhaps 200 people came out to the Picnic at the Ventura River event today.  Interested residents learned about the history, ecology, and current state of the river in our backyard, just steps away from the beach and downtown.  An almost forgotten part of Ventura culture that deserves our attention... and a vision for the future that everyone can agree upon.

Cynthia shows off her table-sized map of the
Lower Ventura River Parkway planning area

the current reality

Andre demonstrates the Stream Team water quality monitoring program

The future parkway...

More information:   http://friendsofventurariver.org/ventura-river-parkway/

In the news:

 Community rallies to reverse decades of pollution in the Ventura River

 Event will outline new Ventura River recreation plan

  


..

Picnic at the River

Free Picnic to Reconnect Community to the Ventura River

Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 11AM-1PM.

Ventura, CA (May 24, 2012).  The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy has recently joined with Friends of the Ventura River to host a free community picnic and present information about the Ventura River Parkway plan on June 9, 2012 from 11am-1pm at the Ventura River, north of the Main Street Bridge.  The plan was developed by the State Coastal Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land with design help from Cal Poly Pomona’s Studio 606 and lays out a vision for the future of the Ventura River that includes public access to potential parks, trails and open-space while improving water quality and wildlife habitat.  The Parkway will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and become a draw for tourists, boosting the local economy.    

  

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour through informational exhibits extolling the various benefits of the parkway plan, while enjoying a free sack lunch.  The theme of the event is “reconnecting to the river in our backyard” and the Tortilla Flats Archive will present photos and an oral history on historic uses of this neglected recreational resource.  As part of the plan, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy has preserves that can potentially be used as trail connections between the Ventura River Trail and Emma Wood State Beach. Several local environmental groups have partnered to illustrate the benefits to wildlife habitat and the health of the watershed. Children can participate in water quality experiments with the Stream Team. Local business organizations are excited to promote the economic opportunities that other successful parkway projects have brought to their communities. Pro-active public use of open space in the river would also make it less attractive as a site for illegal camping and several local social services agencies that address this issue will be there to demonstrate their support for the project. 

          A vast coalition of partners has gathered under the Friends of the Ventura River umbrella including the State Coastal Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, California State Parks, National Parks Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), Environmental Defense Center, Tortilla Flats Archive, Project Understanding, Downtown Ventura Organization, Downtown Ventura Partners, Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, Ventura Audubon, Ventura Water as well as the City of Ventura’s Community Development, Environmental Sustainability and Parks and Recreation departments, Ventura Social Services Task Force, Ventura Surfrider, Santa Barbara Channel Keeper, Ventura Citizens for Hillsides Preservation, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.  Funding for the event is provided through a generous grant from Patagonia.

          The picnic and info fair will be held along the riverside north of the Main Street Bridge in the same area where the yearly California Lutheran University river clean-ups are staged (see attached map).   Volunteers will guide guests down the levee trail to the river.  Parking is available in the Main Street Lot across from the Peking St. bus stop, with overflow available on Olive St, but as always please consider walking, biking, taking the bus or carpooling. 

Please join us to learn more about this exciting opportunity to reclaim our river!

For more information call Lee Sherman, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Development & Volunteer Coordinator at 805-643-8044.

...

Margo's epic paddle

Seattle to San Diego - by canoe - to raise ocean awareness.

Margo is one tough woman, on a mission to help the ocean. Knowing she was on the way, I wanted to do my part to welcome her to Ventura and get out the press. A few e-mails and I had the local paper, KVTA radio, cable TV, a couple of ocean paddlers, as well as contact with the Hokulo Outrigger Canoe Club who I hoped could provide overnight storage for her boat.

After tracking her progress all day, I put in at Emma Wood and paddled with her for a couple of miles around the mouth of the Ventura River - I had hoped to point out the view looking up the watershed to the 6,000 ft mountains, the land-sea connection to which this blog is dedicated. Although it was sunny and 99 degrees in Ojai, we could hardly see the beach through the thick fog. I came ashore at Surfers Point, releasing Margo from the burden of waiting for me on my slow sit-on-top kayak.

The Hokulo crew paddled out to meet her, and the press was there at the Ventura Harbor. She endured an hour of interviews, obviously cold from her all-day paddle from Santa Barbara.

I had organized with June, her one-woman ground support crew, for them to stay in our guest room. After a hot shower we went up to meet with our local Surfriders who were holding a meeting and spaghetti dinner.

I hope our guests remember Ventura, one of their countless nightly stops on the epic paddle along the Pacific coast. I am in awe of Margo's energy and dedication, and June's steadfast optimism.

In the news: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/sep/02/woman-taking-canoe-down-west-coast-stops-in/

Paul Jenkin, Surfrider Foundation Ventura Chapter environmental director, said he had originally hoped to celebrate the passage of legislation banning plastic bags in California when he met up with Pellegrino at sea. But he was disappointed to see the Single-Use Bag Reduction Act, Assembly Bill 1998, defeated by the California Senate Tuesday on a 21-14 vote. “It is disheartening to see elected officials react to industry pressure,” Jenkin said, noting that such bans can be enacted on the local level. “It’s time for the city of Ventura to step up.”





See Margo's video interview here:http://www.surfandriverreport.com/

Hands Across the Sand

Thanks to everyone who came out for Hands Across the Sand on Saturday!

Article in VC Star: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/26/protesters-draw-line-in-the-sand-over-offshore/

Waving signs and chanting for a ban on offshore drilling, about 200 protestors flocked to the beach next to the Ventura Pier on Saturday. ... The gathering was part of Hands Across the Sand, an international demonstration at more than 700 beaches around the world.

To view video of the event go to http://www.surfandriverreport.com/

scroll down to "Ventura joins Hands Across the Sand 2010" for the 10 minute piece that will be playing on Ch6 in Ventura

EDC Award

Many thanks to the Environmental Defense Center for bestowing the honor of 'Environmental Hero' today.












Pictured with me here is Brian Trautwein and Karen Kraus.

KYH2O and Basins of Relations

Around 100 people showed up at Chaparral Auditorium in Ojai to see 'Cycle of Insanity' and hear Brock Dolman's talk about water and watersheds. Many thanks to the Ojai Valley Green Coalition for sponsoring this event!




The 'Know Your H2O' video was well received by the audience. Comments included the recommendation to get this out to the schools, and provide more information on agricultural solutions. We love this kind of feedback, as it helps fine tune the message. Remember that the video is streaming online at knowyourh2o.org






It was a real treat to have Brock Dolman visit the Ojai valley from the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Sonoma County. Brock delivers a unique message; as we enter the era of 'global weirding' on this planet 'water,' our watershed is our lifeboat. It is essential that we get our Basins of Relations in order...

Much more info here: http://www.oaec.org/water-institute

Paradon paddle out

Photos from the May 1st Paddle Out

OneSurfFly fundraiser

Saturday May 1:

The OneSurfFly fishing contest was held on the beach at Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria. Sponsored by The Artful Angler, the event drew over 50 fly fishers from around southern California. Contestants were given 3 hours to fly fish in the surf using one fly only.

The hardy leopard sharks, often foul-hooked, broke off many angler's fly early on, putting them out of the running. The common catch was surf perch, with the winners catch-and-releasing more than 15 in the time allotted.

The event raised $1650 for the Matilija Coalition, with the funds going directly to last week's spring steelhead surveys on the Ventura River.

Many thanks to Eric at the Artful Angler and long-time supporter Gary Bulla.

Protest New Oil Drilling

Saturday: Paddle Out Against Paradon




The protest is against a NEW oil facility proposed for the Carpinteria bluffs near the sea lion rookery. Venoco has placed a measure on the June ballot for Carp residents that would enable them to bypass all normal health and safety reviews by getting the uninformed public to vote for it: Measure J. More here: http://www.citizensagainstparedon.org/



Meanwhile, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is out of control, and threatens the Mississippi River delta with yet another major disaster:

This still has not been contained, and has the potential to exceed the scale of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

more here: http://oilonthebeach.blogspot.com/

Cycle of Insanity debut

Monday was World Water Day

In celebration, the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation hosted a premiere of 'The Cycle of Insanity' at UC San Diego.


The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water was created by a team of Surfrider Foundation activists, and sponsored by the California Chapters.

'Team Insanity' pictured here includes actor Zuleikha Robinson of the television show Lost.



The event at UCSD included a panel discussion following the film. Water experts gave thier impression of the film and an overview of the work they do, followed by questions from the audience.


In the film, the different water agencies are represented by animated 'drips' of water. Those who attended were greeted by 3 'drips' outside the building.


The San Diego Chapter throws a great event!

Wild and Scenic - Ventura

Our film Watershed Revolution is screening this Saturday night as part of the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival hosted by Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.

Wild and Scenic Environmental Films "On Tour" will visit over 100 cities this year. The Ventura Hilsides Conservancy will host the traveling Film Festival at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 starting at 7pm.

A different lineup will screen each night. Friday night's theme is land and has some great family short films. Saturday night's theme will be water, headlining our local film Watershed Revolution.

Individual tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door (if not sold out.) http://www.venturahillsides.org/events.shtml

Watershed Revolution will also will be the feature film at two upcoming festivals:

March 19, 2010 Napa Environmental Film Festival, Napa, CA

April 25, 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, CA

other showings around the country here: http://watershedrevolution.com/index.html

Watershed U - Learning Opportunity

Coming this Spring:

WHEN: Every Thursday afternoon April 22-May 27, 2010, at 4-7pm

WHAT: Watershed U. - Ventura River is a course for those who live, work, or spend time in the Ventura River watershed and are interested in understanding how the river works for you, and how you can help provide stewardship.

Join us at Patagonia headquarters in Ventura as we explore the background information necessary for watershed management; history, geology, water supply, land use, agriculture, floodplain management, water quality, ecology, and conservation.

Sign up now to reserve your spot; visit Watershed U - Ventura River to register.

Continuing education credits will be available for K-12 teachers, water resource professionals, and other stakeholders. College credit will likely be available for an additional fee.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Filmmaker Rich Reid and I attended the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival this past weekend. Watershed Revolution was one of 145 films selected from over 300 submissions to this prestigious event. The weekend was sold out, and our film played to over 200 viewers on Saturday afternoon. We were also interviewed as part of the festival media, and were able to tell the story of the Ventura River.



We are excited to announce that the festival will be on tour in Ventura on March 12-13, 2010. The two-evening event will feature hand-picked selections from the festival, and is sponsored by the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. Tickets are now available on their website at www.venturahillsides.org.